Samsung Chromebook (Wi-Fi, 11.6-Inch) Review
My background: I am in my final year of college and have used a unibody 15" MacBook Pro for the past 4 years. I am a bit of a tech geek and like exploring the different options out there, but certainly LOVED the premium feel and use of my MacBook Pro, however, it is no longer turning on anymore - so here I am at school without a computer.
I have been using Google's 'Web Apps' for a while and I find docs/spreadsheets to do 99% of what I need. Otherwise I spend most of my time browsing, doing e-mail etc. The one thing I do use is Photoshop, which needs a more powerful machine than a small portable laptop anyway. Since I'm on a tight budget, and can't justify a MacBook Air (which really is not sufficient for much more than browsing anyway) I decided to spring for the Chromebook and get a desktop to use later on.
I am very happy with my purchase, and find my experience to be similar to that of the reviews I have read. The hardware (specifically the excellent keyboard) are really 70-80% of the MacBook experience, with the track pad working very well and the keyboard being equally as good for my uses. This computer is excellent and does not disappoint at all - even when compared to the MacBook family. It is true that the screen is not as nice, but it is very usable, especially when considering the main uses of this computer (browsing, typing, reading articles).
I have no problem with many tabs open and find pages to load completely satisfactorily. They do not load as smoothly as a brand new MacBook Pro - but I do not expect them to. I have not experimented with any video other than casual YouTube watching which has gone smoothly.
I very rarely write reviews, but am so impressed with the value of this machine that I felt compelled to add to all of the great things people are saying.
The device I think it's great, maybe according to specifications is not the world's fastest computer, and that made me fear a bit about performance, but I confess that it has exceeded my expectations, very comfortable keyboard, the screen size is ideal for everyday tasks, device is pretty light.
To test processor speed I was playing Angry Birds and only at the beginning of the game I seem to notice some lag, but the rest of the game was pretty good, offline version did not vary much in game speed but obviously improved the speed of initial load and between each stage.
The internet connection is pretty simple and familiar, detects wifi networks available, put the password and go. What surprised me here was that I plugged my Galaxy Nexus via USB, enabled USB tethering and it worked perfectly, without additional configuration or anything. Simply spectacular... but, it works once, next time doesn't work, I don't know why, maybe is a problem with my smartphone's Internet provider, last weeks it doesn't work very well.
Device has also options to configure VPN access, but I failed to connect, maybe I get it later and post the tips.
Specifications not mention it, but on settings menu there are options for bluetooth devices. I did a search on two smartphones, and Chromebook was not discovered, neither smartphones on Chromebook, so it is only a menu for supporting devices.
Applications menu seems simple and precise settings tab is the same way as Chrome browser, with some additional options like Wifi settings, mouse and keyboard, etc..
I must confess that the keyboard looks weird without the function keys, but once you use it you realize that you do not need it. The size and spacing of the keys is pretty comfortable. It has a support for keyboard shortcuts (pressing Ctrl + Alt + /), which seem to be very large, but all of them have a utility that amazes, even you can increase or decrease the brightness of the keyboard, if the device supports it. Although the keyboard is in English you can configure to write with accents, "ñ" and symbols of other languages. Perhaps worst of the equipment are the keys themselves, at first glance seem to be a cheap plastic, the space key when typing sounds somewhat, unlike the other keys, but are soft to press and doesn't have annoying click like other keyboards.
The touchpad is simple, has no buttons but allows simple gestures (special moves with two fingers), which make it quite easy to navigate. The drawback I found is that the touchpad itself is a bit harsh, maybe it's my skin but sometimes at dragging fingers the mouse gives some small jumps on the screen, is not serious but could be better. My wireless mouse was recognized and it worked fine except that I could not set higher speed, the maximum offering is not what I would like, but can be a problem with my mouse, should be tested with other models, but is a matter of taste.
The built-in webcam offers good quality, but unfortunately on a G+ hangout I noticed that ChromeOS is not supported on some options, such as masks and others. It's disappointing, I found a group on Google Groups where a Google engineer acknowledges the problem and says they are looking for a solution, but the answer is dated 2011, I hope to settle it soon.
The built-in speaker sound is great, being located under the machine, in the front, makes the sound heard from everywhere on device, which is fine with me. In fact when I'm writing I am listening blues from my music collection in Google Music and is very nice.
For a hangout I could also see that headphone's jack does not accept the microphone built into the headset from my Galaxy Nexus, which I think is strange because the picture on the Chromebook indicates that accepts headphones and microphone.
Chromebook lights in just 8 seconds (yes, 8, timed), and pressing the menu option to shut down you do not realize and faded (3 seconds off). When off and lift the lid the system turns on automatically, avoid pressing the power button, which I think is a very good idea, as well as opening the applications you had open when turning off. It takes a few seconds (no more than 5) to reconnect and continue with what you were.
When connecting a flash drive it recognizes and displays the files in a small embedded file manager, which also shows a local folder called "Downloads" and Google Drive. It strikes me that when connecting my Galaxy Nexus is not recognized and does not show me the files, however when I connect my LG P500 recognizes the 3 partitions I have (normal internal, second partition for Link2SD and SD card). I think maybe they thought the Galaxy Nexus, being a Google product does not need connect to Chromebook and you can get on the web photos and files directly with native applications (auto uploads), perhaps someone don't like it, but I find some logic and does not bother me.
