Google's Chrome OS-based netbook specs leak out
By Darren Murph 
posted December 28th 2009 7:40AM
posted December 28th 2009 7:40AM
We've already seen that early builds of Google's Chromium OS can be hacked onto existing machines, but those Chrome OS netbooks that the software giant has planned for next year have remained curiously elusive until now. According to both IBTimes and Netbook News, the company is in talks with a number of outfits in order to bring at least a few sub-$300 options to the market that are well suited to power through its first non-mobile operating system. For starters, we're told that the 10.1-inch machine will be ARM-based, while NVIDIA's Tegra platform (likely the second generation) steers the graphical ship. There's also promise of a multitouch panel (1,280 x 720 resolution), 64GB SSD, WiFi, 2GB of RAM, integrated 3G connectivity, Bluetooth, an Ethernet jack, an undisclosed amount of USB sockets, webcam, 3.5mm audio jack, a multi-card reader, a 4- or 6-cell battery and optional GPS. Wilder still, a $200 configuration could very well pop up, and it looks as if (at least initially) Google will sell the device(s) directly through its own website -- much like Fusion Garage has done with the Joojoo tablet. 'Course, it'll still take some arm twisting to get the low-end crowd to try anything not labeled "Windows," but if anyone can do it, it's the company that inexplicably kept Gmail in "beta" for over five years.
@(Unverified) Maybe there's going to be a Chromium build that has Dalvik (extracted from Android). Not sure how hard it is to implement that, being that both Android and Chrome have Linux kernels.
@(Unverified) What would be even better is a complete merge between android and chrome. Think about it:
The Android notification bar on top of Chrome's browser, completely able to run local apps.
@(Di3) I agree, the ideal would be a completely unified Android and Chrome. The only difference should be "Android has a mobile browser, ChromeOS has the full-blown Chrome browser".
That should have been @(24hourpartypal), not Di3...
NVIDIA's Tegra, graphics chip to run a browser only
multitouch,
64GB SSD, cant store files locally
2GB of RAM, 2GB only being used by the broswer nothing else
GPS,
To run Google OS Shows just how bloated Chrome OS is or getting
You are completely ignoring the fact that Hulu exists.
64gb SSD can be great if there is going to be an app that plays local media files. Currently the only thing I miss from ChromeOS, but it I don't think it's hard to create an app that does it.
2GB of RAM might be overkill, but RAM is dirt-cheap nowadays. Why not have it?
GPS is for Google Maps and other GPS enabled apps
You shouldn't forget that Chrome OS is an OS booting from the hard-drive in less than 20 seconds, I can see no obvious reason why this thing is bloated.
@OCEAN CLAK
Future proofing. All this hardware is pretty cheap so there's no reason to skimp on the hardware. The GPU can be utilized by WebGL, multi-touch is just an input method that can be handled by a browser and who knows what other web technologies are going to emerge in the next couple of years that might need the extra power. It's pointless to under engineer when hardware is so cheap.
Google has the right idea with this. Chrome OS is very future orientated. They're staying away from the App-that-only-works-on-a-specific-type-of-device territory (e.g. Chrome OS Apps, or even Linux softwares). They're trying to help create a environment of web-based applications that work on all computer operating systems (and probably mobile O.S.s' as well). Cloud-based computer is what the future holds for us. For example, sooner or later, Spotify is going to have to become browser-based.
I think there's too much misunderstanding about (1) local content, and (2) locally stored apps.
(1) Local content.
(A) You have music and video files. Chrome OS will be able to play those files.
(B) You need to upload and download files (in email, online storage, online purchases, etc.). Chrome OS will function just like a browser in that regard.
(C) That content is on a storage medium, or it needs to be saved on local storage. Chrome OS will recognize external storage.
(2) Locally stored apps.
(A) You want to save an entire website in full, so you "save" it using the file menu item called "save." Chrome OS will be able to do that.
(B) You have previously saved a website on external storage. You load it up in your browser, and it appears and functions just as it does online, provided that you have saved enough of the associated data.
I don't really understand why people think that a browser based OS will suddenly lack all browser related functions. Google has said some things that maybe are misleading here, but still, we've been using browsers for a long time. If there's one thing we can expect from Chrome OS, it's that it will function like a browser.
