One of the things that always makes me smile is when someone tells me that a review of something is worth more when penned by a consumer who actually stumped up their own cash for a product. The actual purchaser, it’s argued will have something invested in the product unlike the journalist who sees hundreds of X and never has to pay for them.
Of course, they overlook or handily ignore the fact that the purchaser has actually invested in the product so there’s a need to either justify the purchase or they have some buyers remorse and therefore a need to bash it until it dies.
And, well, I’ve bought one so it’s time to take a step back and add some professional distance from the Chromebook.
First and most importantly I know beyond doubt that the Chromebook is most suited to those who already have given over their souls to the Google Devil. I use gmail to manage my domain email and documents to write - I’m also signed into all sorts of other Google bits and bobs (the sort of thing they make an enormous fuss about and then kill just as you start to use). The deeper Google has its roots embedded in you the easier the switch to Chromebook is.
If you still have a range of providers supplying their various services to you then the switch to a Google Chrome controlled world will probably be harder to accept. Not impossible, and like for like replacements are generally available, but at the very least there’s an uncomfortable learning curve.
I miss smart mailboxes in Mac OS X Mail for instance, but I’m not so wedded to them that its a showstopper. Similarly, getting used to working in tabs takes a little getting used to, but similar would be true of moving from Windows to Mac to Linux (no sniggering at the back).
If you use your ISP and Outlook to manage your mail then moving to a web interface is going to seem like a big step. If you use Word then moving to Documents is going to seem like a huge step, I could go on. There’s no denying that to use a Chromebook you have to make some compromises, but thus far I have to say that as both a reviewer of tech nonsense and a purchaser none has been or felt insurmountable.
One annoyance has been that of sharing attachments. I email a text document, for example and I expect, nay demand, that it be sent as such. However, in the first instance it sends your ‘attachment’ as a link and if you haven’t already shared the document in Drive the recipient has to request access. Something they may not want to do. If I add an attachment that is the behaviour I expect. Bad Google, naughty Google.
Thursday 1 November 2012
Friday 26 October 2012
Day 3 in the Chromebook house
I’d love to say that the Chromebook has been my personal revolution in computing, that the always connected everything in the cloud has been the making of me, but it hasn’t. The Chromebook has simply slotted into my everyday routine. There’s been nothing special about the way it works and it has performed exactly as I had hoped.
I saw that someone had done some benchmarking of the Series 3 versus other Chromebooks and found that the other more expensive devices with better processors had gone faster. Well. Duh. It’s not that I object to the idea of empirically testing the speed of one device against another, but I have to question the usefulness in this specific case.
Chromebooks aren’t doing all that much really and that one device opens a new tab fractionally faster than another is beyond my scope of important things to worry about. I suppose adding scores and graphs makes things more official in that you have hard data over a gut feeling, but I really don’t see the value.
The Chromebook has never felt sluggish or slow to respond as far as I’m concerned and that’s all I care about. I say that as someone who regularly uses a Mac Pro with lots of RAM - I’m sure even the MacBook this Chromebook has replaced with it’s Dual Core Intel Core 2 Duo could smash the Samsung all over the shop in a comparable benchmarking test. Problem is, that for the day to day stuff there’s no discernible difference to me. Tabs open and websites render as expected.
I’m on a train and the Chromebook is connected to the flakey but free Wi-Fi any thus far it’s coping manfully with the in and out up and down slow then really slow challenges that such a system throws up. However, I’m still worried about being somewhere without a net connection and needing to do some work or surf the internet.
I’ve added a tethering option to my iPhone bill to ease those worries, but I fear that no matter what I may always have this fear with the Chromebook in much the same way as battery life was with my MacBook.
One final point that speaks to the build quality of this very cheap laptop is that the screen isn’t wobbling despite the fact the train I’m on is shifting at some considerable speed towards That London.
Also, Google PR replied to my question about the SIM slot, it is indeed a dummy and I’ve noticed that PC World has ceased selling the Seires 3 bundled with a data SIM.
Remember people, £239
I saw that someone had done some benchmarking of the Series 3 versus other Chromebooks and found that the other more expensive devices with better processors had gone faster. Well. Duh. It’s not that I object to the idea of empirically testing the speed of one device against another, but I have to question the usefulness in this specific case.
Chromebooks aren’t doing all that much really and that one device opens a new tab fractionally faster than another is beyond my scope of important things to worry about. I suppose adding scores and graphs makes things more official in that you have hard data over a gut feeling, but I really don’t see the value.
