Samsung - 11.6" Chromebook - Exynos 5 - 2GB Memory - 16GB Flash (eMMc) Memory - Silver

The Google Chromebook is a great tool! I have all the tools I need with Google Docs, Drive and Picasa for images and slideshows. This is a full featured computer that starts up in just a few seconds and you are ready to go! NO waiting on the OS(x) to boot up. The color is good on the screen and the resolution is just fine. If you need a compact computer to take with you on the go utilizing Wi-Fi when you need internet and the ability to work offline, then this is it! I rate this computer my own 5 Stars out of 5 Stars. The turf has changed as this is a game changing tool to have in your hands. I recommend this without hesitation or reservation! Dan Webmacman

Great for researchers, young users, gamers, travellers. It encourages skilled use of cloud computing as the primary option for document storage and access to applications.

Being disabled I some times have to spend time in bed. This allows me to have a internet connection with out all the hassle of moving my main computer connection.

This is a great laptop which my daughter is enjoying!!!

As a student I needed a simple computer for surfing the web and writing documents for school. In researching different options there was a lot to choose from, but most of them were more expensive than what I had hoped for. However, this computer is definitely a good option for what I needed, and was a great price. Overall I was looking for something light, easily portable, and durable to carry between home, work, and school with little to no fuss. I love how there is little to no start up time, and the battery life really lasts a long enough time for me to make it through the day with no recharging. While there is not a lot of storage, I do like the google drive option that is available, and have made good use of it. As a strict PC user in the past, getting used to the different layouts of the documents was stressful. However, I slowly got used to the new programs (docs, slides, etc.) and now have no trouble in using them as well as I did with Microsoft Office. The key board is also very easy to use and get used to, as well as the touch pad. Another important note that I found out about was my inability to use certain programs, such as Skype and Netflix. While google+ is a good alternative to skype and has worked well enough to replace it, not being able to use Netflix has been a little bothersome. The website continues to say the issue will be resolved, but I have yet to be able to use it in the past 2 months I have had my new Chrome Book.

