Google ChromeOS initial thoughts

My initial thoughts on Google's new ChromeOS are positive. I am a long time Linux user, but even longer Windows user. I enjoy windows more than I enjoy Linux, and I am a PC gamer.

My bias comes from not liking cloud computing. As I said before in another thread, I hate using server booted workstations. I believe if one computer goes down, one computer should go down, not your whole company or school, whichever. So, I am very opposed to cloud computing being the next great thing to replace the PC entirely.

I signed up for the Google test pilot program, since I do love computers, and wanted the opportunity to provide Google with some feedback. I was skeptical when I realized that the ChromeOS is entirely cloud based, except for "apps," plugins, cache, etc. Downloads are downloaded to a server, which you can retrieve later. Printing occurs via printing your page to a retrievable format to print from another computer.

I have come to realize, however, that a cloud PC is nothing more than a light, fast, on the go supplement to your home PC. There is no need to wait while transferring files, no jump drives, no external hard drives that you have to carry around or keep handy to transfer information from your netbook to your home computer, since everything is saved on your Google account. You can go home at the end of the day, and download everything you did immediately onto your home PC. This makes a lot of sense to me.

Anywho, I think I got a little carried away, so here is my list of initial thoughts, that I will be sending to Google:

• Left click is a single click, but right click is a click with two fingers instead of one. This is much better than Mac's system of a single click, yet utilises a single reactive touchpad with mechanical buttons underneath it, similar to a macbook. This is nice once you get used to it.
• OS is based comletely around the internet, nothing else is possible. I wish that there were built in features, such as a notepad, or a calendar, but these are all available through Google online, so I guess that is the reason for that.
• VERY fast operating system. Boot time from cold start is under 5 seconds, no POST, no BIOS. Sleep and wakeup is a fraction of a second after opening and closing the lid
• Must sign in with a Google account. You have to have internet to sign in. A "Guest Mode" is available so your friends can muck about on the internet. This is wiped completely clean after they log off, and they cannot see your information. There is not a trace of your friend ever being on your computer. Big security plus, and a nicety for your friends.
• The apps that I seem to have pre-installed are websites, not apps. I dislike this, but I can't log on unless I have internet, so apps that were not websites are a moot point I suppose.
• Verizon 3G service plans are available directly through the netbook. This is nice, and they have several options. I am not sure, but I think that you get 100MB a time period (monthly?) for free for two years.
• The address bar is hereby referred to as the "omnibox." It is how you navigate your machine, the web, and you can search google straight from it. Just like Chrome browser.
• Looks exactly like Chrome browser, with a few different options in the wrench menu. I could be wowed a little more
• Cannot access anything beyond the Chrome browser interface.
• No direct access to downloads, they are stored in the cloud.
• This OS is likened by me to android for a netbook. It's a little smoother so far, and a little more capable, since instead of syncing once a day, it is in constant communication with servers, saving your downloads offsite, etc.
• Low internet speed results in slow computing
• CANNOT print without an second machine or a "Google Cloud Ready" printer.
• Speakers are great. Full range, but I can't find them lol.
• Touch sensitivity is not condusive to playing internet games (flash and whatnot). This is easily remedied with a notebook mouse, but that is a hassle. It is a little bothersome during regular browsing, too, as the touchpad is quite large, and it is hard to keep one point of contact on it to move the mouse around (two points of contact, at least one moving in a direction is the scroll function)
• So far, the flash plugin has been the worst part. Flash oriented pages are slow to load, and the plugin has crashed twice.
• The OS seems to have trouble with encrypted networks. Unsecured is great, and lightining fast, but Secured networks add a significant amount of load time.

I am very pleased with the operating system. It is definitely designed to be a supplement to a PC, not a replacement. If you do not have a secondary machine with a full operating system, you probably will not get the most out of the ChromeOS, and nor will you be able to do anything useful with it.

There are a lot of features I like, and a few bugs to work out, but I am very amazed at how few there are on dev software.

