I shacked up with Chromebook

Earlier this week, writing for ZDNet, Scott Raymond proclaims: "Chromebooks are dead, they just don't know it but". He makes a good argument, which I in some cases agree with regarding Android tablets. I'll get to that later. He as well asks: "Why would I want to switch to a Chromebook when my MacBook Air runs OS X and Windows and is anyway a pound lighter?" That's specifically what I did -- sold my MacBook Air and switched to Chromebook, which I used for the entire month of August; after all today.

The beginning

To be clear in the beginning, Chromebook isn't for everyone, and probably not for most people. Chrome OS has some sharp edges that will bleed the user experience for many, otherwise most, users. During enjoying the overall computing experience and finding plenty of performance and utility, I couldn't do video editing, and photo editing requires some sacrifices. Some Web-based services are either torturous to use or behave badly. For instance, AIM is dreadfully taxing on overall system performance and the group messaging service we use here at Betanews reports me as idle when I switch browser tabs. These are minor annoyances I can live with that others wouldn't.

Benefit: crash recovery. All in all, Chrome OS recovers faster than any operating system I've ever used. Whenever I've had to reboot, mainly because Flash screwed up something, Chromebook powered off, powered on and returned to the previous state in typically less than 20 seconds. I should emphasize: Returned to previous state, meaning all tabs restored where they were with the writing or other work specifically how it was previously the reboot. This amazing recovery capability is one of Chromebook's most differentiating benefits compared to Mac OS X or Windows 7. However by no means is it the only one.

I first used Chrome OS on Google's unbranded Cr-48 test laptop for 7 days in December. I had another 7-day go round in March, when my MacBook Air failed and Apple Store replaced the five-month old computer. I was so psyched by the quality of customer service, I bought an iPhone 4 that night and iPad 2 the straightway day, when it went on sale here in the United States. I sold all three Apple products in August, as part of a broader experiment -- to go all Google products and services. At once week, I'll start writing about that Google-only experience -- hopefully. I had expected to throughout much of last month, however typically slow news month August was anything yet.

The Samsung Series 5 Chromebook with WiFi

I am using the Samsung Series 5 Chromebook with WiFi and 3G. Basic config: 12.1-inch LED display with 1280 x 800 resolution and 16:10 aspect ratio; 1.66GHz Intel Atom N570 processor; 2GB DDR3 memory; 16GB solid-state storage; integrated NM10 graphics; ALC272 integrated audio; stereo speakers; internal microphone; 1-megapixel webcam; WiFi N; Verizon 3G; headphone/Mic jack; two USB ports; 4-in-1 memory card reader; and 6-cell battery.

Chromebook critics often cite the need for constant Internet connection as reason -- the only one needed -- for why the portable is FAIL. Many of these people have never used Chromebook. We live in the connected era, where most everyone needs a network or Internet connection all the time. Air travel is one of the major exceptions. However even there Chromebook provides adequate offline access to Gmail, Google Calendar and Google Docs, as then as some applications. Hey, you can play Angry Birds if offline, baby.

Verizon 3G cellular modem

My Chromebook has a Verizon 3G cellular modem and 100MB free data per month; it's a benefit guaranteed for two years. I have but to activate the service, because I've always been able to find a WiFi connection. Not once while the last month did I lose one second of productivity because the Internet wasn't available.

Chromebook critics as well often compare the laptop to netbooks for price, configuration and battery life, arguing that until further notice netbooks run a real operating system. Oh yeah? So what's Linux at the time? I would take Chromebook over a netbook running Windows 7 Starter Edition any day. At my daughter's high school, students use netbooks for a required college preparatory class. Considering they as well use Google Docs and Search -- and many of them Gmail -- and spend most of their computing time in a browser, Chromebook would be better fit.

Benefit: frequent updates: Google frequently updates Chrome OS, which removes a major administration headache, whether for these schools, businesses or the average Jane or Joe. Chrome OS development is closely aligned with Chrome browser, which is on a fast-track of six-week cycles -- as a rule with three different browsers at some stage -- while the time. Google has released four browser upgrades this year so far. My colleague Larry Seltzer argues this is a pain for IT; I won't disagree.

But when it comes to Chrome OS, frequent updates are a benefit. I'm not specifically sure the count, nevertheless Chrome OS updated for the time being five times while the last 35 days. Each time, something got better. It's refreshing to get new features and see performance improvements on a regular basis to put it more exactly than waiting for major updates for Mac OS X and Windows. My Chromebook is better today than it was last week. I can't complain about that.

Benefit: easy setup. Chromebook boots up faster than any computer I've ever used, in about 13 seconds and 1.5 seconds from sleep. To set up Chromebook, I powered on, selected wireless network, entered Google account credentials and turned on browser sync. Within seconds of that last action, Chromebook synced tabs, web apps and other stuff from Google's cloud. That's it. My mom inherited the Cr-48, and setting it up was that easy. It's a really amazing benefit. Because of Chrome sync, the experience follows me to other computers or should I switch Chomebooks.

The rough edges cut arteries

But some of the rough edges cut arteries. I recently received some .rtf files that couldn't be opened for editing in Google Docs. WTH? What's more basic than rich text format? I had to open the files on my wife's MacBook Pro in Apple Pages. Another: ZIP files. Unless the Chrome OS update received two days ago changed something, there's clunky support for ZIP files. Say, Google, this is Platform 101 stuff.

By comparison, the MacBook Air used earlier Chromebook typically delivered 4 hours battery life, at times a bit more. So unplugging on a full charge at 6:30 a.m., the Apple laptop rarely made it to 11 a.m. and more often an hour before. By measure of productive time when mobile Chromebook is an exceptional performer. Chrome OS is major reason. Or rather than running bloated apps on the desktop, lighter apps or connected services run in browser tabs. Otherwise for Flash's negative impact, battery life might be considerably better even.

My big problem with Chrome OS is Android. Why have both? Android 3.x Honeycomb is visually more appealing than Chrome OS and there are many more useful apps. Do you in effect need one when you've got the other? I think not. Of the two, I would choose Android on a tablet over Chrome OS on a laptop, assuming all functionality was equal -- and it's not but. The browser is the key.

Scott Raymond writes: "To all appearances the WebKit folks are working to consolidate the source code for WebKit and Chromium. The end result of this would be that the browser on Android tablets will in the long run be replaced by a Chrome browser...if we had the Chrome browser on an Android tablet, why would we want a Chromebook? For the price of a Chromebook you could pick up an Android tablet with a keyboard that connects via dock or bluetooth. You would have the same functionality, plus the added capabilities of Android".

What at once?

I'm now debating what at once? Should I continue using Chromebook through end of September, or switch to something else? During I've found using Chrome OS satisfying enough, I expect Microsoft to release some kind of Windows 8 beta around September 13, when the BUILD conference begins. Returning to MacBook Air is an option, which would let me run Mac OS X Lion, too. That's new enough to deserve more of my time, and maybe a review. There are as well plenty of enticing Windows laptops worth trying and reviewing. I'm taking suggestions for makes and models, if you've got one.

Another option is to go Android tablet solo, even if just for a week. I replaced my mainstream laptop with Chromebook. Could I do the same with, say, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 or the Motorola XOOM? I'm itching to find out