Chromebook

[eurotrash]

The biz and student monthly pricing looks great on the Chromebook $35/$20 especially with gmail, docs and calendar working offline by the summer.

However, it can't be your only machine.  To recover:

What you'll need

Before starting this process, you'll need the following:

A Windows, Mac, or Linux computer with administrative rights.
A 4 GB or larger USB flash drive that you don't mind clearing.
http://www.google.com/support/chromeos/bin/answer.py?answer=1046510

It definitely could be a tablet replacement!

[Drastic]

So, you have to buy the machine plus pay monthly? Fail.

[4Eyes]

I think you just pay monthly OR buy the machine - or have I misunderstood?

Not sure it is viable either way - the whole tablet thing will kill it IMO - those that have keyboard docks will do all that and more (eventually)

[eurotrash]

You just pay the monthly fee and the hardware is free.

The price is think is a bit high at the moment especially as you can probably get an i3 laptop for around the same price as the Samsung one. 

One of the main reasons for going with a pad for me would be the instant on.  I don't mind losing the 8 secs if you throw in a keyboard.

Here in the UK we would have to add at least 20% to cover the VAT.

It is also jailbreakable to give you full access to the kernel and of course has flash support.

Yesterday they I am sure they said $35 for biz and $20 for edu/gov but I notice now that the biz price seems to be reported as $28 - the chrome box also looks interesting for small biz use.

[Drastic]

>You just pay the monthly fee and the hardware is free.

Ah ok, the couple of pages I looked at, at G didn't explain it.

3 year contract though. Seems a bit long, total cost for non-government/school is over a grand. Plus the apps for business will run $50/year if you need that.

For that money you can buy a new netbook every year, or a new base notebook every year and a half.

[Rooftop]

Anyone seen anything about included upgrades? As Drastic says seems pricey otherwise.  However, if it worked like the old TV rental model and you could trade in periodically that could be cool.

Want one mind you. No idea what I'd use it for though. Much of what I've been doing on a laptop lately isn't stuff I'd care to share with G.

[Brad]

Not a perfect article but it raises good questions:
http://searchenginewatch.com/article/2070607/Google-Chromebooks-Why-You-Should-Just-Say-No

I think I'd rather have a tablet: more choices for essential software (called apps now). If I needed a real keyboard I think I would set it up like RC has.

[eurotrash]

Brad,

I read that article, I also commented on the article a few times (justapunter01). Although she makes some good points, her article has been changed numerous times since she wrote it - even after emailing her (at her request in the comments), I am still waiting on the link to the video she says she used - I watched the live stream and it was obvious to me that their was an either/or pricing structure.  It was badly researched and she was well pulled up by the punters.  Interestingly, having looked back over it and the comments, it seems that she didn't even research enough to know how to recover the bloody thing.  Shady article but with some good points.  I think this roundup is a better reason not to buy one http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/editors/26756/?p1=A3

I wouldn't have one as my only machine - I couldn't (see my original post on this thread) but I would instead of a pad because of the keyboard and the (almost) instant on.  The iPad with a cover is going to hit me for £434, without a keyboard, and those start at about £40 and go up to over £100 - I am looking at buying one of these not as a computer as such, but instead of a pad because of better than pad functionality in my situation.  I want to use it as an information consumer rather than moving from office to the assorted apps that G can use to wrap me in advertising.

[Brad]

Eurotrash: The most recent article you posted is much better.  Those are the main points why I would avoid cloud devices in general and a Google trojan horse OS in particular.  But that is just me.  I can see where some people could find something like this very useful for their particular needs.

[eurotrash]

Interesting deal on a Jollicloud netbook at £139.97

[eurotrash]

Wot a twat http://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/Vye_Jolibook_1084220.html

Review http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/26/jolicloud-jolibook-review/

This would also take ChromeOS I am sure.