"Why Chromebook Pundits Are Out of Touch"

[afv011]

Don't know, my connection is 25Mb/s, it's pretty reasonable. The download was not that long (although 4GB, really?), it was the applying of the update that seem to take quite a long time.

Anyway, afterwards I played with Chrome in the Windows 8 mode, which basically mimics Chrome OS within Windows just to get a feel for it. It looks good, should suffice for pretty much anything most people need, but for my line of work, I will still need a powerful desktop, but I'm certainly considering one as a second machine.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by afv011

Anyway, afterwards I played with Chrome in the Windows 8 mode, which basically mimics Chrome OS within Windows just to get a feel for it. It looks good, should suffice for pretty much anything most people need, but for my line of work, I will still need a powerful desktop, but I'm certainly considering one as a second machine.

My Chromebook is my second machine. Lack of support for programs I need prevents it from becoming my primary computer.

[arjaybe]

I understand from reading this thread that people are waiting for an hour or longer while their computer does some housekeeping task. Is it true that you can't use the computer while it's doing this? I'm having trouble imagining why people would put up with it.

[afv011]

Originally Posted by arjaybe

I understand from reading this thread that people are waiting for an hour or longer while their computer does some housekeeping task. Is it true that you can't use the computer while it's doing this? I'm having trouble imagining why people would put up with it.

Depends on the update. Updates download in the background and you can continue using the machine in the meantime, but to apply them, some require a reboot, and then during the shut down or boot process (or both), you have a progress update that can take anywhere from a few minutes to upwards of an hour, though the hour is more the exception than the norm, like the 8.1 upgrade which is very large. Needless to say, during this time the machine is a paperweight.

[forsooth]

Originally Posted by Graham

No, it's going to use Samsung's own new chip. Not quite the battery life of the Haswell ones, though better than the current ARM Chromebooks, but presumably has the advantage of still being fanless.

Graham

8 core -> more power
twice pixels -> more power

more power --> more heat --> more battery drain

Hope new ARM "much" better over old
Hope no fan.

[frahse]

More Chromebooks are coming.

Chromebooks Prove Popular, More Coming in 2014
By Sean Patterson January 3, 2014
webpronews.com

"Samsung, HP, Asus, Acer, and Toshiba all have new Chromebooks in the works and will unveil them this year. Asus in particular is said to have two Chromebook models in the works, an 11.6-inch one and a 13.3-inch one. Both will be priced competitively with tablets, being below $350.

DigiTimes’ sources have pointed out that manufacturers are seeing increased Chromebook orders from enterprise customers, a trend that could put even more pressure on Microsoft’s Windows 8 as consumers shift away from Windows XP."

See:
http://www.webpronews.com/chromebook...n-2014-2014-01

[jj2me]

$350 at Walmart.

Haswell, 4 GB RAM, 16 GB SSD.

And here's an article, which says it's limited time offer, verified here in the fine print on HP's website:

* Limited time offer; subject to change. Free data avail. every 30 days as long as you own and use registered device on T-Mobile’s network. No roaming. Usage applied first to passes, next to free data, then Mobile Internet allotment.

[afv011]

Originally Posted by jj2me

$350 at Walmart.

Haswell, 4 GB RAM, 16 GB SSD.

And here's an article, which says it's limited time offer, verified here in the fine print on HP's website:

Those colors!

The screen resolution is a bit of a let down on a 14" screen, though at those prices is to be expected.

[afv011]

A bunch of Chromebook devices are now available on Google's Canadian Play Store.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by afv011

Those colors!

The screen resolution is a bit of a let down on a 14" screen, though at those prices is to be expected.

And on a 14" display, that makes the pixel density even worse. Anyway, doesn't it have an IPS display? That's the one drawback to my Acer; no IPS. But then, it's $100 cheaper.

[bill_mchale]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

And on a 14" display, that makes the pixel density even worse. Anyway, doesn't it have an IPS display? That's the one drawback to my Acer; no IPS. But then, it's $100 cheaper.

Does the Acer include a 3/4G radio in it?

--
Bill

[frahse]

Originally Posted by afv011

Don't know, my connection is 25Mb/s, it's pretty reasonable. --.

I just noticed "25Mb/s" "pretty reasonable."



Well, first don't be too condescending. I have a friend with 40 down, and 25 up.

My own at home seems to be a dribble out of an old garden hose that is half frozen.

[frahse]

Originally Posted by afv011

Those colors!

The screen resolution is a bit of a let down on a 14" screen, though at those prices is to be expected.

The reports have the HP11 with a much better screen.
I don't know if it has the wireless deal though.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by bill_mchale

Does the Acer include a 3/4G radio in it?
--
Bill

Mine doesn't. Don't know if other versions have it.

[afv011]

In conjunction with the Education Technology Conference in Orlando, Google announced an expansion of Chrome devices and content for educators and students on Wednesday. Google Play for Education with digital textbooks is starting to roll out to a few schools now with broader access in the future, and Google is featuring several Chromebooks and an Android tablet for the classroom.

Source