I think the biggest question that is asked when it comes to Chromebook is "Why do I need this?" There are a number of us that need a portable device that we can carry with us but require a notebook or laptop interface. Regardless of the advancement of tablets, nothing replaces the usefulness of a laptop when writing, editing and updating cloud based Documents, Social Media,a etc... Now you could spend well over $1000 for a small ultrabook but you should really consider how often you use native applications on your computer. Most of us unless we are playing a game or editing photos, videos or other media, never open any program on our computer other than a web browser. As computing moves more and more into cloud based application and storage, you have to rethink how you will accessing and using computers in the future. The trend is a "terminal" that access and uses the computing power of a much larger and more powerful computer. Ending the need to have that processing power and storage on your device. If you own a smart phone or other mobile device you are already doing this with just about everything you do on that device. Now is this a replacement for your desktop or laptop? Yes and no, it really depends on what you use it for and the biggest question is storage. With only 16gb of storage on board and even with the included 100gb of Google Drive Storage, it's limited not only in space but in the fact that the online storage is only for 2 years. If you have a great number of media files, you will need another machine to store the files or find another option. Many of you will think, external hard drive as I did but since you can not install native applications to your chromebook, if the hard drive is encrypted or compresses files and/or requires a application to open files, you are out of luck. I have a Western Digital 1t portable hard drive and there is no way at this time to unlock the drive or read the compressed files. Other than the storage question, you have to really consider whether you can work within the Chrome cloud. Before buying a Chromebook, I strongly suggest that you go to the Chrome Web Store and see if you can work within the applications and extensions that are available there. I think you may find it surprising how many useful web based applications there are. If they can replace your native applications, Chromebook will be a good choice for you. However if you need to run native applications for business or other purpose, you may find a Chromebook unusable. Though there is a remote access application that could be used to access your main machine when needed. When I was considering a Chromebook, I was looking for something that fit between the completely useful but often less portable and power sucking Sony Notebook and the frustratingly act of typing, editing, and portability of my Android Mobile device. I had considered a tablet but I need a real keyboard and not some after market plug in play keyboard. I needed something, I could carry with me, turn on and get to work, not unpack, boot up, and plug in plug and play add on. Mainly to update and maintain my Drupal and Word Press websites, write and edit content, and post to social media on the go. The Chromebook has met all these requirements. I have also tethered to my mobile phone for on the go access. The set up is quick, just sign into your google account and you are up and going within a minute or so. If you have ever bought an android phone, it is about the same. The UI is pretty straight forward though it will take a while to get used to some the touch pad gestures. I still find the two finger press that replaces the Windows right click a bit of a struggle from time to time. Performance wise, quick boot, and very responsive. Since everything is done in Chrome for the most part, there are issues from time to time when a number of tabs are open. I noticed that when I had my standard 6 or 7 tabs open, that when I switched back and forth often the pages would freeze or seem to be delayed. I'm not sure if this is a Chrome Browser problem or a memory problem. The build is plastic but for the cost and the weight, I think it is a far trade, I found the keyboard comfortable and responsive but some key locations take a while to get used to. If you want to bend and flex the case for some unknown reason, there is flex but this is a $250 machine and it feels a lot better than a majority of the Laptops in the same price. All of the jacks are tight fitting. If I was going to replace anything it would be the low grade webcam. I haven't tried to plug the plug and play cam I have but since it needs an application, I think it won't work so you are stuck with it. Also under the Google terms, you can not upgrade or change the OS. Google will brick the device if you change the hardware or alter the OS. Useful for you if: You always have access to a wifi connection. There is a 3g model for additional cost. You do a majority of your online activity through a browser. You can work with only cloud storage or can deal with the limited storage provided or expanded with SD or external memory like a flash drive. You find the Google applications and extensions useful. I highly suggest installing applications and extensions on your current machine to get a feeling for weather you can live with them. You need a light, quick booting machine to use for media consumption and activity that is handled through a browser. Not going to play PC Games that require native applications. You need a small portable device with a keyboard and 6 hours of battery life. You would like to stream video or presentations through HDMI. You would like to video chat using gtalk and Google + Hangout and don't mind the low resolution of the built in camera. If you want a secure and automatically updated OS. Not Useful for You: If you are going to be without aces to a wifi connection. If you need to use a lot of native applications. If you need access to a large media achieve stored on your machine. If you need functions that are not found in Google applications and extensions. If you need to have files that are encrypted or only stored off line. I'm sure there are work around but I could not get the Chromebook to read files off of my encrypted external hard drive. If you need an optic drive to access files or watch DVD/Bluray disc. There is no optic drive. It goes without say that you can not burn files to disc either. If you are going to want to play PC games that require a native application or a disc to play. If you are going to need uses that is longer than 6 hours without charging. Since the battery is not removable, you can't carry a spare with you. If you would like to stream quality video. If you would like to upgrade your machines. Google does not allow upgrades. In fact it will brick the device if you change the hardware. Comparing the new ARM Chromebook to Apple Macbook Air 11.6":- PRICE: Macbook=$999 Chromebook=$249 DISPLAY: 11.6-inch 1366x768 for both. STORAGE: Macbook= 64GB Flash SSD Chromebook= 16GB Flash SSD ($50 extra for 64GB Flash SD card to take this up to 80GB) PROCESSOR: Macbook= 1.7GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 Chromebook= 1.7GHz dual-core ARM A-15 Cortex RAM MEMORY: Macbook= 4GB DDR3 Chromebook = 2GB DDR3 SIZE AND WEIGHT: Macbook= 11.8 in x 7.56 in x 0.68 in. Weight 2.38 lb Chromebook= 11.4 in x 8.09 in x 0.69 in. Weight 2.43 lb GRAPHICS: Macbook Air= Intel HD Graphics 4000 integrated graphics Chromebook= ARM Mail T604 high end integrated graphics RESOLUTION: 1366x768 on built-in display, up to 2560 by 1600 pixels on an external display for both VIDEO OUT: Macbook= Mini DisplayPort (requires purchase of adapter for HDMI) Chromebook= HDMI port USB: Macbook= 2 USB 3.0 ports Chromebook= 1 USB 3.0 port + 1 USB 2.0 port WIRELESS: Macbook= 802.11 a/b/g, Bluetooth 4.0 Chromebook= 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0 KEYBOARD & TRACKPAD: Full size keyboard and oversize multi-touch trackpad for both BATTERY: Macbook=5 hours continuous use Chromebook=6.5 hours continuous use and ultra low standby consumption. I wrote a blog about the first week with the Samsung Chromebook that goes a great deal more into the daily uses, limitations and usefulness of the Chromebook. If you are wishing for more detail feel free to contact me.