The battery is fine so far, charge is quick (2.5 hours to charge) and takes about 6.5 hours as promised.
The only thing someone might miss is to have the option to burn CDs / DVDs, but in my case that's no problem, since I have a PC with Linux I can do that.
Regarding the use of the same equipment as simple as a web browser, with all standard options that are expected of a modern browser and we know in Chrome.
Being Chromebook based entirely on web applications I saw the need to look what applications might need as "executable", and so far I have been able to supply all I can think, ChromeOS's help give you several alternatives to common tasks via web. Even I was surprised to find a terminal emulator (telnet, ssh) via Web, which works perfectly.
Incredible is the successful integration of hardware and software included, and the ecosystem of "applications" that has been created and also integrate well, almost without access to the small inner disc, although some seem 16Gb easily reach the conclusion that you do not need much more, considering that everything is designed for use via the web with a few options to work offline (gmail, docs, some games, etc).
In conclusion I think if you are a student, reporter, photographer or any profession that does not need to use Windows applications or business, or just love surfing the web is a great device, with everything you need , and a great price.
At least I'm happy with the purchase and I recommend it
First, I'll acknowledge up front that I've evaluated this Chromebook in the context of my kids who go to a school that uses google apps, and my own workplace which has also migrated to google apps as well. Were those factors not in play, I suppose I'd find this machine somewhat less useful.
With this disclaimer out of the way, my bottom line is that I couldn't be happier with this purchase. I have a nice windows laptop, our family has a nice mac laptop at home, and we have ipad, kindle fire and google nexus 7 tablets. With all those choices, I naturally find myself picking this machine up first in the living room. Battery life is great, it's light, and it happens to do well 50% of what I like to do in random moments on a machine at home (the balance of my time I'm using a kindle paperwhite -- also a great product that simply works). My kids seem to be having the same experience with the chromebook as they look to do homework, etc. They are grabbing for this machine first as well.
The same is true, to my surprise, at work. While some apps like powerpoint make me unable to envision actually giving up my laptop for work for probably several years to come, again I find myself naturally using the chromebook most of the time when both are up and running on my desk. The other interesting thing is how quickly my workflow is evolving. I can count on one hand how many times over the past several years I unplugged my laptop and brought it into a meeting. With this new machine, I find myself bringing it into meetings more often than not. I usually don't use it, but it's so light and so fast that it's a subconscious, cost-free decision to take it whether I end up using it or not.
I'd encourage anyone to give this machine serious consideration. If you are in a google apps world, I'd encourage you to give this very, very serious consideration. I have some of the same misgivings others do about living too much in any one vendor's world (in my case, that's become Google), but that vague discomfort noted I'm nevertheless sold.
This is a fantastic notebook for a college student on a budget. It starts up quickly, is extremely light and portable, runs cool, and boasts incredible battery life (I've been getting 5-6 hours with a full charge). I was worried the keyboard might feel somewhat cramped because of the Chromebook's small size (I've found this to be a major drawback of other notebooks <13 inches), and was happy to find this was not the case.
It's easy to use, intuitive, and the trackpad is excellent (really enjoying the two-finger scrolling). Most everything is run in the Chrome browser, with the Google equivalent of the Office suite and Gmail running offline. Reliance on a wireless internet connection has been widely criticized as a drawback, but with how widespread free wifi and personal hotspots have become, I don't personally have an issue with that.
If you're considering the Chromebook, it's important to understand that it is not intended to be a replacement for a full-size laptop (and certainly not a desktop computer). It's $250, and that's just not its purpose. I'm an art student who also works part-time in web development, frequently running Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and Dreamweaver, so for all intents and purposes I'd be considered a "power user." I do not use the Chromebook for those tasks. I do use it for writing, internet browsing, and note-taking, and I can bring it along with me to school. So, if you're looking for extreme portability, good (though basic) functionality, and impressive battery life, this should be an excellent fit.
While I was always a fan of the Chromebook concept of an easy-to-use, virus free, and quick-to-start laptop via which you interacted only with web sites (which most of us do most of the time), Google pitched it wrong at first by making the darned things more expensive than PC laptops that could do much more for no more money. Potential users who avoided Chromebooks for this reason were missing the point, but still they stayed away.
With the launch of the new model Chromebook as well as the earlier Chromebox, and with some recent changes to the Chrome OS, I think that the Chromebook's time may finally have come. This is because several things have happened since the first Chromebooks were launched in 2011:
* The Chrome OS has been given a "desktop" style interface, which makes it more "familiar" to traditional PC users.
* The ability to use the Chromebook off-line (not connected to the Internet) to edit documents and to play media files from a USB stick or SD card (or from your Downloads folder) has been improved.
* Windows / Intel "ultrabooks" have come on the market; which has played into Google's hands by raising the price that users expect to pay for a sleek, fast start-up "netbook"... thus making Chromebooks now look more reasonably priced.
* The new October 2012 Chromebook is in any case much more reasonably priced, it looks nice, and it performs well.
* Finally, with the plethora of touchscheen tablets and the introduction of Windows 8, the Chromebook may have found a niche by sticking with the more traditional keyboard + touchpad + screen format.
You don't get a manual with your new Chromebook (or with any computer these days) but The Chrome Book (Second Edition) was published to coincide with the new model Chromebook.
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