Senior Contributing Editors:
Jesus Diaz
| AIM | Twitter
Mark Wilson, Reviews
| AIM | Twitter
Contributing Editors:
Matt Buchanan | AIM | Twitter
Adam Frucci | Twitter
Sean Fallon | Twitter
Jack Loftus | Twitter
John Herrman | Twitter
Dan Nosowitz
Chris Mascari
Kat Hannaford | Twitter
Rosa Golijan | Twitter
Chris Jacob
@OCEntertainment: How did you get AdSweep to run on the OSX version? It seems that they turned off extensions for Mac and I haven't figured out how to turn them back on yet, still trying to figure that out. Maybe you can point me in the right direction.
@Pope_Zephyrinus: I should clarify, I'm running this on the Windows version. I believe the Mac version doesn't allow extensions just yet. I could be wrong. My Mactop is at home, so I haven't tried it out yet.
I just got a lovely oxblood eeePC that came with XP. I didn't even boot into XP once.
I immediately put Moblin 2.1 on. Then, after 5 minutes, realized that Moblin is a good idea and a horrible execution and installed Ubuntu Netbook Remix (Karmic). After about 30 minutes of tweaking, it has a beautiful UI, is immensely usable, goes over 5 hours on a full charge, and doesn't get hot on the bottom.
In short, it's the perfect couch laptop. The only glitch is that the Wireless n isn't recognized so I can only surf at g speed. But the n issue is being worked on.
@(Starman) Starman: Firefox runs silky-smooth. Everything about it is good (except for the trackpad button which is a little stiff). Closed, it feels solid (not flimsy).
It has a bit of heft to it but it easily could be put naked into a purse, messenger bag, or backpack with no padded case required.
And Netbook Remix is a consumer-ready OS. There an oddball glitch here and there, but nothing that is any worse than glitches that Cupertino and Redmond have shipped. On top of that, the wake time is about 2 seconds.
The only major problem I had was installing FF extensions; that was fixed by uninstalling and then reinstalling FF. Add-ons install just like FF on SL or Win7.
The 10" eeePC (1005HA or 1008HA) is a great commuter/traveler netbook. It has a hefty battery life and seems to be designed to be tossed in a carry-on back.
Well, there are lots of people who prefer to buy a PC (laptop, desktop, netbook...) with a preloaded copy of linux just because it's cheaper.
After that, they just install a pirated copy of windows over it.
@SewerShark: LOOK BEHIND YOU, A THREE HEADED MONKEY!!!: Assuming it's all pirated is probably a mistake. I wouldn't doubt that a lot of people, like myself, are currently using legit copies of the Windows 7 RC1 or an old disk of XP lying around that they knew they could use instead of paying 40 extra.
@Maori_Yelir: Thats ok.
But the actual numbers does not really matter, what matters is that this case does exist.
The number of netbooks shipped with linux does not prove anything.
@thomas_obrien222: I think somebody told them that 50% of left-handers sympathize to communist China. And China doesn't like to take chances, so they've eliminated the left hand. Therefore, all equipment manufactured in China will be for right-handed people. Actually, no, I just made that up. I totally had you tho...
Anyway, this thing fails if it doesn't have Swype. Else and Swype were meant for eachother. I hope it doesn't cost as much as a used vehicle, like Sony's cool-yet-practically-untouchable phones.
If everything is going to be 'cloud' and ran off of 'servers' at other locations, who is paying the bills on those servers? Who is keeping them up and managing the content? How do you justify a free OS with this type of built in legacy costs?
Oh, I know how. Ads. Your computer will not have to have an adblocker. Your computer will boot up and shut down the latest deals from Foot Locker. In the middle of writing a paper? A pop up will remind you to get a new McCafe since you have been working really hard.
I see people saying someone wants to own their own media, I think there are people who like owning their own software, so to speak.
I was so in favor of the Chrome OS till I read the news and drew my own conclusions. Back to Ubunt-land I go.
I don't know about this analysis. I mean, don't get me wrong, a lot of stuff here is good. For a truly web-dedicated device, bandwidth would, as always, need to be increased. The structure of web apps would need to adapt.
But, personally I believe this kind of misses the point. I don't think the initiative of Chrome OS is to simply move everything to the web. I mean, take video editing for example. Why? Video editing isn't typically a very "portable" task. Either a video edit is a big project that could use a dedicated workstation (or an internal local network, as in a small production house), where uploading hundreds of gigabytes of data would be a waste of time, or it's a live, happening-now kind of video taken from a phone where maybe some basic trimming tasks would be done real quick then uploaded. I'm open to suggestions, but I can't think of a video editing job where you would benefit from uploading video to a server then editing it from any and all computers you could log into. It's just unnecessary.
Honestly, I really don't think Chrome OS is intended to be the game-changing replacement OS people were expecting it to be. Much like the netbooks themselves. When I first heard of a laptop without an optical drive and minimal (comparatively) amounts of storage space, I laughed. But they caught on, and for good reason. Namely, they were targeted devices that didn't aim to do everything, but what it does do, it does well. And cheaply.
Chrome OS, from what we've seen today, flat out does not have what it takes to dethrone Windows, OS X, or any Linux flavor as a desktop OS. And I doubt it ever will. But given the right amount of support from web app developers (because really, it's mostly in their hands), Chrome OS has everything it takes to make one kick ass netbook. For some people.
@OCEntertainment: There's a rumor that the whole reason that many computer manufacturers are supporting Chrome is for one reason. It's free, and that will let them put some pressure on MS to reduce prices for their OS.