The Chromebook has never felt sluggish or slow to respond as far as I’m concerned and that’s all I care about. I say that as someone who regularly uses a Mac Pro with lots of RAM - I’m sure even the MacBook this Chromebook has replaced with it’s Dual Core Intel Core 2 Duo could smash the Samsung all over the shop in a comparable benchmarking test. Problem is, that for the day to day stuff there’s no discernible difference to me. Tabs open and websites render as expected.
I’m on a train and the Chromebook is connected to the flakey but free Wi-Fi any thus far it’s coping manfully with the in and out up and down slow then really slow challenges that such a system throws up. However, I’m still worried about being somewhere without a net connection and needing to do some work or surf the internet.
I’ve added a tethering option to my iPhone bill to ease those worries, but I fear that no matter what I may always have this fear with the Chromebook in much the same way as battery life was with my MacBook.
One final point that speaks to the build quality of this very cheap laptop is that the screen isn’t wobbling despite the fact the train I’m on is shifting at some considerable speed towards That London.
Also, Google PR replied to my question about the SIM slot, it is indeed a dummy and I’ve noticed that PC World has ceased selling the Seires 3 bundled with a data SIM.
Remember people, £239
Tuesday 23 October 2012
Chromebook Series 3
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| This is what a box looks like just in case you were interested |
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| When you open the box this is what you find inside. Game changing. |
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| Looks nothing like a MacBook Air M'lud |
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| Ugly hump |
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| Mmm Ports |
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| Bunged up SIM slot |
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| SD Sticks out |
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| Not an Apple inspired hinge |
Samsung Chromebook Series 3
Samsung Chromebook
There is something unnerving about moving from one operating system to another. I recall when I was starting to use Windows more and more after having been exclusively a Mac man I often felt frustrated about how it worked when in reality it was a combination of how I expected it to operate and what Windows actually did. Also, sometimes no matter which OS you’re using a computer will conspire against you with every byte in its black plastic or anodised aluminium heart to make your life a misery. Years later I’m so middle of the road about the Mac vs. Windows thing that I really couldn't care less, though I use a Mac more often.
Moving to a computer that doesn’t really have an operating system in the sense that I’m used to is a whole other level of weird. I had a moments pause when I decided to get the Chromebook, I’d seen the first look ‘reviews’ and nosed through the specs, but could I convince myself to get one? Turns out that the price helped move that decision along. £229 for an 11.6in laptop that’s got a full size keyboard and 6 hour battery life. Paramount though, was something very tiny that appeals massively to me: totally silent operation. There’s no fan in this laptop and I don’t know why, but that is one thing that really got me when I took my first look.
Yes, I could live with all the specs and if in six hours or six days or six months I decide that it wasn’t for me I would have only wasted £230. My MacBook would, I’m sure, welcome me back with an open lid. I plan is to use the Chromebook as a replacement for my MacBook and see how I get along with ‘just a browser’ I think I’m already managing given that just a few minutes after the Chromebook was delivered I began writing this.
This is going to be a proper review of all aspects of this machine, but I can tell you now right here a mere 300 words in I already like it.
The Laptop
Given the recent court battles between Apple and Samsung I suppose you might expect that Samsung would steer clear of anything that looked remotely like an Apple product, but, um, it hasn’t. Open the Samsung Series 3 Chromebook up and well it looks very much like a MacBook Air. Not exactly and with a few more rough edges than the precision engineered Apple laptop, but I think you’d have to be very generous to Samsung indeed to even imply that they’ve put all their own design work into this machine.
Despite the appearances however, this is no MacBook Air I’ve used a MacBook Air and though the Samsung is nearly as pretty it’s not quite got the bone structure. The hump of the hinge and the plastic case are giveaways, the power brick is ugly too. Now, before you go running off to your respective corners, a few justifications. The MacBook Air is much more expensive than the Samsung so the rough edges are only to be expected. Samsung has got the price vs. looks balance right and this laptop feels sturdy and has a quality finish that is impressive given its price tag. If you’re in the Apple corner, the Samsung isn’t made of aluminium and it’s basically the same weight as the 11in Air too. Precision engineered is not a term you could use for the Chromebook, well-built and sturdy is, though.
You get a USB 2 and a USB 3 port in addition to an SD card expansion slot and HDMI port all of which work. Lovely. On this model there is a cover where a SIM card might sit and tantalisingly PC World do sell the Samsung in a bundle with a data SIM from 3, however, it seems that on this device it’s just a dummy. Bummer. There’s a rubber seal in place that just won’t budge and I expect that the 3G bit isn’t there even if you manage to un-bung the hole. I’ve emailed Google PR to see if they can shed any light on why PC World are shipping with a 3G SIM, but I’m yet to hear back.
