Google announces new $249 ARM-based Chromebook from Samsung
53 replies, posted
[quote]The new Chromebook, for everyone
As a kid growing up in India, I was fascinated with computers and the endless possibilities they presented. I had to wait until college to finally get my hands on one in the computer lab and since then began dreaming of a world where everyone could have access to one. We’re not quite there yet, but every day we get a bit closer.
A few years ago, we set out on a journey to build a better computer that’s faster, simpler and more secure. When we introduced a few Chromebooks into the market, many of you early adopters joined us on this journey. For folks living entirely in the cloud, the Chromebook is now a primary computer.
Many people use the Chromebook today as the perfect additional computer for their home. For families, it’s easy to use and share: for kids doing homework on the couch, parents catching up on emails at the kitchen counter and grandparents staying connected on video chat. There’s no need to worry about security updates and maintenance is easy; all you need to do is charge the battery. It just works.
This gets to the heart of the Chromebook vision. In order to have one, two or more computers around the house, they need to be easy to use and much more affordable. So together with Samsung, we designed a new laptop—the new Samsung Chromebook for $249—the computer for everyone.
The new Chromebook is a great computer at any price, but it’s an incredible computer at $249. It’s one of the lightest laptops on the market. You can easily carry it around all day—it’s 2.5 pounds, a mere 0.8 inches thick, with more than 6 hours of battery life for the typical user. And with 100 GB of free storage on Google Drive*, you can get to all of your stuff anytime, anywhere.
Even with its compact design, it’s packed with performance—it boots up in less than 10 seconds and resumes instantly. High-resolution videos (in 1080p) are beautiful to watch and when using the touchpad, you’ll notice smooth scrolling due to a hardware-accelerated user interface. And as you‘d expect from a Chromebook, it’s easy to share with others. Everyone—mom, dad, grandparents, tech lovers, tech haters—can have separate accounts where all of their stuff is kept safe. Finally, if you’re an active Google user of products like Gmail, Drive, Search, Maps, YouTube, Play or Google+ Hangouts, everything just works seamlessly.
Starting today, the new Samsung Chromebook is available for pre-order online from Amazon, Best Buy, PC World and other retailers. Next week it will be available for sale from these same online retailers as well as the Google Play store. You can also buy them at over 500 Best Buy stores across the U.S and over 30 PC World and Currys stores in the U.K.
So if you ever felt it was too complicated and too expensive to have an additional computer (or two), we hope you (and the entire family) will give the new Chromebook a try.
Posted by Sundar Pichai, SVP, Chrome & Apps
*You will have 100 GB of free storage for 2 years, starting on the date you redeem the offer on eligible Chrome devices.[/quote]
[img]http://www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/assets/common/images/devices/samsung-chromebook/ss-cb-promolanding-carousel-1.jpg[/img]
[img]http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-82hQLrROm3s/UIAtRQSy9-I/AAAAAAAAB_w/-nU1YwBYg98/s800/Samsung_Chromebook_backview_webres.jpg[/img]
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S95J5BowMmk[/media]
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DckgxrbdnBY[/media]
Blog post: [url]http://chrome.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-new-chromebook-for-everyone.html[/url]
Product page: [url]http://www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/devices/landing.html[/url]
Chromebooks, for those who don't know, are designed to be internet-based computers in that you don't really manage the filesystem or local storage, but rather do all your work in the browser. Instead of programs, you have webapps - the exception being that there's some Google Docs/Drive functionality available offline. I think it's easier to think of them as a tablet with a permanently-attached keyboard and without the non-google apps, which is much cheaper than most Android tablet+keyboard combos out there.
You could get more powerful netbooks for that price, and install chrome OS on those
Deugh, that hinge.
If we make it rally thin they dould store it better under their furniturere rigt?
it's the cheapest macbook air to date
[QUOTE=Amiga OS;38089980][t]http://i.i.com.com/cnwk.1d/i/tim/2010/12/10/sph-laptop.jpg[/t]
Easily the best looking Laptop I've ever seen, I wish Samsung would actually decide on a non bulbous and bloaty aesthetic.[/QUOTE]
I have one of those. Really hated at how slow it was.
The CR-48 is easily the best looking laptop I've ever laid eyes upon, as much as I hate to say it I like the build quality even moreso than my thinkpad :v:
299 really isn't cost effective when you can spend 50ish more on a much more feature rich and veritile laptop for ~350
[URL]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834230531&name=Laptops-Notebooks[/URL]
[URL]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834230614&name=Laptops-Notebooks[/URL]
Now if it was 199 it would be different
[QUOTE=Tucan Sam;38090086]299 really isn't cost effective when you can spend 50ish more on a much more feature rich and veritile laptop for ~350
[URL]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834230531&name=Laptops-Notebooks[/URL]
[URL]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834230614&name=Laptops-Notebooks[/URL]
Now if it was 199 it would be different[/QUOTE]
It's $249.
[QUOTE=Tucan Sam;38090086]299 really isn't cost effective when you can spend 50ish more on a much more feature rich and veritile laptop for ~350
[URL]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834230531&name=Laptops-Notebooks[/URL]
[URL]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834230614&name=Laptops-Notebooks[/URL]
Now if it was 199 it would be different[/QUOTE]
The chromebook is meant for lazy and/or tech illiterate persons.