For what it is and what it cost, this laptop beats out any other for basic web access when traveling. It's basically a fast cell phone; you can't install any real software on it, almost everything on it requires an internet connection, and you have to be pretty deep in the Google ecosystem (i.e., own an Android, have all your files on Google Drive, and primarily use Gmail). If none of the above bothers you, this is one fantastic laptop. Battery life is amazing (I regularly get ~8-9 hours of work out of it), it recharges to 100% in something like 2-3 hours, the screen quality is nice and bright with no apparent flaws, the keyboard feels fantastic, the touch pad supports gestures, and if you lose or break it: it didn't cost $1,000. I recently tried to use one of the cloud-based IDEs for programming on site at a conference and I found it to be too slow. The Chromebook doesn't handle complex websites very well. It'll handle your average site and even heavier sites like ebay and Amazon just fine, but webapps tend to be too heavy. Great as a last resort when all you need is to connect to the hotel wifi and check email, calendar, and other business functions. Oh, and no Skype or Webex.

So I've been asked after having messed with a Chromebook for the past month I got asked to write a review on my personal blog. Well I can honestly say there's a few things that bug me, so lets break it down like a game review, and see what it needs. This is for the Samsung Chromebook weighing in at 249.99 in price, or if like me finding it on sale, and giving it a whirl. In many ways I wish I had the extra cash for a Surface RT due to versatility and well the screen, but it has its drawbacks too, and one is the 70+ USD keyboard/touch-pad. Final Thoughts: Would appreciate the Chromebook OS a lot more if I could truly take it as a competitive end against lower end laptops and PCs, but at this moment I still have my doubts, or haven't learned all the tips and tricks quite yet. The biggest complaint, the desktop based access for apps is still limited, but slowly expanding. For those wanting what I need, a on-the-go access to the internet, an access to my cloud storage for documents at any time, this is a wonderful piece of machinery. When it comes to wanting an all around pc-tablet like experience, you're better off with the iPad, Kindle Fire HD, Android based tablets, or the Windows Surface RT mini-computer/tablets. The Chromebook seems focused on staying recognized as a on-the-go worker computer. For writers, college students, and high school students this is perfect. Comes with a built-in virus scanner, etc. The system wipe? Well that was very easy, lightning fast, and deleted any of my offline content faster than I downloaded it. When it comes to needing a secondary PC, something just for my journalism I have kept eyeballing the Google Chromebook, something that has been the hype on twitter among writers, why though? Well now that I've had my hands on it I've come to understand this question and the answer is simple - accessibility. When it comes to accessing your files, Google Drive is lightning fast as a cloud-based system, one which allowed me to grab my article on while Capcom is going broke, have it loaded and ready to publish in seconds. This has become amazing, but sadly it's something that Microsoft has only begun to do, they need to catch up quickly, Google is seeking to make ease-of-access their focus. With the OS I was excited to see after having accessed log-in I was able to instantly click my email, sync it, and of course check it offline once the messages were downloaded. I was even able to respond to the emails from PR members of the gaming companies I review games from and of course work with for information based on upcoming releases. This was very welcomed as was the ease of access to saving pictures once I learned how to save and of course access my downloaded content, which was a bit of a learning curve, and something that should just be explained by them on the get go. Now that we've got the ease-of-access written down its start to digging quickly into this OS itself and seeing what it comes down to very quickly. When it comes down to the Chromebook, I was quickly amazed by it, and booted up within seconds. I was up and going literally in less than 15 seconds, logging in, and accessing the internet. I was on Facebook, Twitter, Gmail, and of course Google Drive in all of under a minute. You may ask how this is possible, and it's because of Google's cloud based focus. After getting set-up by choosing language, keyboard, and