Windows Cloudbooks officially announced

fjtorres · 08-04-2015, 01:55 PM

From CNET:
http://www.cnet.com/news/acer-unveil...o-chromebooks/

Netbooks redux!

Quote:

The basic hardware specs aren't high end but are certainly adequate given the low prices for both laptops. The Cloudbooks are outfitted with a 1.6GHz Intel Celeron N3050 dual-core processor with Turbo Boost Technology up to 2.16GHz, 2GB of memory and a 16:9 LED-backlit display with a resolution of 1,366x768 pixels.

You can increase the onboard storage via eMMC flash memory cards. The Aspire One Cloudbook 11 is available with 16GB/32GB eMMC configurations, while the Cloudbook 14 is available in 32GB/64GB eMMC configurations. Battery life is rated at up to seven hours for the Cloudbook 11 and up to six hours for the Cloudbook 14.

Both machines also come with dual digital microphones with enhanced digital signal processing (DSP) so online phone calls and chats with Microsoft's Cortana voice assistant are clear. Both feature the latest wireless standard, 802.11ac Wi-Fi. Further, the laptops pack in full-sized ports for HDMI, USB 3.0, USB 2.0, and SD cards. A full-sized chiclet keyboard and large touchpad are designed to ease the experience of typing and tapping your way around Windows 10. Both come with a 640x480-pixel webcam.

The Aspire One Cloudbook 11 will be available in North America in August with prices starting at $169. The Aspire One Cloudbook 14 will launch in North America in September or October, depending on the model, starting at $199. The Cloudbooks will also launch in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, with the Cloudbook 11 available in September starting at 269 euros and the Cloudbook 14 in October with starting at 299 euros.

More at the source.

ZodWallop · 08-04-2015, 02:20 PM

I'm glad to see them and I hope they succeed. I love Netbooks for their small size. Since I've stopped playing any games more intense than the '90's RPGs, I've learned I don't need a powerhouse machine.

My only complaint against these Cloudbooks is hard drive space. I have over thirty gigs of music and OTR and don't always wanna rely on streaming. Still, one of these will likely be my next PC when my current Netbook dies.

tubemonkey · 08-04-2015, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

My only complaint against these Cloudbooks is hard drive space. I have over thirty gigs of music and OTR and don't always wanna rely on streaming. Still, one of these will likely be my next PC when my current Netbook dies.

Get one of these tiny critters. It barely sticks out. I use one for my Chromebook.

fjtorres · 08-04-2015, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Get one of these tiny critters. It barely sticks out. I use one for my Chromebook.

Those are neat.
Also the things have SD card slots, too.
And 64GB cards are really cheap. Even the 128GB cards are approaching impulse buy territory.

Powerwise, those dual core Celerons are about as powerful as first or second generation i3's.
More than enough for a *lot* of productive work.

Apache · 08-04-2015, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Get one of these tiny critters. It barely sticks out. I use one for my Chromebook.

Yes they are. I have three of them.
Apache

ZodWallop · 08-05-2015, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Those are neat.
Also the things have SD card slots, too.
And 64GB cards are really cheap. Even the 128GB cards are approaching impulse buy territory.

Cool. Thanks for both suggestions.

I'm spoiled because my current netbook has 4GB of RAM and a 500 GB hard drive. Doesn't sound like much, but for a netbook, that's a powerhouse.

GERGE · 08-05-2015, 09:40 AM

This Cloudbook thing seems pricey for the configuration.

And I have one of thoso Sandisks too. I use it with my Air and it holds my Steam games and iTunes library.

fjtorres · 08-05-2015, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GERGE

This Cloudbook thing seems pricey for the configuration.

And I have one of thoso Sandisks too. I use it with my Air and it holds my Steam games and iTunes library.

Those are list prices.
ASUS computers get discounted at retail.

Besides, those are fully functional PCs competing against Chromebooks.
Other than storage, the specs are fine. And with Win10 and cloud storage 16GB is perfectly functional. It is easy to forget that today's low-end processors are comparable to earlier high end and midrange processors. And PC software hasn't gotten particularly power hungry in recent times.

ZodWallop · 08-05-2015, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Besides, those are fully functional PCs competing against Chromebooks.

For sure. In theory, Cloudbooks should eat Chromebook's lunch. It all depends on the marketing I guess.

I have a Chromebook and bought one for my mom. But if Cloudbooks continue to be a thing, I wouldn't buy another Chromebook.

Quote:

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Other than storage, the specs are fine. And with Win10 and cloud storage 16GB is perfectly functional. It is easy to forget that today's low-end processors are comparable to earlier high end and midrange processors. And PC software hasn't gotten particularly power hungry in recent times.

Windows 10 has almost the same system requirements as Windows XP. Pretty incredible.

frahse · 08-05-2015, 06:42 PM

There are too many trade offs for me.

No one has yet convinced me that I don't need a hard drive. Even my chromebook has a 320GB one.

And yes, I have many 32GB USBs, and one each 64GB USB3 and 128GB USB3.

fjtorres · 08-05-2015, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frahse

There are too many trade offs for me.

