Google Pilot Program- USA only

[ionbasa]

Pilot Program - Chrome OS

We're all ears.

The Chrome operating system is a work in progress. We’re looking for the right users to try it out and tell us how we can make it better.
Each participant in the Pilot program will receive a Cr-48 Chrome notebook; in return, we'll expect you to use it regularly and send us detailed feedback.
Sound interesting? Please note:

• Chrome OS is for people who live on the web.
  It runs web-based applications, not legacy PC software.
• The Pilot program is not for the faint of heart.
  Things might not always work just right.

The Pilot program is open to individuals, businesses, schools, non-profits and developers based in the United States. Learn about Chrome notebooks for business
Applicants must be at least 18 years of age. We'll review the requests that come in and contact you if you've been selected.
Apply Now

I applied, so eagerly awaiting response.

 

[brianzion]

Test drive a Chrome notebook (USA ONLY)

To apply to get your Chrome notebook, please provide your US mailing address by clicking the link below no later than December 21, 2010 at 11:59 PM PST.

https://services.google.com/fb/forms/cr48advanced/?referrer=signuppage

 

[LiquidSnak]

Noooooo, now I will not get one due to the influx of requests! D:

(lol)

 

[ionbasa]

well, I was excited when I aplied today, and i think that a majority of people who applied(and are on 7forums) will get selected. especialy since we enthusiastic!

 

[brianzion]

best of luck to all of you in usa its not available this side of the pond :drool:

 

[LiquidSnak]

I would have thought that they would have an international pilot program as well... I'm not sure why they don't.

 

[brianzion]

hello liquidsnak na i dont think so i had a read over at google blog land its still under construction they keep putting back the release date because its not ready this way they can test it out in the field i hope it takes off lots of people dislike google (people that use there protocols then moan about the source huff) but they have helped in so many ways the development of the internet and what its used for.

 

[johnwillyums]

Yes. Very disappointing. Got an invite email and was quite excited until I saw it was US only

 

[geeve420]

Thanks for the link, I signed up and made sure they understood that I was a skeptic of the OS and the cloud. I want to test it myself to make an informed decision on it though. I have knocked it in the past, but I hope to be picked so I can see it first hand

 

[Windows i7 920]

Google Chrome vs Chrome OS?

Are Chrome and Chrome OS the same software just deployed differently? If something can run in Chrome OS, does this guarantee it will run in Chrome? I'm a bit confused as to how this OS is going to be at all useful. Might as well just install Chrome into Damn Small Linux and call it a day, unless I'm missing something.

 

[fseal]

Heh I'd bet that's exactly what they did

 

[SledgeDG]

I's all about the Cloud:roflmao::roflmao:
That's the big difference to DSL with a chrome Browser as I understand it.

The open-source Linux-based OS Google Chrome is a light-weight OS that allows users to access apps directly through the browser thus eliminating the need to store apps on the system. The Chrome OS-based notebooks also boots faster, takes 60 seconds to start the system when first set up, as most of the software is run on the cloud. Also the Chrome-OS notebook is designed to be consistently connected to the web.

-DG

 

[Dinesh]

Google Chrome OS RC available

Last year, we announced our effort to design an operating system that is built and optimized for the web. Many people already spend all their time in a web browser, and by building an operating system that is essentially a browser, we can make computers faster, much simpler and fundamentally more secure.

We’re not done yet, but Chrome OS is at the stage where we need feedback from real users. Some of the features of Chrome OS require new hardware, but we didn’t want to sell pre-beta computers. Instead we’re launching a pilot program where we will give test notebooks to qualified users, developers, schools and businesses. We're starting with the U.S. and will expand to other countries once we get the necessary certifications. To participate in the pilot program, visit the Chrome notebook website.

The test notebooks exist only to test the software—they are black, have no branding, no logos, no stickers, nothing. They do have 12.1 inch screens, full-sized keyboards and touch pads, integrated 3G from Verizon, eight hours of battery life and eight days of standby time. Chrome notebooks are designed to reach the web instantly, are easy to share among friends and family, and simply by logging in, all of your apps, bookmarks and other browser settings are there. Setting up a new machine takes less than a minute. And even at this early stage, we feel there is no consumer or business operating system that is more secure.

