Chrome OS: One Year Later

I never really imagined this day coming. But it's here. It's one year after Gadgetator's first post ever. So much has happened since them, and a big thanks goes out to Leo Laporte, host of the nationally syndicated Tech Guy radio show, on which Gadgetator got it's big boost. But enough about my blog. Let's get right to what this post's really about.

One year ago, on this day, I posted an article talking about Google's announcement of the Cr48, one of the major advancements in Google's Chrome OS operating system. If you are unfamiliar with what Chrome OS is, read the article here. In that article, I promised I would post a follow up after playing a bit with Chrome OS. I never did. Until now.

A lot has happened with Chrome OS in the past year. For example, a Chrome OS screenshot one year ago (see figure 1), as apposed to a Chrome OS screenshot today (see figure 2). After actually using a device running solely Chrome OS for close to half-a-year, I have developed a new opinion, and I'm here to share that. I guess this article is an overview of Chrome OS: one year later.

Figure 1

In a short recap of what was said in Gadgetator's first ever article, Chrome OS is basically a computer that only has a web browser. When you first open it up, you get your homepage, opening a new tab brings you to a page that basically contains a grid of glorified bookmarks. To a bunch of web pages. This all sounds great and all, but there's one major disadvantage. You lose all of your native applications. No more Photoshop, Microsoft Word, or iTunes. Everything you do has to be done online. Some might say that's impossible. That this'll never work. On first sight, one year ago, that's what I said. I quote myself saying, "There are great web apps out there, but I believe that for this to be a success, there need to be more great web apps. And until we get some of the most widely used native applications online, Chrome OS will be for the very light computer user."

Figure 2

After using Chrome OS almost exclusively for half-a-year, it's apparent I've changed my mind. You see, I was kind of pushed into using Chrome OS. Google offered its Cr48 to a limited number of beta testers to get feedback for the final product. I was one of those lucky recipients. 


Not wanting to just toss aside something  I received for free, plus taking into account what Google actually intended for me to do with the device, I decided to give it a fair try. I never really went back.


I was already stuck in the Google Universe. I used Gmail, Google Docs, Google Reader, and many other online alternatives to native desktop apps. As soon as I switched to Chrome OS, I found it surprisingly easy to find great online alternatives to any desktop apps that I need. Because I have a "real" computer, I could even print directly from Chrome OS using Cloud Print. Of course, I gave up some conveniences, but I believe that was a fair price to pay for the simplicity I now gained. No complex files, programs messing up your system, virus issues, or any other junk that comes along with a Windows or Mac computer. I couldn't have used this as my only computer, I still use iTunes regularly, but it definitely works a great, simple replacement.

The Samsung Chromebook

Google now licences Chrome OS to manufacturers, who created their own 'Chromebooks'. Currently, both Samsung and Acer have a few models, which run from about $300-$450. At that price, it might be smarter to get a low-end Windows machine, but if you're willing to pay that price for simplicity's sake, it may be worth it. I think that, at this point, Chrome OS and the Chromebooks are great for either simple-computer users who don't want to be confused by the complexities of a "real" operating system, or to be used as a companion to a "real" computer, as Chrome OS has a clean interface, amazing boot time, and easy access to the web.  


Have you played with Chrome OS or the Cr48? Did you take the plunge and buy a Chromebook? What are your experiences with Google's Chrome OS? Like it? Drop a comment below with your experiences.

Mac OS X Lion: Available to Developers

     Quite a while ago, Steve Jobs, the CEO of Apple at that time, held a keynote titled "Back to the Mac" At that same keynote, he gave us a sneak preview of the next generation of Mac OS X, called Mac OS X Lion.