of course an internet so it could connect; it asked for my Gmail account and password. Once logged in I was getting myself up and ready to go. Adjusting the settings was awkward since it is literally done through the Google Chrome browser settings. Okay so it was awkward, still is, and is making me scratch my head. Why didn't they go the Linux type route or simply use the Android OS for this? Well guess that's the idea when calling your product line the "Chromebook". Though what is astonishing is the constant updating, tweaking, and work they add for this thing to function better and better than before. With the update last night my online browsing compatibility has gone up, especially with Java script, and of course Flash based sites. Lets not forget, almost everything uses Java and of course Flash these days, don't be surprised by this since even your phone uses both. Feeling acquainted with Google Chrome, which reminds me of Ubuntu Linux, I was off. Downloading apps, browsing the internet, and well scratching my head wondering why I am complaining or seemingly complain; lets just say I'm more of a Windows guy and prefer some if not more at times. I've still been trying to figure out if Google will have dashboard based apps for instant messaging, video chat, and have a better Skype compatibility, which is doubtful since Microsoft owns the product. With that being noted, I decided to try hang outs and call my mom, well that didn't work. Instead Google wanted to set-up billing even though my moms on an android based product, and has chatted with me before, this stumped me; did Google really just slap me and try and take my lunch money? Yes they did and I just left my head hanging realizing this was not going to go over well. Once having wrapped my head around Googles trick, I decided it was time to at least try and get where I could try the Facebook video chat, and went for it. Wait, it doesn't work on Chrome? This can't be right. Well it is, Google wants you to use their in-house app, Hangouts, they want you to try it out, pay for the service if your friends and family aren't Google+ members, which is stupid. That was a low blow that left my gut aching. Why would Google do this in an age where even Microsoft, Linux, and Mac offer these programs across multiple platforms including tablets? That answer is still up in the air. I hope Google will at least take notes from their mistakes and go to the Android route of allowing app based hard drive installs. Though that may mean Google would heighten security risks and this is something they pride themselves on with Google Chromebook's versatility; Safety and ease-of-access. Sorry to say Google, you just punched yourself, and this is something where Surface owners can feel they are secure in solidifying their choice for video chat as well as a range of it. For those wondering, as of today I was able to download a few offline and out-of-browser apps, which was great. Problem? One of them bugged out and was removed, perhaps it'll get an update, and fix it. Aside from that they even added an offline virtual DJ app, which was quite fun, and cool. Though this computer not being a powerhouse, I expected some FPS lag or slowed reaction time, and got neither. Very well done Google. Now lets really get into the hardware. When it comes to Samsung I was welcomed with a 11.6'' based screen, something similar to many tablets, which makes this ultra-light, ultra-portable, and of course easy to hide when commuting between classes or needing to go across campus while not wanting to lug around an extra 4-5 pounds on your back. This would be an excellent choice weighing in at around 1.4 pounds. The keyboard to some of you will also remind you of the Apple keyboards, and you're right, it does. The keyboard itself does not feel cheap, instead it feels strong and reliable, this however does not mean go smash it against the wall, you'll shatter this thing with ease. We wouldn't want that right? The other nice part is it supports 802.11 b/g/n and also supports portable hard drives, disc drives, and anything else you can imagine. The media player however, it is spotty, and needs polish before I can take it seriously. The oddest part? Much like the Apple computers there is not a left click, instead users will have to adjust to left and right click being their right click for copying, pasting, and of course opening new browsers, deleting apps, etc. It's a hassle that can be eliminated with a cheap USB mouse. The sound its strong, powerful, and of course plays HD video and music in amazing quality.