Google Chromebook: Windows, iPad Killer or Just one more Tablet

Google Chromebook: Windows, iPad Killer or Just one more Tablet

Long awaited and announced Google Chromebook will hit stores (Best Buy) on June 15. So what makes Chromebook different than other tablets?

Chromebook1.jpg

Chromebook2.jpg

So what Google is betting on? Let's take a quick look at its features.

Chromebook is powered by the Google Chrome browser and everything will be cloud-based including your personal information, photos, videos and documents.

Boot Time

One of the key issue with Windows PCs is they take too long to boot. Google's Chromebooks boot in 8 seconds and resume instantly. You must be connected to the Internet all the time. So, I would compare it with other tablets and iPad 2 could still be the winner.

Battery Life

Next key point is longer battery life. Chromebook can run all day without any charging. That is a nice feature to have.

Cloud Powered

Your apps, documents, and settings are stored safely in the cloud. So even if you lose your computer, you can just log in to another Chromebook and get right back to work.

Web Apps

Every Chromebook runs millions of web apps, from games to spreadsheets to photo editors. Thanks to the power of HTML5, many apps keep working even in those rare moments when you're not connected. Visit the Chrome Web Store to try the latest apps, or just type in a URL. No CDs required.

Share with Friends and Family

Chromebooks are easy to share with family and friends. They can log in to experience all of their own Chrome settings, apps, and extensions, or use Guest Mode to browse privately. Either way, no one else using your Chromebook will have access to your email and personal data.

Hardware-backed security

Chromebooks run the first consumer operating system designed from the ground up to defend against the ongoing threat of malware and viruses. They employ the principle of "defense in depth" to provide multiple layers of protection, including sandboxing, data encryption, and verified boot.

So far, Acer and Samsung are two companies that are building Chromebooks. It comes with Wi-fi and priced at $349 and $429 respectively. I am sure there will be additional charges for the services and subscriptions.

The Verdict

Personally, I do not like Google products. They are so crappy by design. Look at Gmail. Look at Google Talk or any other product. I hope they are doing better job design wise with this product, otherwise it will be hard to complete with iPad2 and other nicer tablets out there.

I am also not sure about Acer and Samsung. I have never really used any of these two manufacturers. If it was Sony, I would probably go for it.


Cheers!

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