First order of business:
Hack it so it can run HD movies off an SD card. Till WiFi is free and readily available (read: in the airport), this netbook can't survive off cloud computing alone.
@TareG Umm.. it has integrated 3G. And they've already shown what happens when you stick a camera's memory card into a Chrome OS powered laptop. There won't be any "hacking" needed to run HD movies with that Tigra chip in there accelerating it.
@TareG
You shouldn't need to hack it. The Chome OS is centered around HTML5, which means that video compatibility is a requirement for the element of the browser.
Which means they will have to have an external player within Chrome, likely an open-sourced one like VLC.
@DustoMan
Great. So it can do flawless browsing and flawless media playback. What's the problem with Chrome then?
Off the top of my head, I'd say it lacks a decent Office solution... but as an entertainment-centric netbook, it's pretty much everything you want (besides gaming)... but at $199 no one should complain. Unless a half decent Ion 2 netbook makes an appearance for less than $299.
Wow, decent specs. Make an option that loses the keyboard and Apple will have a tough time selling their own tablet for likely over twice the price.
You guys are all forgetting that Nvidia is all about getting Flash video accelerated. So outputting HD quality video from a site like Hulu should be a breeze. Nvidia is fully backing Flash acceleration with pretty much every chip they put out, unlike ATI where there's far fewer Flash 10.1 supported chipsets.
@DustoMan: No need for that, the integrated Gstreamer-FFmpeg framework (HTML5 video/audio) already uses VA API (incl. VDPAU), OpenMAX, DXVA, etc to accelerate audio/video decoding.
Based on those specks, and the expected price tag, I don't think I would want a notebook like that. I would rather get one I can use when I'm offline, as there are still times when I'm not connected to the internet.
Bonafide lovin should b the start up song
What's the first thing that you're gonna do if you buy this laptop?
Install Windows 7.
Anyone who denies that is a liar.
@pukerocket
ARM?
@jsmrekar
Let me google that for you:
http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/01/arm-ceo-hints-at-possible-windows-7-support-for-arm-processors/
And there is also virtualization.
@pukerocket
I agree. Windows 7 or linux.
Doh. Forgot about the ARM limitation.
To be honest I would just pay an extra $100 and get a netbook that came with Windows 7 in the first place. This doesn't offer enough of a cost savings to offset the limitations of a browser based OS.
Proud member of the "low end crowd" that uses Windows.
Why would it have so much storage and features if the only app it has running on it is a web browser?
One of the key improvements they need for wider adoption is the compatibility/integration with popular third-party services. (Let's not even get started with poor browser sniffing scripts of lesser sites...)
Gmail, Docs, Google Calendar, et al will, of course, perform beautifully. But what about the Java install/upgrade issues and the unrefined Amazon MP3/digital download experience (eMusic too, comnpared to FF and even IE.) And that's just to name a couple key issues central to a full-featured web experience...
Will ads popup everywhere when using this google os.
one question:
are there emulators on chrome os?
@(Unverified)
No tht i know of (Chrome OS is just so new and shiny), but I assume Chrome OS has a JVM, And the ARM processors have Gazelle to accelerate Java Bytecode execution. I think a Java-based (C-64, Megadrive, NES, SNES, Genesis) would be well within the range of the possibilities.
If the HotSpot JIT generated ARM code (I heard someone was working on it?), with a Cortex A9 a PSX, N64 and maybe Dreamcast emulators would be doable
@LickMySparseVoxelOctree
Excuse my Grammar, Dunno what happened.
How do you store music and movies on chrome os? I mean its gonna use a 65gb ssd so it has to have like... a way to put files on it :\?
I call BS on this one. Those specs, with a 10" multitouch (one can only assume capacitive) display, 64 GB ssd, and so very much more. The switch from an intel to an arm cpu only shaves off about $30 from the cost of building this thing. They mention a 3G radio, and THE ONLY WAY THIS WILL HIT $299 IS IF IT'S SUBSIDIZED by some cell carrier. Two year contract for a tablet? I'm sorry, but while this IS the future, they would lose money on every unit sold for $299. NOT A CHANCE!!! And that blather at the end about hitting a sub $200 price point... with that kinda hardware? You're all dreaming. Free OS or not, it won't hit that price.
return of the network computer!
i not yet use google chrome, so i don't know the special.. could you discuss about that here friend?