Software
Non-professional persons’ explanation to
Chrome OS: it is the Chrome browser you've ever used, except that is all you
see when you start your computer. That's what our notice was given to the
low-tech friends who found out Best Buy is selling a Samsung laptop for $249,
and are wondering whether it is a bargain price indeed or not. For the rest of
you, we would like to say this: Chrome OS has evolved quite a lot over the past
year and a half, and looks like a traditional operating system rather than it
used to when we evaluated the first Chromebook. If you read our review of
version 19 from a few months ago, you would be likely to understand. As we
described then, Chrome OS now has got a "desktop". We use quotes since
the desktop is not a space where you can pin shortcuts to the websites or the
materials that you may be working. However, you can change the wallpaper and
add your favorite applications at the bottom of the screen. Although,
ultimately, it is not a desktop by the normal definition, it is just a visual
detail that will help newcomers feel more familiar with the Chromebook.
Google
has, at least, added more functionality to its web applications.
The first time you log in, you will see a
welcome box including the following: a primer on the applications, touchpad,
storing/accessing files, working offline, documents and working with images.
Everything takes place in the browser. And meanwhile there are not any major UI
changes; Google has, at least, added more functionality to its web
applications. For example, with the version 19, Chrome OS has got an image
editor with minor editing tools. The Media player supports many formats than it
did ever before. Google+ is now integrated, Hangouts are included. You are able
to do many more things offline in the case of the internet dropping out - this
includes working on the documents and, as the version 19, reading Google Books.
Chrome Remote desktop allows you to access the other devices, as well as to
share your screen with others. Furthermore, Chrome OS syncs the open tabs from
your mobile device as well as any PCs that you use are running Chrome.
However, there are some new features in the
version 23. With this version, the OS has got a new log-in screen and many more
wallpapers, a new applications list, an image filter, and deeper integration
with Google’s cloud storage service, Google Drive which consists of 100GB of
free storage for 2 years. The natural applications list has expanded to include
Calculator, Camera, Docs, Sheets, Slides and Google Play Movies as well.
Conclusion
No matter how cheap the Chromebooks are,
they will always be a polarizing segment of product: there are some guys who
cannot use a laptop that everything is done in the browser. That means $249
seems to be an appropriate price for this type of device - certainly more
appropriate than $450, which is the price of the last generation model. For $249,
the errors of this device (the screen is dimmer, the processing power is
weaker) are the shortcomings you can easily handle. Our biggest complaint is
that it does not have the Netflix transmission support, but we believe Google
when it said the company is carrying out to fix. After all, it has already
provided capability of streaming to other Chromebooks, so we have no reason to
believe this model will be abandoned. We might complain about these things if
this device is priced twice as much.
So who is it for? First of all, we always
feel that Chromebooks may be useful in the computer labs and one-student-to-one
laptop programs in schools, but now they have enough competitive prices for
common customers who might also want them. We are mindful of the visitors who
need an ultra-lightweight laptop on the road, or parents who hesitated to spend
$600 on buyinga laptop for their child. And these are really the target
customers, except this time they are not sure to find a tablet or a similarly
nice netbook with the equivalent prices. Considering that aspect, the price
cuts have come a long way.
Chromebook
will always be polarized, but the $249 price is more appropriate than it was
ever.
Info
·
Product name: Samsung Chromebook (late 2012)
·
Price: $ 249
Advantages
·
The price is decreased much.
·
The build quality is stable for this price.
·
The keyboard and trackpad are comfortable.
The
keyboard and trackpad are comfortable.
Disadvantages
·
There is inability to transmit Netflix when
launching.
·
The performance is weak with ARM chip.
·
The screen is dimmer than the previous models
Verdict
·
Chromebook will always be polarized, but the
$249 price is more appropriate than it was ever.
·
We would recommend it to the schools and those
who are looking for a secondary cheap laptop.
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Samsung
Chromebook specifications
·
Laptop type: Netbook
·
Thickness: 0.8 inches
·
Weight: 2.5 pounds
·
Operating system: Chrome OS
·
Screen size (diagonal): 11.6 inches
·
CPU brand: Samsung
·
CPU family: Exynos 5
·
Carrier options: Verizon Wireless
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