No one has yet convinced me that I don't need a hard drive. Even my chromebook has a 320GB one.

And yes, I have many 32GB USBs, and one each 64GB USB3 and 128GB USB3.

Last I looked, USB hard drives were pretty cheap, too. 1TB ~$50.
Netbooks have never been for everybody but they're still plenty useful for a lot of people.

One market that can use them by the ton is the educational market, where storage isn't much of an issue.

mycurlylocks · 08-07-2015, 07:23 AM

This is about like the HP Stream. I picked one up a while back.
Nothing fancy, but for the basics, it gets the job done.

I wanted something inexpensive to take with me to work.

I mainly surf the internet on it. I've found now I often use it at home. Saves on my electric bill. I figure why boot up my desktop just to check emails?

Windows 10 works great on it.

fjtorres · 08-07-2015, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mycurlylocks

This is about like the HP Stream. I picked one up a while back.
Nothing fancy, but for the basics, it gets the job done.

I wanted something inexpensive to take with me to work.

I mainly surf the internet on it. I've found now I often use it at home. Saves on my electric bill. I figure why boot up my desktop just to check emails?

Windows 10 works great on it.

Good point about the Streams.
The ASUS Cloudbooks do match them pretty closely.

mycurlylocks · 08-07-2015, 08:52 AM

I almost went for the Lenovo Flex 3 11". But I figured it would be too cool and the guys from work would want to borrow it.

Although... they still borrow my pink Stream...

I wish I had held out for the Toshiba Satellite 11.6", but it was a lot higher priced at the time.

Code:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/toshiba-satellite-11-6-laptop-intel-celeron-2gb-memory-128gb-solid-state-drive-satin-gold/5521016.p?id=1219652196951&skuId=5521016

Rbneader · 08-20-2015, 06:50 PM

Seems interesting, but why get all the hassles of Windows maintenance when Chromebooks are the same price?

Chromebooks and iPads are taking off in business / education because they're easier to maintain than PCs due to the OS design. Most schools don't have budget for an onsite PC tech, and trying to run a fleet of PCs is reportedly a hassle compared to a fleet of Chromebooks. I haven't yet seen MS effectively address this. Some major changes in Windows 10 make more work for IT admins.

08-07-2015, 08:52 AM	#14
mycurlylocks Addict Posts: 239 Karma: 1455315 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: US Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2	I almost went for the Lenovo Flex 3 11". But I figured it would be too cool and the guys from work would want to borrow it. Although... they still borrow my pink Stream... I wish I had held out for the Toshiba Satellite 11.6", but it was a lot higher priced at the time. Code: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/toshiba-satellite-11-6-laptop-intel-celeron-2gb-memory-128gb-solid-state-drive-satin-gold/5521016.p?id=1219652196951&skuId=5521016 Last edited by mycurlylocks; 08-07-2015 at 09:05 AM.

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08-04-2015, 02:20 PM	#2
ZodWallop Gentleman and scholar Posts: 11,478 Karma: 111164374 Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Space City, Texas Device: Clara BW; Nook ST w/Glowlight, Paperwhite 3	I'm glad to see them and I hope they succeed. I love Netbooks for their small size. Since I've stopped playing any games more intense than the '90's RPGs, I've learned I don't need a powerhouse machine. My only complaint against these Cloudbooks is hard drive space. I have over thirty gigs of music and OTR and don't always wanna rely on streaming. Still, one of these will likely be my next PC when my current Netbook dies.

08-05-2015, 09:40 AM	#7
GERGE Guru Posts: 733 Karma: 5797160 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Istanbul Device: Kobo Libra	This Cloudbook thing seems pricey for the configuration. And I have one of thoso Sandisks too. I use it with my Air and it holds my Steam games and iTunes library.

08-05-2015, 06:42 PM	#10
frahse occasional author Posts: 2,315 Karma: 2064403292 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Wandering God's glorious hills, valleys and plains. Device: A Franklin BI (before Internet) was the first. I still have it.	There are too many trade offs for me. No one has yet convinced me that I don't need a hard drive. Even my chromebook has a 320GB one. And yes, I have many 32GB USBs, and one each 64GB USB3 and 128GB USB3.

08-07-2015, 07:23 AM	#12
mycurlylocks Addict Posts: 239 Karma: 1455315 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: US Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2	This is about like the HP Stream. I picked one up a while back. Nothing fancy, but for the basics, it gets the job done. I wanted something inexpensive to take with me to work. I mainly surf the internet on it. I've found now I often use it at home. Saves on my electric bill. I figure why boot up my desktop just to check emails? Windows 10 works great on it.

08-20-2015, 06:50 PM	#15
Rbneader Fanatic Posts: 503 Karma: 2661351 Join Date: Mar 2012 Device: None	Seems interesting, but why get all the hassles of Windows maintenance when Chromebooks are the same price? Chromebooks and iPads are taking off in business / education because they're easier to maintain than PCs due to the OS design. Most schools don't have budget for an onsite PC tech, and trying to run a fleet of PCs is reportedly a hassle compared to a fleet of Chromebooks. I haven't yet seen MS effectively address this. Some major changes in Windows 10 make more work for IT admins.

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