Google Releases $1299 Chromebook

[Graham]

Originally Posted by JD Gumby

TuneIn Radio has a web version. Since you can do Flash, I can't see why you wouldn't be able to use it...

Yes, that's what I was trying to use. It may be something to do with the encoding of the specific streams I was trying (BBC).

Graham

[Graham]

I see what you're saying, Holymadness, but you're equating that 'good enough' to a power user's requirements or those of someone with a particular Windows or Mac application that they cannot live without.

There are plenty of people, I'm sure, who are using ultrabooks, and particularly MacBook Airs, which do appeal to bloggers and writers, for whom the set of capabilities here isn't just 'good enough', it's 'good'. They'll be able to do the things that they would normally do on their machine, but get the ease of maintenance and quick start inherent with the Chromebook.

Then, if they have the money, it is just a question of whether or not to spend the extra to get increased performance and build quality. I'm not in a position to buy an expensive Chromebook, Windows machine or a MacBook, so I can't say whether or not I would have gone for the Pixel over one of its competitors.

Probably not, but for a reason that does relate to functionality but is subtly different from 'it lacks capability'. That's a lot of money to spend on a stab in the dark. Again, I won't come down firmly on this for a couple of months until I've got a real feel for ChromeOS, but assuming that I continue to feel as happy with it as I do today then I could see myself buying a more expensive model in the future.

There are people out there with older Chromebook machines, particularly those who got the CR48s. I can imagine that more than a few of them could afford to move up to the Pixel.

Graham

[holymadness]

Originally Posted by Graham

There are plenty of people, I'm sure, who are using ultrabooks, and particularly MacBook Airs, which do appeal to bloggers and writers, for whom the set of capabilities here isn't just 'good enough', it's 'good'.

This is where we disagree.

The Windows users I know are particularly attached to Office and Steam, and reject other platforms as a result. Incidentally, this group tends to be quite budget-conscious and values specs and raw power over less tangible elements like design.

The Mac users I know are devotees of a vast range of software (OmniGroup, Reeder, Fantastical, Coda, 1Password, MarsEdit, Transmit, Scrivener, etc.) that they are unwilling to renounce.

I don't see either group giving those up for Chrome OS, which they would consider to be trading down, unless they got something major in return. A $300 computer is a bargain that makes sense. I maintain that $1,300 is way beyond most people's notion of fair value.

[GlenBarrington]

Originally Posted by holymadness

The one thing that everything can agree on, whether impressed or not by the Pixel, is that it is dramatically overpriced for its capabilities.

But as you say, it has done its job as a marketing ploy by getting people talking and thinking about Chromebooks for the first time in a long while.

Sorry guys, but I think Chromebooks represent the near term future of personal computing, at least in the Western Hemisphere, Northern Europe, and large parts of Asia. The rest of the world will likely come along a little later.

Is it going to be for EVERYONE? Probably not, what is? But whether or not you adopt this model for your own use, you are going to have to make room in your head for the sort of thinking resulting from it since many people you interact with will be using it.

It will likely take the form of laptops, desktops, tablets, and possibly smartphones, but the model will be essentially similar to what Google is pioneering. However, it won't be just a Chrome environment. Both Firefox and Unbutu are making serious sounding noises in this direction.

Will Microsoft and Apple come along? I don't know, but if they are smart, they will hedge their bets and position their resources for a quick jump in that direction.

[Graham]

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

However, it won't be just a Chrome environment. Both Firefox and Unbutu are making serious sounding noises in this direction.

This is a key point. The apps I've been exploring today - which include a powerful MS Project clone, a full-featured image editor, a Scrivener clone (serviceable but not as fully featured, yet), remote desktop software and various music services - are not ChromeOS apps, they're HTML5 apps, and so are cross platform. Java and Flash promised but never quite achieved this.

I could have a number of devices, all running different operating systems, but as long as their browsers were compliant my chosen suite of apps would run on all of them.

Graham

[holymadness]

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

Sorry guys, but I think Chromebooks represent the near term future of personal computing, at least in the Western Hemisphere, Northern Europe, and large parts of Asia. The rest of the world will likely come along a little later.

Is it going to be for EVERYONE? Probably not, what is? But whether or not you adopt this model for your own use, you are going to have to make room in your head for the sort of thinking resulting from it since many people you interact with will be using it.

It will likely take the form of laptops, desktops, tablets, and possibly smartphones, but the model will be essentially similar to what Google is pioneering. However, it won't be just a Chrome environment. Both Firefox and Unbutu are making serious sounding noises in this direction.

Will Microsoft and Apple come along? I don't know, but if they are smart, they will hedge their bets and position their resources for a quick jump in that direction.

I can make neither heads nor tails of this comment. What is this model that Google is pioneering? Because for the moment, the future of computing looks absolutely nothing like a Chromebook of any kind.

Originally Posted by Graham

This is a key point. The apps I've been exploring today - which include a powerful MS Project clone, a full-featured image editor, a Scrivener clone (serviceable but not as fully featured, yet), remote desktop software and various music services - are not ChromeOS apps, they're HTML5 apps, and so are cross platform. Java and Flash promised but never quite achieved this.

I could have a number of devices, all running different operating systems, but as long as their browsers were compliant my chosen suite of apps would run on all of them.

Graham

HTML 5 apps will never be as responsive or as polished as native apps. Facebook learned that the hard way on iOS and Android.

Their presence on a platform isn't an advantage, it's evidence of a lack of developer support that can only be overcome with stopgap solutions.

[latepaul]

Originally Posted by holymadness

The smartest thing that has been written about the Pixel so far is this (c/o David Pierce at The Verge): "Everyone should want a Chromebook Pixel — I certainly do. But almost no one should buy one."

Heh. Since this thread began I've been constantly thinking of a vivid memory I have of reading a computer magazine in the 80s. It was full of articles and ads about and for "home computers" as they were back then and I would pore over them considering their pros and cons. Then there was an article entitled "Dream Machine" all about the Apple Mac. It was retailing IIRC for ~£2000 when the other machines featured were in the £200-£400 range. The tone of the article was "look we know most of us can't afford this but look how cool it is".

[latepaul]

Originally Posted by holymadness

HTML 5 apps will never be as responsive or as polished as native apps.

Write this down somewhere. Remember that you said this on 27th Feb 2013. In 5 years time (possibly less) you'll look back and laugh.

[latepaul]

(personally I've already used HTML5 apps that I think are as polished as native ones, but I reckon it'll take a few years for that to be obvious to everyone. Certainly if HTML5 never takes off it won't be due to lack of "polish". Anything you can do in a native app you can do in HTML5.)

[Prestidigitweeze]

This comment is off-topic.

I stopped replying to this thread when it became apparent that to continue the discussion would involve a considerable amount of time. Trouble is, I'm trying to devote more of that to creative and editorial projects.

However, I kept reading the thread -- even though I disagree with a great deal of it -- because, despite the vituperative potential of the subject, the pitch of civility and content in subsequent posts has been admirable. Thanks to the other participants for that.

[forsooth]

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

Sorry guys, but I think Chromebooks represent the near term future of personal computing, at least in the Western Hemisphere, Northern Europe, and large parts of Asia. The rest of the world will likely come along a little later.

-.

I travel world.
90% time.

Everyone with internet interested in chromebook.
Many questions. Much interest.

[BeccaPrice]

A chrome book or other such thing won't be in my future until we get rural broadband rather than the metered satellite internet connection we have... and since the cable and other companies have said they have no intention of extending broadband to our area, that's on the far side of never.