     Although Mac OS X Lion is still a while away, software developers signed up for Apple's Developer Program got an early look. OS X Lion is coming sometime in summer 2011, so the version of the operating system the developer's go is still in it's early stages. Still, what the developer's saw had some cool features.
     This new version of OS X brings the best features of the iPad onto the big screen size and more powerful specs of the macs.
     Apple integrates the elegant home screen of the iPad onto the Mac, and allows you to click the little black Launchpad icon on the dock a the bottom of the screen. Any open Windows fade away, and an iPad like grid of icons appear. This is where you can find all of your apps. The apps can be dragged into folders, which look and open just like the folders on the iPad and iPhone.

     Apple also apparently likes how all iPad and iPhone apps open full-screen. The new iPhoto, Mail, iCal, and Preview apps all can open full-screen. This allows you to concentrate on one thing at a time, or so Apple says. The apps can be changed to full-screen with one click, and open apps can be swiped through with multitouch gestures on the trackpad. The Developer platform also allows third-party apps to take advantage of the full-screen capabilities.

Launchpad

     A new and funnily named feature in Mac OS X is Mission Control. Mission control allows you to see everything that's running on your Mac, from a birds eye kind of view. It shows little icons of running apps, the dashboard, and the desktop.

    OS X Lion also integrates a new auto-save feature. This automatically saves your work, and allows you to revert back to previous versions of a document. Similarly, you can see all previous versions of a document in the order that you edited it.
     The new version of he OS also allows you to resume exactly where you left off when you restart your Mac. There is no more need to save and close everything, and then restart it all when you turn on your computer again.
     A few new features come in the new Mail app, Mail 5. Mail now supports conversations, which groups a conversation of emails in one group, rather than showing ten emails separately. The layout of the app is also redesigned for the Mac's widescreen. It shows the one line preview on the left side of the screen, as well as a full height preview at the right.

Mission Control

     The last main feature is called AirDrop. AirDrop allows you to share files with others wirelessly. To use AirDrop, you click the icon in the Finder, and you then see any Macs around you also using AirDrop. If they are in your contacts, you can even see their profile picture. To share a file, just drag a file to the other users profile. They can then accept the file, and it will start to download.

     Overall, this seems like a very exciting update to the Mac operating system. The fact that Apple is bringing it's Macs closer to the iPad scares some. The iPad is a very closed platform. Any apps must be approved by Apple to be included in the App Store. With the recent launch of the Mac App Store, it seems that the Mac platform is getting less and less open, giving Apple more control. The end user thinks that the closed platform of the iPad is great, but overall it gives more control to Apple, which isn't necessarily a good thing.

Chrome OS Netbook.

     Chrome OS. It's finally here and being used on an actual device.
     First of all, what is Chrome OS? Chrome OS is a Google operating system that unlike Windows, OS X, or Linux, is solely a web browser. Anyone familiar with Google Chrome browser for Windows, Mac, or Linux will be mostly familiar with this new OS.  The OS works like Chrome browser but has some slight differences. For example, in the top left corner of Chrome OS, there are some direct tabs for your favorite web apps. Currently I am downloading chrome OS to try for myself, but until that is done, I don't have all the information about the OS. Watch for a further update on Chrome OS once I download it.
     So, now that you know what chrome OS is, you need to know how to get it. You can get an open source version called Chromium, or you can, eventually, buy a Chrome OS notebook.

Google's Chrome OS

The new Google Cr-48

     Earlier today, Google announced it's Cr-48. This is going to be the first Chrome OS notebook. This 12 inch, 3.8 pound notebook has potential to be a great notebook if Chrome OS is enough for the average user. That is the biggest question. 
     Imagine working at your computer and someone suddenly telling you that the only program you could run was your web browser. Goodbye iTunes. Goodbye Microsoft Office. Would you be able to live your computer life without native programs? 
     Apparently Google and whoever else uses Chrome or Chromium right now think you can live without native apps. The outcome of the Cr-48 will tell us the answer. 
     There are great web apps out there, but I believe that for this to be a success, there need to be more great web apps. And until we get some of the most widely used native applications online, Chrome OS will be for the very light computer user.