[QUOTE=Amiga OS;38089980][t]http://i.i.com.com/cnwk.1d/i/tim/2010/12/10/sph-laptop.jpg[/t]
Easily the best looking Laptop I've ever seen, I wish Samsung would actually decide on a non bulbous and bloaty aesthetic.[/QUOTE]
I would [B]KILL[/B] for a beefy 17" laptop with that design scheme.
AH thought I read 299, my mistake.
Did they ever make it so I can use a printer with it? or do I have to set up some funky shit still?
[QUOTE=Van-man;38090119]The chromebook is meant for lazy and/or tech illiterate persons.
I would [B]KILL[/B] for a beefy 17" laptop with that design scheme.[/QUOTE]
More like people who don't need anything other than a web browser and Google Drive services, which is a fairly robust suite at this point. I'm considering one, although I kind of wish Google would merge Chrome OS into Android.
[QUOTE=Tucan Sam;38090126]AH thought I read 299, my mistake.
Did they ever make it so I can use a printer with it? or do I have to set up some funky shit still?[/QUOTE]
It uses Google cloud print, if that's what you mean by "funky shit"
ew. dat hinge design.
Google cloud print is really easy with modern HP printers or any printer with a print-to email address afaik.
[QUOTE=Van-man;38090119]The chromebook is meant for lazy and/or tech illiterate persons.
I would [B]KILL[/B] for a beefy 17" laptop with that design scheme.[/QUOTE]
[img]http://www.newtechnology.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/vostro-3560-.jpg[/img]
Dell got some pretty nice looking laptops, I got a vostro 3560 with a multimedia upgrade and shit's great on every aspect.
[QUOTE=-Get_A_Life-;38090217][img]http://www.newtechnology.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/vostro-3560-.jpg[/img]
Dell got some pretty nice looking laptops, I got a vostro 3560 with a multimedia upgrade and shit's great on every aspect.[/QUOTE]
Not square-ish and matte black enough.
Even a Lenovo is better (obviously)
Just buy a thinkpad, the design varies between ultra-industrial and slightly consumer friendly.
[QUOTE=danharibo;38090273]Just buy a thinkpad, the design varies between ultra-industrial and slightly consumer friendly.[/QUOTE]
You can also probably nab a decently high-end thinkpad used (or even new) for relatively cheap or cheaper than the new Chromebook, and it would be very tough.
although saying TP's compare to how the original CR-48 looks is insane, I'd take a T61-esque over the new one any day.
I have an eeePC 1000H. It has a huge blocky hinge with brass sides. It's awesome.
ARM-based PCs. It begins...
Or maybe it's already begun and I'm out of the loop.
[QUOTE=Van-man;38090119]The chromebook is meant for lazy and/or tech illiterate persons.
I would [B]KILL[/B] for a beefy 17" laptop with that design scheme.[/QUOTE]
Sager's laptop are pretty minimalistic in design. There's an option in one of the sites to remove the logo in the back.
[IMG]http://gentechpcforums.com/system-images/Sager/NP8130/Sager_NP8130_1.jpg[/IMG]
I'm wondering if a laptop exists with those characteristics:
* A price below 400$
* A screen of less than 12'
* Not being shitty and slow as fuck
Any hint?
Posting on a Samsung Series 5 Chromebook right now, I was highly skeptical at first, but this is great for casual web browsing. Instead of booting up my other laptop or PC, I just open it and it starts instantly, and it has excellent battery life. I can easily carry it around, open, with one hand, and the speakers are surprisingly good as long as it isn't resting on a surface.
It wouldn't be an acceptable replacement for an actual laptop or desktop, but it's far superior to any netbook I've encountered.
[QUOTE=imMonkeyGOD;38090623]Sager's laptop are pretty minimalistic in design. There's an option in one of the sites to remove the logo in the back.
[IMG]http://gentechpcforums.com/system-images/Sager/NP8130/Sager_NP8130_1.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE]
AFAIK they don't sell laptops with nordic keyboard layouts
And yet again $249 means £249 here.
Boy, I'd hate to be someone who was holding out buying a Chromebook for a newer model. It'd be better to go with the Series 5 550 if you really wanted one. (It's a fantastic device, by the way.)
Here are the specs for the new device.
[quote]11.6’’ (1366x768) display
0.8 inches thin - 2.5 lbs / 1.1 kg
Over 6.5 hours of battery
Samsung Exynos 5 Dual Processor (ARM, not Intel x86 CPU!)
100 GB Google Drive Cloud Storage2 with Solid State Drive
Built-in dual band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
VGA Camera
1x USB 3.0, 1x USB 2.0
HDMI Port
Bluetooth 3.0™ Compatible[/quote]
To redeem your 100GB of storage (New Samsung Chromebook, Series 5 550, and Chromebox only):
[url]https://drive.google.com/redeem[/url]
[QUOTE=DrKinkyKinkles;38090945]Boy, I'd hate to be someone who was holding out buying a Chromebook for a newer model. It'd be better to go with the Series 5 550 if you really wanted one. (It's a fantastic device, by the way.)[/QUOTE]
ARM based devices are normally more power efficient that x86 based devices.
Bet that's the reason this one's using that.
That Chrome logo on the back is very ugly. Monochrome would fit in much better.
I guess I can see how this is a step in the right direction, since Chromebooks should be in the netbook price range.
It's just that hinge I can't get over.
IMO, the most impressive-looking ultrabook to hit the market (apart from Apple's wedge of cheese), is the Samsung Series 900's (2012).
[img]http://static.trustedreviews.com/94%7C000022925%7Cc91e_IMG-0070.jpg[/img]
I would buy if the price was in proportion with the average specs.
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