The keyboard is excellent, there’s no simpler way to put it. I’ve used all sorts of keyboards from clicky-clacky ones to flat scrabble tile type and the one on the Chromebook is excellent. I think if you type a lot you can get a feel for a keyboard in a relatively short period of time. You notice how many mistakes you’re making and having to go back and fix or you get a ‘feel’ for the keys more easily and this is certainly a keyboard that I almost instantaneously liked. From the first line to here (and I’m sure to the end of this post) the Samsung keyboard has impressed.
The LED backlit 11.6in screen is excellent too. It is somewhat like being thrown back five years in that it has a matt finish rather than gloss, but my god what a wonderful time we had back then. It was all puppies and roses, teenagers were respectful, teachers knew how to educate our children properly and no baddies ruined it for everyone. My spectacles may well be rose tinted, but I like the non-reflective screen on the Series 3. I know people like to whinge on about viewing angles and colour purity, but from my point of view, ie sitting in front of the thing typing it’s a really good screen. Sure, if you want to sit over there diagonally behind me and read the screen it’s not as good, but then that would make you a weird and truly edge case user. It’s not the sharpest screen I’ve ever seen, but it’s good. I watched some iPlayer on it too and that looked very good.
Trackpad; Good, but this is where the Samsung copies Apple starts to fail a bit as it’s the pad on the Chromebook isn’t as smooth as that glass beauty on the Air. That’s not to say the Samsung trackpad is poor in fact it’s really good in comparison to many I’ve used, but in the inevitable comparison with its brother from another manufacturer it feels a touch like a plastic copy. Before anyone runs off crowing I reiterate that it’s a good trackpad, but not quite as good as the one from a computer that’s much more expensive. In all other aspects the trackpad is perfect. Nice clicky action, two finger click for a right click and if you’ve arrived from a recent Apple machine you can even turn the scrolling motion upside down to match.
NOTE: Weird side point that keeps catching me out. Every so often I go to hit CTRL + S I never realised just how ingrained that had become in my typing. Anyway, moving on to the other stuff that you might find important.
The SD slot leaves the card sticking out a bit, which is a shame, but hardly the end of the world. The camera works as do the speakers but engage your ‘not expecting miracles’ brain before getting yourself too excited.
This thing uses a processor - it has a processor with a silly name that I’ll have to look up on Wikipedia. 1.7GHz dual-core Samsung Exynos 5 - it’s low power and unlikely to zip through any video rendering tests any time soon. Even so, it handled fullscreen iPlayer and none of what I’ve attempted to so has felt sluggish or even remotely slow. Naturally, I’ve been typing and web browsing so it’s hardly processor intensive stuff. I’ll need more time to assess precisely how well the processor performs
I’ve been using the Chromebook for all of a few hours now and in hardware terms at least I’m incredibly impressed. That this thing cost £230 just blows me away in one of those “do you remember when an iPod cost this much” sort of old fogy way. The keyboard is a joy and anyone that knows me will tell you that getting an opinion like that out of me is a triumph. I rarely like anything, it’s a side effect of my Yorkshire upbringing.
There is something unnerving about moving from one operating system to another. I recall when I was starting to use Windows more and more after having been exclusively a Mac man I often felt frustrated about how it worked when in reality it was a combination of how I expected it to operate and what Windows actually did. Also, sometimes no matter which OS you’re using a computer will conspire against you with every byte in its black plastic or anodised aluminium heart to make your life a misery. Years later I’m so middle of the road about the Mac vs. Windows thing that I really couldn't care less, though I use a Mac more often.
Moving to a computer that doesn’t really have an operating system in the sense that I’m used to is a whole other level of weird. I had a moments pause when I decided to get the Chromebook, I’d seen the first look ‘reviews’ and nosed through the specs, but could I convince myself to get one? Turns out that the price helped move that decision along. £229 for an 11.6in laptop that’s got a full size keyboard and 6 hour battery life. Paramount though, was something very tiny that appeals massively to me: totally silent operation. There’s no fan in this laptop and I don’t know why, but that is one thing that really got me when I took my first look.
Yes, I could live with all the specs and if in six hours or six days or six months I decide that it wasn’t for me I would have only wasted £230. My MacBook would, I’m sure, welcome me back with an open lid. I plan is to use the Chromebook as a replacement for my MacBook and see how I get along with ‘just a browser’ I think I’m already managing given that just a few minutes after the Chromebook was delivered I began writing this.
This is going to be a proper review of all aspects of this machine, but I can tell you now right here a mere 300 words in I already like it.