They don't particularly want to use it, but if they threaten MS with it, well, MS'll have to drop it's prices, they'll switch back, and everyone is happy.
@Tom90deg: That would be an insanely idiotic thing for a device manufacturer to do.
If they were to switch over to a product they thought was good, that'd be one thing. Folks start buying non-Windows computers, MS loses money, then they start getting more competitive with their prices. But if device manufacturers start putting an OS they have zero confidence in, MS would be all "Good luck, suckers!"
You actually can compete with free. And if free sucked, if free didn't move computers off the shelves, MS prices would stay right where they are.
Free may be a helpful motivating factor, but it is not the only reason manufacturers would consider supporting it.
12/08/09
Currently trying out the Chrome beta build with the AdSweep extension. Looks pretty good so far. Still would prefer something official.
Come on, Chrome. You've got the faintest of a chance here. Don't blow it.
12/08/09
12/08/09
12/08/09
12/08/09
12/08/09
Sorry, but Google came a little late to the game.
12/08/09
[mashable.com]
Chrome may have been late to the game but it's seriously so much faster than Firefox...
12/08/09
That link I provided was worthless- here you go:
[adsweep.org]
12/08/09
12/08/09
You do know I just provided you with a link to a Chrome Adblocker right?
12/08/09
I immediately put Moblin 2.1 on. Then, after 5 minutes, realized that Moblin is a good idea and a horrible execution and installed Ubuntu Netbook Remix (Karmic). After about 30 minutes of tweaking, it has a beautiful UI, is immensely usable, goes over 5 hours on a full charge, and doesn't get hot on the bottom.
In short, it's the perfect couch laptop. The only glitch is that the Wireless n isn't recognized so I can only surf at g speed. But the n issue is being worked on.
12/08/09
12/08/09
It has a bit of heft to it but it easily could be put naked into a purse, messenger bag, or backpack with no padded case required.
And Netbook Remix is a consumer-ready OS. There an oddball glitch here and there, but nothing that is any worse than glitches that Cupertino and Redmond have shipped. On top of that, the wake time is about 2 seconds.
The only major problem I had was installing FF extensions; that was fixed by uninstalling and then reinstalling FF. Add-ons install just like FF on SL or Win7.
The 10" eeePC (1005HA or 1008HA) is a great commuter/traveler netbook. It has a hefty battery life and seems to be designed to be tossed in a carry-on back.
12/08/09
After that, they just install a pirated copy of windows over it.
12/08/09
12/08/09
Or they didn't know what linux was and quickly paid some computer geek to put windows back on,
12/08/09
12/08/09
12/08/09
But the actual numbers does not really matter, what matters is that this case does exist.
The number of netbooks shipped with linux does not prove anything.
12/08/09
12/08/09
12/08/09
12/08/09
12/08/09
12/08/09
12/08/09
12/08/09
11/25/09
11/25/09
Anyway, this thing fails if it doesn't have Swype. Else and Swype were meant for eachother. I hope it doesn't cost as much as a used vehicle, like Sony's cool-yet-practically-untouchable phones.
11/25/09
11/25/09
11/19/09
11/19/09
Oh, I know how. Ads. Your computer will not have to have an adblocker. Your computer will boot up and shut down the latest deals from Foot Locker. In the middle of writing a paper? A pop up will remind you to get a new McCafe since you have been working really hard.
I see people saying someone wants to own their own media, I think there are people who like owning their own software, so to speak.
I was so in favor of the Chrome OS till I read the news and drew my own conclusions. Back to Ubunt-land I go.
11/19/09
But, personally I believe this kind of misses the point. I don't think the initiative of Chrome OS is to simply move everything to the web. I mean, take video editing for example. Why? Video editing isn't typically a very "portable" task. Either a video edit is a big project that could use a dedicated workstation (or an internal local network, as in a small production house), where uploading hundreds of gigabytes of data would be a waste of time, or it's a live, happening-now kind of video taken from a phone where maybe some basic trimming tasks would be done real quick then uploaded. I'm open to suggestions, but I can't think of a video editing job where you would benefit from uploading video to a server then editing it from any and all computers you could log into. It's just unnecessary.
Honestly, I really don't think Chrome OS is intended to be the game-changing replacement OS people were expecting it to be. Much like the netbooks themselves. When I first heard of a laptop without an optical drive and minimal (comparatively) amounts of storage space, I laughed. But they caught on, and for good reason. Namely, they were targeted devices that didn't aim to do everything, but what it does do, it does well. And cheaply.
Chrome OS, from what we've seen today, flat out does not have what it takes to dethrone Windows, OS X, or any Linux flavor as a desktop OS. And I doubt it ever will. But given the right amount of support from web app developers (because really, it's mostly in their hands), Chrome OS has everything it takes to make one kick ass netbook. For some people.
11/20/09
They don't particularly want to use it, but if they threaten MS with it, well, MS'll have to drop it's prices, they'll switch back, and everyone is happy.
11/20/09
If they were to switch over to a product they thought was good, that'd be one thing. Folks start buying non-Windows computers, MS loses money, then they start getting more competitive with their prices. But if device manufacturers start putting an OS they have zero confidence in, MS would be all "Good luck, suckers!"
You actually can compete with free. And if free sucked, if free didn't move computers off the shelves, MS prices would stay right where they are.
Free may be a helpful motivating factor, but it is not the only reason manufacturers would consider supporting it.
11/19/09
I am. and the bandwidth caps and overage charges living in the 'cloud' will bring.
not everyone is lucky enough to get unlimited internet.
the choice for this house is cable, with a bandwidth cap, or dial up at 56k. thats it. and no moving is not an option.