LiquidSnak said:

My initial thoughts on Google's new ChromeOS are positive. I am a long time Linux user, but even longer Windows user. I enjoy windows more than I enjoy Linux, and I am a PC gamer.

My bias comes from not liking cloud computing. As I said before in another thread, I hate using server booted workstations. I believe if one computer goes down, one computer should go down, not your whole company or school, whichever. So, I am very opposed to cloud computing being the next great thing to replace the PC entirely.

I signed up for the Google test pilot program, since I do love computers, and wanted the opportunity to provide Google with some feedback. I was skeptical when I realized that the ChromeOS is entirely cloud based, except for "apps," plugins, cache, etc. Downloads are downloaded to a server, which you can retrieve later. Printing occurs via printing your page to a retrievable format to print from another computer.

I have come to realize, however, that a cloud PC is nothing more than a light, fast, on the go supplement to your home PC. There is no need to wait while transferring files, no jump drives, no external hard drives that you have to carry around or keep handy to transfer information from your netbook to your home computer, since everything is saved on your Google account. You can go home at the end of the day, and download everything you did immediately onto your home PC. This makes a lot of sense to me.

Anywho, I think I got a little carried away, so here is my list of initial thoughts, that I will be sending to Google:

• Left click is a single click, but right click is a click with two fingers instead of one. This is much better than Mac's system of a single click, yet utilises a single reactive touchpad with mechanical buttons underneath it, similar to a macbook. This is nice once you get used to it.
• OS is based comletely around the internet, nothing else is possible. I wish that there were built in features, such as a notepad, or a calendar, but these are all available through Google online, so I guess that is the reason for that.
• VERY fast operating system. Boot time from cold start is under 5 seconds, no POST, no BIOS. Sleep and wakeup is a fraction of a second after opening and closing the lid
• Must sign in with a Google account. You have to have internet to sign in. A "Guest Mode" is available so your friends can muck about on the internet. This is wiped completely clean after they log off, and they cannot see your information. There is not a trace of your friend ever being on your computer. Big security plus, and a nicety for your friends.
• The apps that I seem to have pre-installed are websites, not apps. I dislike this, but I can't log on unless I have internet, so apps that were not websites are a moot point I suppose.
• Verizon 3G service plans are available directly through the netbook. This is nice, and they have several options. I am not sure, but I think that you get 100MB a time period (monthly?) for free for two years.
• The address bar is hereby referred to as the "omnibox." It is how you navigate your machine, the web, and you can search google straight from it. Just like Chrome browser.
• Looks exactly like Chrome browser, with a few different options in the wrench menu. I could be wowed a little more
• Cannot access anything beyond the Chrome browser interface.
• No direct access to downloads, they are stored in the cloud.
• This OS is likened by me to android for a netbook. It's a little smoother so far, and a little more capable, since instead of syncing once a day, it is in constant communication with servers, saving your downloads offsite, etc.
• Low internet speed results in slow computing
• CANNOT print without an second machine or a "Google Cloud Ready" printer.
• Speakers are great. Full range, but I can't find them lol.
• Touch sensitivity is not condusive to playing internet games (flash and whatnot). This is easily remedied with a notebook mouse, but that is a hassle. It is a little bothersome during regular browsing, too, as the touchpad is quite large, and it is hard to keep one point of contact on it to move the mouse around (two points of contact, at least one moving in a direction is the scroll function)
• So far, the flash plugin has been the worst part. Flash oriented pages are slow to load, and the plugin has crashed twice.
• The OS seems to have trouble with encrypted networks. Unsecured is great, and lightining fast, but Secured networks add a significant amount of load time.

I am very pleased with the operating system. It is definitely designed to be a supplement to a PC, not a replacement. If you do not have a secondary machine with a full operating system, you probably will not get the most out of the ChromeOS, and nor will you be able to do anything useful with it.

There are a lot of features I like, and a few bugs to work out, but I am very amazed at how few there are on dev software.

Pretty much what I thought from the presentation. It is a portable lightweight front end to another system.