With the Acer C720-2848 the company has decided to cut the line, so to speak, making the device which appears the same as the earlier model cost just a bit less due to changes to its innards. What you’ve got here is a $199.99 model of the C720, this version working with the same Intel […]
HP’s Chromebook 11 has mysteriously disappeared from sale, with the ARM-powered Chrome OS laptop reportedly being pulled from Best Buy shelves after store managers received urgent instructions to freeze sales. The $279 notebook is listed as out of stock on Google’s own Play store and at Best Buy, and has vanished completely from HP’s webstore; […]
![Google Chrome OS Updates Indicate Chrome Tablets Could Be Coming [Report]](https://i0.wp.com/cdnrss.ubergizmo.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/google-chrome-os-tablet.jpg?resize=600%2C404 "Google Chrome OS Updates Indicate Chrome Tablets Could Be Coming [Report]"){kind=small}
Chrome OS looks like it’s starting to make its way across a number of products as HP recently unveiled its Chromebook 11 and companies like LG are expected to launch their own products featuring Google’s operating system. Laptops and desktops aren’t the only products expected to be released with Chrome OS as Chrome tablets may be headed to market sooner than you think.
At this time, there’s only one Chomebook that features a touchscreen, the Chromebook Pixel. So why is it that Google continues to make improvements to its virtual keyboard which is built into Chrome OS, especially since the Chromebook Pixel has a physical keyboard? This could be an indication of an upcoming Chrome OS tablet. (more…)
Google Chrome OS Updates Indicate Chrome Tablets Could Be Coming [Report] original content from Ubergizmo. 
     |
Google’s segment of portable computers loaded with Chrome OS is growing, and among recently announced new models is Acer’s latest offering — the Acer C720, an inexpensive laptop that utilizes Intel Haswell. Like other Chromebooks, the C720 is aimed at those who need a computer for school, for working on the go, or for fun […]
Chrome and Chromebooks are on the cusp of having parental controls, with Google unveiling a new feature called “Supervised Users” today. The functionality gives parents and others the ability to limit Chrome with things like SafeSearch filtering, website blocking, and more. The feature is currently available to those in the beta channel. The feature was […]
It would appear that the folks at LG have decided that their venture into the Google universe with Android was lucrative enough that they’ll be pushing in to the other quickly rising OS from the company: Chrome. Three trademarks have been filed for recently by LG, each of them appearing with the brand Chrome in […]
Google’s Chromebooks have certainly been receiving some much needed attention in the past couple of weeks as HP revealed its Chromebook 11 as well as a promotion that the company expects to give away hundreds of Chromebooks. It looks like another company may be joining the Chrome OS bandwagon as LG has filed for trademarks that would possibly bring three new devices to market.
LG filed trademarks for the ChromeOne, ChromeDesk and ChromeStation on October 15, with the three trademarks list the device class of these products as “Laptop computers; Computers; Convertible computers; Tablet computers.” Considering LG and Google have been working together for the Nexus 4 and the upcoming Nexus 5, we’re not completely surprised to hear both companies would be working together yet again to offer Chrome OS computers in the future.
When and if we’ll hear about the ChromeOne, ChromeDesk and ChromeStation is unknown at this point, but we’re sure it won’t be long until we hear something in regards to each computer. Hopefully Google will hold another promotion to give away Chrome OS products as we’d certainly like the chance to win one of the three that LG is expected to release in the near future.
LG Expected To Launch Its Own Chrome OS Products original content from Ubergizmo. 
| |
Google’s fall harvest of new products includes some new Chromebooks, including an adorable and pugnacious little whippersnapper in the HP Chromebook 11. With its smooth, unmarked white plastic lid, you could mistake it for the white polycarbonate MacBook’s younger brother – but HP’s cute little Chrome OS notebook doesn’t quite fill those mighty big boots.
