Samsung Chromebook Series 5 Preview: What You Need to Know
Samsung Chromebook Series 5 Preview: What You Need to Know
Google and Samsung have unveiled the “world’s first chromebook,” the Chromebook Series 5. We had the opportunity to take it for a test drive.
On Wednesday, Google announced the upcoming availability of Google Chrome OS notebooks. The first devices will make their debut on June 15 on Amazon.com, Best Buy and other stores in the UK, France, Germany, Italy and The Netherlands. Sundar Pichai, Google’s SVP of Chrome, revealed that Acer and Samsung would produce the initial devices.
At a starting price of $429, the Samsung Chromebook Series 5 is cheaper than an iPad, standard laptop or MacBook. But is its hardware, speed and Chrome OS software enough to get consumers to pull out their credit cards?
Check our our first impression and photo gallery of the device below, and let us know what you think in the comments.
Specifications
For anyone who has used the Cr-48 prototype Chrome OS notebook, you can breathe a sigh of relief: The Samsung Chromebook is much faster. The biggest change from the Cr-48 is that the Chromebook boasts an Intel dual-core processor, providing a noticeable performance boost. The Chromebook is also sleeker and includes a more vibrant screen. Here’s an overview of the specs for the Samsung Chromebook:
- Size: 0.79-inch case, 3.3 pounds total
- Memory: 2 GB RAM, 16 GB SSD
- Processor: Intel dual-core processor (Samsung and Google aren’t disclosing processor speed) Update:Amazon says it’s an Intel Atom Processor N570 running at 1.66 GHz
- Screen: 12.1-inch SuperBright Display, 16:10 resolution — Samsung claims it is 36% brighter than a standard LCD display.
- Battery: Up to 8.5 hours of normal usage, up to 5 hours of video playback
- Software: Google Chrome OS. Bootup time is less than 10 seconds
- Peripherals: Two USB ports and an SD/SDHC/MMC card reader
- Price: $429 for Wi-Fi. $499 for the 3G version, which includes 100 MB free per month for two years
- Input: The trackpad is “oversized” and the Chromebook sports a full-sized Chiclet-style keyboard.
First Impressions
With the help of Google Chrome OS Product Manager Kan Liu, I tested the device.
If you’ve seen the Google Cr-48, then the interface of the device should be familiar to you. Google Chrome OS loads fast and is simple to use, thanks to the lack of desktop apps. Thanks to the improved hardware of the Samsung Chromebook, you won’t be screaming every three minutes at it for failing to load a simple Flash video. The dual-core processor makes a huge difference.
One important change to Chrome OS is its ability to link to web apps for uploading images, videos and other multimedia. I downloaded several images from the web and was able to quickly upload them to a Box.net account right from the file folder. Once Flickr, Picnik, Vimeo and other multimedia-sharing services sync with the Chrome OS API, it should make uploading and downloading images a lot easier to manage.
Still, Chrome OS takes some time to get used to, and it isn’t for everyone. It can’t run Skype, it can’t run Photoshop, and it simply isn’t a good machine for a power user. However, it’s ideal for businesses that only need machines for data entry. Casual users may find some use out of the Samsung Chromebook (here’s Google’s video explaining the Chromebook), but they will probably be better off with an iPad 2 or an Android tablet.
The device itself, though, is sleek and sexy. It’s light, portable and pleasing to the eyes. I wouldn’t mind dropping into a coffee shop with the Arctic White version of the device. Its hardware is solid, but I need to test it more extensively to see whether it can take the use and abuse of daily work.
Other Business News:
- Hp pavilion dv7 laptop batteries
- Hp 6735s laptop batteries
- Hp 530 laptop batteries
- Dell inspiron 1520 laptop batteries
- Hp pavilion dv5 laptop batteries
CloudTag: Samsung , Chromebook , Series 5 , Hp pavilion dv7 laptop batteries , Hp 6735s laptop batteries , Hp 530 laptop batteries , Dell inspiron 1520 laptop batteries , Hp pavilion dv5 laptop batteries
Battery Technology Related Articles:
Google I/O 2011 in a Nutshell: All the News You Might Have Missed
How to save money with refurbished computers by www.batteryfast.co.uk
Phone battery flat? Gadget uses your voice to charge mobile | Battery Technology
Top 10 Fixes for the Web’s Most Annoying Problems by www.batteryfast.co.uk
iTablet mini Bluetooth keyboard With Built-in Touchpad Lets You Control All Your Devices
Asus Eee Pad Transformer Preview, Android 3.0 Honeycomb-based tablets by www.batteryfast.co.uk
Gold Plated iPad 2 makes its debut in Dubai by www.batteryfast.co.uk
Top Tips for Toshiba laptop battery is not easily damaged
To read more good posts, please follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/batteryfastuk
Thank you!
Did you enjoy this post? Why not leave a comment below and continue the conversation, or subscribe to my feed and get articles like this delivered automatically to your feed reader.
Comments
[...] While Facebook refuses to say that it took part in a "smear campaign," the company admits that it "wanted third parties to verify that people did not approve of the collection and use of information from their accounts on Facebook and other services for inclusion in Google Social Circles (Read More [...]
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
[...] Chromebook Series 5 Preview: What You Need to Know – http://www.batteryfast.co.uk/battery-technology/samsung-chromebook-series-5-preview-what-you-need-to... [...]