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| Google Chrome NetBook |
We’ve had a play with Google’s Chrome OS running on an Intel Atom-powered netbook here at CES.
Of course, we’re no strangers to Chrome OS here on TechRadar, having seen some features demonstrated previously and having installed a very early version of the OS.
But this is the first time we’ve been able to play with a near-ready (or perhaps even ready) build on a netbook.
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| Google Chrome NetBook |
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| Google Chrome NetBook |
Touring the Intel booth, this netbook was plumped in between the Jolicloud netbook and other Atom-based devices, including some kit running MeeGo.
Indeed, Intel has quite a lot of Googleness on its booth this year – there are also several Google TV boxes.
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| Google Chrome NetBook |
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| Google Chrome NetBook |
Google’s new OS is certainly basic and, as our Intel representative told us, it “takes you a while” to get used to the fact you have no standard desktop – you simply have a browser.
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| Google Chrome NetBook |
How useful Chrome OS is in practice remains to be seen – it’s so reliant on connectivity. Don’t know about you, but keeping a constant connection on mobile broadband in the UK can be difficult if you’re moving around. And without connectivity, Chrome OS isn’t that useful. While the offline features in Gmail should keep you going, we think Chrome OS will only be OK in this regard if proper offline support for Google Docs is reintroduced – Google axed offline access as it moved away from Google Gears.
At the same time as announcing the Chrome Web Store in December, Google said it was “expecting to deliver” offline Google Docs support “early in 2011. For those who used [sic] offline, we are bringing back the much improved feature by taking advantage of advancements in modern browser technology like HTML5.”
The Chrome Web Store is, of course, also very much part of Google’s strategy for Chrome OS.
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| Google Chrome NetBook |