Cr-48 Chrome Notebook - Netbook by google

Google Cr-48 notebook

Logic behind the name - Cr-48

Pilot program for chrome OS

• Apply for the Pilot program

Specifications :

• General :
  • Type: Netbook
  • operating System: Chrome OS


• Display :
  • Screen type: LCD
  • Screen size: 12.1 inches
  • Screen resolution: 1280 x 800
  • Aspect ratio: 16:10


• Processor :
  • Processor make: IntelCPU
  • family: AtomCPU
  • model: N455Processor
  • speed: 1.66 GHz
  • Number of cores: Single-core
  • Hyperthreading: YesCache
  • size: 32 KB L1 cache | 512 KB L2 cache


• Networking :
  • WiFi: 802.11 a, b, g, n
  • WiFi encryption: WEP, WPA, WPA2
  • Mobile broadband (3G):


• Memory and storage :
  • System RAM: 2 GB
  • Hard drive(s): 16 GB (total) | SSD / integrated


• Battery :
  • Maximum battery life: Up to 8 hours
  • Battery type: Li-ion (63 Wh capacity)
  • Battery access: Removable


• Input :
  • Keyboard: 74 keys
  • Pointing device: Trackpad (Multi-touch)


• Connections :
  • USB: 2.0 (1 ports)
  • Bluetooth: 2.1 + EDR


• Size and weight :
  • Dimensions: 0.9 inches (h) | 11.8 inches (w) | 8.6 inches (d)
  • Weight: 3.8 pounds


• Availability :
  • Availability: Not yet released
  • Announced (US): Dec 7th, 2010
  • Product site: http://www.google.com/chromeos/pilot-program-cr48.html

Some key features of Cr-48

• Grate Display: "Cr-48" has a display of 12.1 inches with the resolution of 1200x800 pixels. This resolution is pretty good for 12.1 inches display. Also has the bigger viewing angle from left to right. It doesn't have touch-screen as tablet-PCs have.


• Full sized keyboard: "Cr-48" has a full sized keyboard and it feels like a mac-book keyboard, but without function and lock keys (such as caps lock, num lock, scroll lock). Google integrated an apple-like function keys on the top of keyboard. Its a brilliant idea by google to replace the caps-lock key with the search button. You should read list of some Keyboard shortcuts.


• Small Boot time : Normally an Operating system takes huge time to boot, But the Cr-48 notebook doesn't required that much time it can boot in less than 10 seconds, Cr-48 was made to provide Internet access as early as possible hence the chrome engineers works hard to reduced the shut-down and start-up time. The resuming windows from sleep mode is very very quick. It Powers on or wakes up when you open the lid.


• Amazing battery life: The CR-48 has great battery life something similar to i-pad. As google says it can be active for 8 Hours and has a 8 days standby life. It automatically sleeps after about 3 minutes of inactivity. The battery is not bigger but still it can provide a whole day experience (8+ active hours)to users.


• Good Browsing experience: The Operating system used in "Cr-48" is Chrome OS and it was designed to give a good web browsing experience to user. Cr-48 made Internet browsing as simple as in mobile phones. It boots in less than 10 seconds and also loads websites quickly and run smoothly. Chrome OS supports latest web standards, adobe flash etc. It can run everything normal browser can do.


• Cloud Computing: Early days cloud computing has been very popular, and important thing is, our Cr-48 notebook also support cloud computing. If you lost your Cr-48 notebook having Chrome OS installed then you can get back all your data by logging in another Chrome OS laptop. You can get back all your information stored on another Computer having Cr-48.


• Amazing apps: Chrome has very big community where you can download good applications for your notebook. You can try these for free, there is no need of Cd's, DVDs because you can one by just typing the URL in browser.


• Multi user system : Multi user system was supported by the operating system used in Cr-48, So that Multiple users can log-on to notebook independently. A guest also can browse files, Internet but the all data logs created by guests will be erased when that user log off from the notebook.


• High end online security : "Cr-48" this chrome notebook comes with the advanced security technologies so we don't have to worry about our online safety. It will provide security against all kind of viruses and malwares.


• Guest mode (Incognito mode !): Something similar to Guest login system in the Microsoft Windows, Cr-48 provides a Guest mode in which whole session from the guest person will be in incognito mode. Same as Googles browser "Chrome" "Cr-48" has a incognito mode. Any of the applications won't run in incognito mode.


