Chromebook'd
We first heard about the Chromebook when it was launched in the form of the Cr-48 by Google toward the end of 2010. The premise was pretty simple: an entire laptop OS based on the Chrome browser alone. Not a computer replacement, but rather an extension of your current computing environment. Like many of the things Google does, it was an experiment, and an interesting one at that. I unfortunately was not at any events during the laptop's lifespan that allowed me to get my hands on one, but it wasn't long before it was possible to Frankenstein your own Chromebook. In early 2011, I did exactly that and built a Chromebook using an older netbook that was collecting dust. The Chrome OS was still in its infancy and my primary computer at that time was a laptop, so a Chromebook didn't really make a lot of sense for me personally at the time.
Flash forward to today (2014). As mentioned here in a previous post, my current setup for the most part is a 27” iMac and an iPad Air. This is still the best combo for me, rather than just using a laptop. Every so often I find myself wanting to type more long form items, like this post for example, but the on screen keyboard of my iPad is not the answer. This got me thinking about Chromebooks again. An inexpensive keyboard and screen combo that lets me do research in the browser and write longer form entries in Evernote. Right about this same time, Woot had some Chromebooks, so I thought I would check out Chrome OS again. I got the coral 14” HP Chromebook, which has much better specs than earlier Chromebooks. It has a decent enough screen for browsing and writing, a fast enough processor, and enough RAM to handle what I wanted it for. Plus, as a bonus, it came with free 4G wireless data (200mb/month) from T-Mobile for the life of the device, and 100GB of Google Drive as well. A pretty awesome deal for $200.
I have to say, an HP Chromebook is NOT a MacBook Air in any way, shape, or form. But that is not what I bought it for, so it’s ok. Yes, it is kind of heavy, has a giant, gross power adapter, and is not made of aluminum. All that being said, it was purchased to be a third device, and it does an awesome job of it! Plus with all the bonus items it came with, I have no regrets and am very happy with the device.
Side Note: If you do not use Chrome as your main browser, a Chromebook is probably not the best idea for you, unless you really just want a blank web browser for your needs.