The Google Chrome Book

Google  The first announced Nondescript Cr-48 Chrome OS Notebook was just announced 2011.

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.

     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.