See exactly what it's like to use a Chrome notebook (video)

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See exactly what it's like to use a Chrome notebook, from start(up) to finish.

I have one and it works well. It is fully optimized for Google services, which is nice, but it also means that if you prefer alternatives it may be less useful.

Questions and Answers (from Twitter)

Q: From looking at the video I would suspect the Chrome notebook is a better buy than the iPad?

A: iPad is very different from a laptop such as Chrome. Chrome netbook is a nice netbook optimized for web/Google services.

Q: How stable is the OS?

A: Very stable. It's a Chrome browser on Linux. You only see the browser. OS is as stable as Google Chrome.

Q: Have you applied for one?

A: Yes, I applied in December or January.

Google netbook shows you just Chrome browser, and that's fine (video)

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TIME magazine: Google's web-only Chrome OS netbook will hit the consumer market next year. Several major manufacturers plan to sell inexpensive notebooks that boot directly into a web browser - no desktop, no "Start Menu".

Until a few weeks ago, Google had an application program for free netbooks. It is closed now and the netbook is expected to be sold in stores later in the year.

Related:

Google’s New Chromebook Explained. NYTimes http://j.mp/jtg0A2 - Excellent summary. Check the last 2 questions.

Tablets, e-readers and netbooks bridge the gap between smartphones and laptops

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From NYT, A Deluge of Devices for Reading and Surfing:

The PC is just not the ideal device for reading. Many companies are aiming their products at the market for reading devices, where Amazon commands a 60 percent share.

Dedicated e-readers, with their black-and-white screens that mimic paper, will survive an onslaught of versatile color tablets from Apple and others due to the benefits of long battery life and reduced strain on the eyes.

“I think the black-and-white readers still survive in the niche market as reading devices,” said Andy Hargreaves, an analyst at Pacific Crest Securities. “I’m not expecting the Apple device to be as good as the Kindle or Sony Reader for reading.”

AP video: Tech companies are aiming to bridge the gap between smartphones and laptops by offering new tablets, e-readers and netbooks. The AP's Haven Daley reports from the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

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