The HP Chromebook 11 shares similar design roots with the Chromebook Pixel, which is a good thing. That means it’s spare, with an outside case that opts for minimalism, showing only the now-signature Chromebook thin band of light, which uses Google’s trademark color palette. One of those colors is also used to accent the device, with a border around the keyboard and four rubber pads on the underside of the machine used for grip.
Of course, unlike the Pixel, the case is plastic, and it feels cheaper accordingly. I also noticed some give in the bottom panel, and the glossy white surface picks up fingerprints like crazy. But the rounded edges, slim, low-profile design and absurdly low weight (just over 2 lbs) combine to make the HP Chromebook 11 a pretty impressively designed machine for $279. Besides the Pixel, this is definitely the most attractive and ergonomically appealing Chromebook.
While on the surface, the Chromebook 11 is great, inside, it’s basically packing the guts of a mid-tier smartphone. And it shows. The Chromebook 11 is snappy to start up, wake from sleep and resume thanks to its flash memory, but it’s sluggish with image-heavy websites, with a fair amount of load/scroll lag, and it plays back 1080p streaming videos decently, but not with the polish you’re used to from even top-tier smartphones.
Of course, the ARM processor means that it can get around 5 or so hours of battery life on a full charge, despite its lightness/small size. And it also means it can charge via microUSB, which is pretty cool since if you’re an Android phone user you can just carry one charger around. But the five hours of battery life is actually just okay when you consider that the new Acer C720 is rated at 8.5 hours of use, and even the notoriously piggish Chromebook Pixel gets about the same.
Overall, the Chromebook 11 is a myriad of compromises: its behind-the-keyboard speakers are pretty decent, and save space in the chassis, but also sound weird when you’re doing something like typing while listening to music, since your hands are constantly blocking different parts of the speaker. And while the streamlined case with its four ports (microUSB, 2x USB 2.0 and one headphone jack) adds to its minimalist design appeal, you find yourself wishing there was at least an SD card slot thrown into the mix. Likewise, the low-quality front-facing webcam is nice-to-have, but it feels like you’ve hopped in a time machine to when USB cameras were just invented.
That 11.6-inch display, while loads better than the one on, say the Samsung Chromebook (overall construction is better, too), it’s still probably not as high-res in the one you’re currently carrying in your pocket. It does have good color rendering and good viewing angles, however, which again is impressive at this price point.
The aspect ratio makes this a great notebook for watching movies, and it’s the best I’ve seen so far on a computer this cheap, Chromebook or otherwise. If the screen’s a priority, you can’t go wrong with the HP.
The Chromebook 11 is supposed to get around five hours of battery life, and with conservative but acceptable normal use, I found that to be the case. It’s not terrible, but it is disappointing, because with a longer-lived power source, the Chromebook 11 would make a very excellent back-up machine for professionals who need to make sure they’re constantly connected, with a full desktop browser.
At $279, it’s hard to fault the HP Chromebook 11 too much for what it manages to deliver, but with Google really stepping up its low-cost Chromebook lineup, just being a good-enough machine at that price isn’t going to cut it for much longer. That said, if you’re looking for a second device that essentially replicates what a docked smartphone could offer, but with a little more flexibility with web apps thanks to Chrome OS, this is a great throw-in-the-bag-and-forget-it option thanks to its size, weight and remarkable screen.
Touchscreen computers are certainly starting to take off as we’ve seen a number of laptops as well as standalone monitors that Windows 8 users can use in order to reach out and touch their apps. Chrome OS users have gone without being able to make full use of their computers which have a touchscreen, but today, Google has released a new stable build of its computer operating system that adds some much needed support.
Google Chrome OS 30 Improves Touchscreen Support original content from Ubergizmo. 
| |
It’s obviously a week for Chromebooks, with Acer’s new C720 Chromebook joining HP’s Chromebook11 offering cloud-centric mobile computing, this time at the even lower price of $249.99. Sticking with Intel’s x86 chips rather than the ARM-based processor in the HP machine revealed on Tuesday, the Acer C720 steps up to a Haswell-generation Celeron 2955U for […]
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.
