Google's Chromebook

Gallery: Google’s Chromebook: A brief tour

Here’s a stream of consciousness review. Engadget also served up a first take (looks like the FedEx truck came at the same time)

Hardware:

• The actual hardware is non-descript and feels like it’s rubberized. The casing feels like something cut from Batman’s rubberized outfit.
• The keyboard is simplified, but that could be jarring to some folks. For instance, the first thing I looked for was a print screen key. If you blog, print screen is your best friend. I couldn’t quite find this function, but downloaded a free screenshot app for Chrome. It kind of worked.
• Printing. Hooking up a printer requires Google Cloud Print, which is in beta. The instructions were to go to a Windows PC go to www.google.com/cloudprint, fire up the Chrome browser there and hook up Cloud Print under options. The problem is that Cloud Print wasn’t an option. A few searches indicated that the Cloud Print option is in Chrome 9. The issue: I have the latest Chrome and it’s version 8 and change. Figuring this Cloud Print thing out ate up a good 20 minutes of my first hour. In fact I still don’t have it figured out. Update: Google Cloud Print works well when set up. Update: Biggest item is that you need a developer build of the Chrome browser for the PC attached to the printer.

Software

• Chrome OS is basically a browser. If you know how to use Chrome, there’s nothing shocking with this Chromebook.
• The app screen obviously promotes Google items such as Gmail. Getting started is much easier if you have a Google account. There is a guest mode I haven’t played with much.
• Wi-Fi connectivity was a piece of cake. In addition, the Verizon connection works nicely, but you have to give a credit card number just for the free 100 MB a month service.
• The Chromebook fires up very quickly. You almost giggle when you close the Chromebook and open it again.
• If you live in Google Docs—I use it at work—the Chrome OS is easy. If you’re used to saving docs on a local drive and going through folders you’re in for a rude awakening.
• Why is that a rude awakening? We’re conditioned to be able to poke around on an OS via file folders, start menus and application lists. With the Chrome OS you live in the browser window. There may be an ability to save on a local drive, but not entirely sure.

Bottom line: For a long-time PC and Mac user, the Chromebook is almost too simple. I want to poke around and see the innards of this PC. I almost feel caged by the browser window. What’s under the hood on this thing?

On the surface, that feeling is pretty illogical. I live in a browser at least 80 percent to 90 percent of the time so what’s the big deal? It’s that 10 percent where I want to roam through settings—even though I don’t know what half of them are for.

One thing is clear. This Chromebook is truly a network computer. For some folks that may be a tad jarring. I’m going to give this pup a few days, hand it off to some family members and return with further ideas. The big question in my mind is whether this Chromebook will change that initial feeling of unease after a few days.

Chromebook Coming to 12 More Countries This Week

By now you've probably heard that Google is hosting a Chrome event on Dec. 7 in San Francisco. The press invite promised "exciting news about Chrome." Does that mean the Chromebook is finally upon us?

Maybe and maybe not.

The rumor mill has been churning for months.

Most recently, Digitimes, a Taiwanese Website, reported that smartbooks featuring Chrome operating system would debut this month. Back in August, a newly released beta of Chome 6 hinted at a tablet possibility. Menus were optimized for touch and reports said we might see a Chrome tablet in November.

Google's chief executive, Eric Schmidt, blasted both rumors. He told reporters at the Web 2.0 summit that Chrome is designed for devices with a physical keyboard and won't be available for a few months.

Tuesday's event might be the halfway point between Schmidt's comment and a public release of the device.

Engadget seems to think all signs point to a launch of the Chrome netbook on Tuesday, but is saying only around 65,000 units will be available "to Google's closest 'friends and family'." Engadget also got its mitts on a supposed image of the Chrome netbook keyboard on Friday. The tech blog does note that the keyboard looks pretty darn similar to the configuration of an earlier Acer Chrome netbook.

Whether this is an photo of an actual Google-branded device is up in the air, but it is interesting to note a few Web-related features. The caps lock key is switched out for a search button, the shift key has a caps indicator light and a few navigating function keys are positioned above the number row.

One thing is for sure, the clock is working against Google on this one.

Google first announced Chrome OS in 2009. The operating system was designed to be fast, web-focused, have a quick-start up time and run on devices with solid-state drives. Oh yeah, and Google even plans a Web store for Chrome apps. Back then, Google said that its partners, including ASUS, HP, Lenovo, and Toshiba, would have netbooks released in time for the holidays this year.

Netbooks were all the rage in 2009, but that isn't really the case in 2010. The iPad and other tablets have shown up on the scene and are destroying netbook sales. Google would be smart to hedge its bets, and make its beta OS a little more future-proof.

When Google announced Chrome in a blog post, it said:

"Google Chrome OS is a new project, separate from Android. Android was designed from the beginning to work across a variety of devices from phones to set-top boxes to netbooks. Google Chrome OS is being created for people who spend most of their time on the Web, and is being designed to power computers ranging from small netbooks to full-size desktop systems."

Do we really need Chrome OS for netbooks/desktops and Android for our portable devices? Why does it matter how people plan to use their device? Sounds like a recipe to further the fragmentation problem facing Big G's fan base.

Speed and ease of use are always king. If Google has a few tricks up its sleeve for Web browsing on Chrome, why not roll them into one future OS -- say that ‘Gingerbread' deal I've been hearing so much about.

Give us what Apple and Microsoft haven't: one operating system that can work with or without a keyboard and on a wide variety of devices. Then you'll be set for life.