In the first half of next year Chrome notebooks will be available for sale from Acer and Samsung. More manufacturers will follow. Also, Chrome OS is designed to work across a wide range of screen sizes and form factors, enabling our partners to deliver computing devices beyond notebooks.

We’re excited to get Chrome notebooks into the hands of users. The data from our test pilots is key to building something wonderful. We look forward to working together to make computers better.

Via Official Google Blog: An update on Chrome, the Web Store and Chrome OS

Apply for RC program

I m downloading it now... Lets see how it looks.

 

[DirtyElf]

so let me get this straight... they want my business to run entirely off of THEIR servers, where they have access to my accounting, trademarked, patented, purchase history, and private data at will?

no thanks.

unless the "cloud" is my own server, which is basically what I do now anyways..... why the need for this google OS crap?

http://www.google.com/chromeos/features-guidedtour.html

so google wants me to store all my personal information on their servers so they can use it to profile me, or sell my information, or any other things that I know google already does.

 

[Dinesh]

Its "secured".

 

[johnwillyums]

Thanks Dinesh. Have you tried it yet? I take it there isn't a x64bit version yet.
I need more info. Is there a partition manager in the installer etc.

 

[Dinesh]

Thanks Dinesh. Have you tried it yet? I take it there isn't a x64bit version yet.
I need more info. Is there a partition manager in the installer etc.

Hi John, I m just downloading it. Internet is slow ATM so it will take hours. Its a live CD so you can run it without installing it.

 

[Airbot]

Last year, we announced our effort to design an operating system that is built and optimized for the web. Many people already spend all their time in a web browser, and by building an operating system that is essentially a browser, we can make computers faster, much simpler and fundamentally more secure.

We’re not done yet, but Chrome OS is at the stage where we need feedback from real users. Some of the features of Chrome OS require new hardware, but we didn’t want to sell pre-beta computers. Instead we’re launching a pilot program where we will give test notebooks to qualified users, developers, schools and businesses. We're starting with the U.S. and will expand to other countries once we get the necessary certifications. To participate in the pilot program, visit the Chrome notebook website.

The test notebooks exist only to test the software—they are black, have no branding, no logos, no stickers, nothing. They do have 12.1 inch screens, full-sized keyboards and touch pads, integrated 3G from Verizon, eight hours of battery life and eight days of standby time. Chrome notebooks are designed to reach the web instantly, are easy to share among friends and family, and simply by logging in, all of your apps, bookmarks and other browser settings are there. Setting up a new machine takes less than a minute. And even at this early stage, we feel there is no consumer or business operating system that is more secure.

In the first half of next year Chrome notebooks will be available for sale from Acer and Samsung. More manufacturers will follow. Also, Chrome OS is designed to work across a wide range of screen sizes and form factors, enabling our partners to deliver computing devices beyond notebooks.

We’re excited to get Chrome notebooks into the hands of users. The data from our test pilots is key to building something wonderful. We look forward to working together to make computers better.

Via Official Google Blog: An update on Chrome, the Web Store and Chrome OS

Apply for RC program

I m downloading it now... Lets see how it looks.

Threads merged. As this is already posted about with 2 different threads.

   Warning

But just to let you know, that "Chrome OS RC" you link to there, is not the "official Google" Chrome OS.

Somebodies frankenbuild rendition of it, but it isn't the Chrome OS, so I'd be careful.

 

[ionbasa]

well, back to the cloud talk,
to me the cloud is a bad idea if you have sensible data, unless you manage you own cloud with your own server. This also brings to the topic, will Goolgle alow for you to run your own "Chrome Server/cloud".

Im sure that market analists are watching this "cloud computing" industry closely, why? because you can start your own buisness by hosting the "cloud". I can see this hapening in the future.

 

[seekermeister]

It doesn't make any difference to me, because I do not intend to apply for this offer, but I found it curious that while listening to AOL Radio just now, it was said that these notebooks are missing the caplock key. Apparently, Google believes that it is for the better good, to prevent anyone from posting something in all caps.

Some might say that this is like looking a gift horse in the mouth, but then with the amount of data that they are going to collect on the users, I wouldn't consider it to be a gift...maybe a horse (trojan).