This is kind of nice and everything but how is this environmentally friendly? It looks to be all plastic and steel on the rest of the case, just like any other computer case. Sure, I guess it's more environmentally friendly than building it out of koa...

I think I've nailed down what's making me so uncomfortable about this: I was kind of expecting a desktop version of Android. Android does A LOT in the cloud (and that's part of its strength) but there are certainly a rich set of applications for it and it began with the focus of being a rich platform to develop for. There was much more fanfare about developing for Wave than there was for Chrome OS, so this just doesn't feel as open or expansive.

I imagine that if they put out a new OS based on Linux with something innovative (and cloud integrated) to code for, there would be a fresh body of coders that would step in to create for the platform. Instead they seem to be saying, "this is what we want, this is what you want... if you want to develop for it just create a new website", not really inspirational or game changing. Now, if they developed a platform with an eye to combine rich content creation with web/cloud based collaboration and remixing of existing sources (which, let's face it, is where much of consumer content creation is coming from), I think you'd see a much greater excitement and paradigm shift.

@Mark - Sorry that you've been downranked. I appreciated your post and maybe I'll play around with this in a VM and take a look.

Perhaps Engadget just needs to get rid of ranking entirely. Admins, please take notice. I'd rather see comments... and I almost missed Marks substantive comment amidst all the childishness on this site. Please set up an environment that is less reminiscent of a second grade school yard. Thanks.

True, I'm maybe wanting my netbook to do more than most folks, but I don't think that watching a video on a plane should be a difficult prospect for an operating system. I suppose my frustration stems from wanting Google to provide a further boost to the Linux community and provide an easier entry point than Ubuntu (which, granted, is getting easier). Clearly this isn't meant for me, but I have a lot of experience talking to people about Linux and hearing questions like, "wait, you mean there's no way for me to run itunes?" or somesuch. At some point people who switch to Chrome OS are going to hit a wall where they realize they can't do something on their computer that was easy to do on Windows and they'll make the switch back. At least with Linux they have a number of options for alternatives. This doesn't seem to have them.

Something interesting, however, is that people who care about Chrome are going to start creating web based alternatives that mimic the functionality of itunes, etc. That will do loads to develop web based apps, which is great, but I still see a need for for an operating system that runs local applications. Either that, or a home based backend OS that integrates with Chrome to provide that functionality wherever you happen to be (which might also be really interesting). Time will tell.

I had expected this to look more like the relationship between OS X and BSD - a sharper, more corporate looking Linux with unique applications and some added cloud base - instead, this is pretty weak. I would rather used a stripped down version of Linux and then add what I need to it (maybe Crunchbang...) on my netbook, although currently I'm using either Ubuntu or OS X. I don't want to have to store my music in the cloud, or my documents (which are more complicated than what google can provide) - and I use both of these regularly on the go with my netbook. Plus, I don't want to shell out for a 3g connection. As is, if I'm outside of wifi range, I still have a way to get something accomplished, listen to music, watch a video or play a game.

As far as I'm concerned, just put a light browser on a light version of Linux and call it done. I can do that myself. Plus, this certainly makes it look like they've been holding out on the Linux community to release a decent version of Chrome, so that they can unveil this. Plus, gmail keeps going down. I was already on the way to looking for other mail and calendar solutions.

Ok, Netflix, seriously, you're everywhere but Linux. If you want my money, make that happen.

Personally, I would be psyched if my neighbor were to get one of these quiet bikes. He wakes up the entire neighborhood every morning at 6am when he goes to work.

When I first heard about this I thought that Peek was adding twitter functionality to their device. That would have made it potentially worthwhile for some people who don't want to get rid of their dumb phone or spend more per month on a data plan, but this is just crazy.

Actually, I think that the M$ label is more often used by Linux users. I'm not a big fan of throwing that around, because I use MS and OSX too, but if you see that, it's likely not coming from an Apple user.

I'm getting to be less of an Apple fan the more ridiculous this gets. Glad I opted not to make my last laptop a MBP.

Well, when the price goes down, I might have to buy one for Linux.