The Laptop
Given the recent court battles between Apple and Samsung I suppose you might expect that Samsung would steer clear of anything that looked remotely like an Apple product, but, um, it hasn’t. Open the Samsung Series 3 Chromebook up and well it looks very much like a MacBook Air. Not exactly and with a few more rough edges than the precision engineered Apple laptop, but I think you’d have to be very generous to Samsung indeed to even imply that they’ve put all their own design work into this machine.
Despite the appearances however, this is no MacBook Air I’ve used a MacBook Air and though the Samsung is nearly as pretty it’s not quite got the bone structure. The hump of the hinge and the plastic case are giveaways, the power brick is ugly too. Now, before you go running off to your respective corners, a few justifications. The MacBook Air is much more expensive than the Samsung so the rough edges are only to be expected. Samsung has got the price vs. looks balance right and this laptop feels sturdy and has a quality finish that is impressive given its price tag. If you’re in the Apple corner, the Samsung isn’t made of aluminium and it’s basically the same weight as the 11in Air too. Precision engineered is not a term you could use for the Chromebook, well-built and sturdy is, though.
You get a USB 2 and a USB 3 port in addition to an SD card expansion slot and HDMI port all of which work. Lovely. On this model there is a cover where a SIM card might sit and tantalisingly PC World do sell the Samsung in a bundle with a data SIM from 3, however, it seems that on this device it’s just a dummy. Bummer. There’s a rubber seal in place that just won’t budge and I expect that the 3G bit isn’t there even if you manage to un-bung the hole. I’ve emailed Google PR to see if they can shed any light on why PC World are shipping with a 3G SIM, but I’m yet to hear back.
The keyboard is excellent, there’s no simpler way to put it. I’ve used all sorts of keyboards from clicky-clacky ones to flat scrabble tile type and the one on the Chromebook is excellent. I think if you type a lot you can get a feel for a keyboard in a relatively short period of time. You notice how many mistakes you’re making and having to go back and fix or you get a ‘feel’ for the keys more easily and this is certainly a keyboard that I almost instantaneously liked. From the first line to here (and I’m sure to the end of this post) the Samsung keyboard has impressed.
The LED backlit 11.6in screen is excellent too. It is somewhat like being thrown back five years in that it has a matt finish rather than gloss, but my god what a wonderful time we had back then. It was all puppies and roses, teenagers were respectful, teachers knew how to educate our children properly and no baddies ruined it for everyone. My spectacles may well be rose tinted, but I like the non-reflective screen on the Series 3. I know people like to whinge on about viewing angles and colour purity, but from my point of view, ie sitting in front of the thing typing it’s a really good screen. Sure, if you want to sit over there diagonally behind me and read the screen it’s not as good, but then that would make you a weird and truly edge case user. It’s not the sharpest screen I’ve ever seen, but it’s good. I watched some iPlayer on it too and that looked very good.
Trackpad; Good, but this is where the Samsung copies Apple starts to fail a bit as it’s the pad on the Chromebook isn’t as smooth as that glass beauty on the Air. That’s not to say the Samsung trackpad is poor in fact it’s really good in comparison to many I’ve used, but in the inevitable comparison with its brother from another manufacturer it feels a touch like a plastic copy. Before anyone runs off crowing I reiterate that it’s a good trackpad, but not quite as good as the one from a computer that’s much more expensive. In all other aspects the trackpad is perfect. Nice clicky action, two finger click for a right click and if you’ve arrived from a recent Apple machine you can even turn the scrolling motion upside down to match.
NOTE: Weird side point that keeps catching me out. Every so often I go to hit CTRL + S I never realised just how ingrained that had become in my typing. Anyway, moving on to the other stuff that you might find important.
The SD slot leaves the card sticking out a bit, which is a shame, but hardly the end of the world. The camera works as do the speakers but engage your ‘not expecting miracles’ brain before getting yourself too excited.
This thing uses a processor - it has a processor with a silly name that I’ll have to look up on Wikipedia. 1.7GHz dual-core Samsung Exynos 5 - it’s low power and unlikely to zip through any video rendering tests any time soon. Even so, it handled fullscreen iPlayer and none of what I’ve attempted to so has felt sluggish or even remotely slow. Naturally, I’ve been typing and web browsing so it’s hardly processor intensive stuff. I’ll need more time to assess precisely how well the processor performs
I’ve been using the Chromebook for all of a few hours now and in hardware terms at least I’m incredibly impressed. That this thing cost £230 just blows me away in one of those “do you remember when an iPod cost this much” sort of old fogy way. The keyboard is a joy and anyone that knows me will tell you that getting an opinion like that out of me is a triumph. I rarely like anything, it’s a side effect of my Yorkshire upbringing.
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