• User Login to Cr-48: Just you have to start the lid and after 10 seconds it will ask for login information, You have to enter your Google account(Gmail account) login information to get into the Chrome OS. If you have a google account then you can get into Chrome operating system.


• Wireless connectivity : Cr-48 is 100% cloud based operating system and we have to login to our Gmail account to get into Cr-48 and this requires an active Internet connection. In the home/office we can get a Wi-fi connection but we can't use notebook outside the range of Wi-fi. Cr-48 comes with a built-in 3G card and a wireless interface so that user can use Wi-fi and 3G to connect with Internet.


• Cloud Print: This is new feature introduced by Google which allows user to send a print request through internet on another computer having an active Chrome 9 browser, Just you need to press CTEL + P in Cr-48 notebook and this will get access to Cloud Printer on the network. This is possible due to cloud computing.
  


• Auto Update: This notebook automatically updates to latest version whenever you start it, so you don't have to worry about its upgrade. It also fix system problems itself.

What I liked:

• No worry about our data : Google stores our content on its own server we don't have to worry about this because you can have access to your data wherever, whenever you want wiht using your Google account. If you lost your notebook then ? just start another Chrome CR-48 notebook, provide google Login detains and you got all your data back. Don't have to bring hard drives, college projects with you,


• No downloading : Their is no need of downloading movies, videos, songs from the internet. as we can listen to them directly from Chrome notebook. Don't worry about your multimedia files, google will handle them for you.


• No Security problem : User don't have to install antivirus software locally because all activity will be done online, No need to spend dollars on Antivirus if Google is providing it for free (All files are stored on Google server hence Google needs to install antivirus on their cloud servers.).


• Also support Microsoft Office :Google chrome OS support Microsoft office documents. CR-48 can Open office documents via Microsoft live application. Microsoft Office Live application is a free web application for users of Windows Live chrome OS will open that documents using Microsoft Office live online.

• It has very nice display (12.1 inches)
• It has very good battery life.
• Wakes up when the lid was opened.
• Incognito mode similar to Guest mode in windows.
• Requires an Google account to login.
• So many keyboard shortcuts available.
• Wi-fi and 3G card for better connectivity.

What I Disliked:

• Poor Adobe flash plugin : This notebook was created to provide good browsing experiance to users, but the problem is, the Adobe flash plugin used in this browser was very poor in quality, It can't run online videos. This is due to the lack of support of the Adobe platform to Linux and everyone knows Chrome OS is based on linux platform. However adobe declares that they are giving highest priority to solve this issue, the engineers are working intensively to improve the plugin compatibility with chrome OS.


• Need high speed internet : Multitasking requires high speed internet. Also to run larger applications, to perform multiple operations normal internet speed in not sufficient. Lack of availability of high speed internet services in some places may cause big problem. Without high speed connection It can not run as smooth as other local operating systems, like Windows.


• Lack of Offline support : Google yet not provided offline support in its Operating system. Microsoft Windows has offline support and if connection is available then it also provide online support. Google should take lesson from Windows and provide online as well as offline support to their users.


• Storage and CD-ROM : Google can store some types of file on the cloud such as, photos (in Picasa web album), videos (on YouTube.com), documents adn pdf's (on Google Docs & Spreadsheets) only what about other files. Google chrome CR-48 notebook doesn't have CD-ROM. What should I do with my all DVDs and CD's, No one can play music, videos stored in that CD/DVD.


• Privacy problem :yes, If I don't want google to save my personal information/data, files on its own servers (publicly). Is it secure to save highly confidential information on Google's cloud? I have strong feeling that Google want to browse my my personal files. Google should provide some local storage on Cr-48 notebook to store our private, confidential data.

• Lack of shortcut keys ( such as page up/down, home/end, caps lock and delete buttons)
• Lack of function keys (like F2 to rename, F11 for full screen, F3 for next item in search)
• No buttons on touch-pad (same as mac-books.)
• Can't install local apps such as Photoshop, notepad, calculator etc.
• Can't minimize the windows as there is no desktop backgrounds.
• It automatically sleeps after inactivity of 3 minutes, we can not change the settings.