SAMSUNG And Google Introduce The Second-Generation Chromebook and The World’s First Chromebox
New Products Boot in Seconds with Samsung’s Advanced Engineering and Google Chrome Operating System
RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J., MAY 29, 2012 – Samsung Electronics America, Inc., a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd, today announced two new products featuring the Google Chrome OS™ operating system: the Samsung Series 5 Chromebook laptop and the desktop.

“The new Samsung Series 5 Chromebook and Series 3 Chromebox provide the rapid, convenient and ever-improving computing experience that was so well-received in our first Chromebook,” said Todd Bouman, vice president of marketing at Samsung Enterprise Business Division. “As the world’s first Chromebox, the Series 3 provides users with the Chromebook’s ease-of-use in a compact desktop product, which easily integrates with their existing accessories. The second generation Chromebook features powerful components housed in a slim, lightweight body, thanks to Samsung’s advanced hardware engineering.”

“This is the next step in our journey toward an always-new computing experience focused on speed, simplicity and security,” said Caesar Sengupta, Director of Product Management at Google. “This next-generation hardware from Samsung based on Intel processors and hardware-accelerated software delivers nearly three times the performance of the first-generation Chromebooks. With a new, app-centric user interface rolling out today and thousands of available web apps, we couldn’t be more excited about this evolution.”

Elegant, Thoughtful Design
Both the Series 5 Chromebook and Series 3 Chromebox feature Samsung’s renowned, sleek design identity. Weighing just over three pounds and measuring less than an inch thick, the Series 5 Chromebook can easily be carried everywhere. The full-sized keyboard results in maximum convenience and productivity, and the 12.1-inch, SuperBright LCD screen is ideal for all needs, from viewing photos and work documents to chatting face-to-face using the built-in webcam.

The Samsung Series 3 Chromebox is a compact yet highly powerful home or office computer, offering the Chrome operating system in a desktop form factor. At 7.6 x 7.6 x 1.3-inches, this computer is small enough to put on a desk, in a bookshelf or next to the couch – and is also easy to transport between the home and office if needed. Its sleek matte black finish and silver accents are sure to add style to any home or office environment.

Powerful Performance
The Samsung Series 5 Chromebook boots up in as little as just seven seconds, enabling users to jump into work or play nearly instantly and, unlike traditional computers, doesn’t slow down over time. An Intel Celeron 867 Dual Core (1.3 GHz) processor sporting a 16GB SSD and 4GB of RAM give you all the computing power you need for an optimal experience and an optional built-in 3G wireless feature from Verizon Wireless allows connectivity to just about anywhere. With the 3G option, Verizon will provide up to 100MBs per month of Mobile Broadband service included with the device for two years.****

Like the Chromebook, the Samsung Series 3 Chromebox also features a 16GB SSD and 4GB of RAM, as well as an Intel Celeron B840 Dual Core (1.9 GHz) processor. Built-in 2×2 WLAN Wi-Fi enables users to set up the Chromebox in the furthest corners of their home or office and still experience full connectivity without worrying about extra cables. Users can connect their Series 3 Chromebox to monitors up to 30-inches in size, a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, or even an HDTV using the Display Port output. Users can also effortlessly connect up to six USB devices to upload photos or save files.

Simple, Secure and Ever-Improving User Experience
Google developed the Chrome OS operating system with three key factors in mind: speed, simplicity and security, and has improved on these factors since the launch of the first Chromebook in 2011. Both the Samsung Series 5 Chromebook and Series 3 Chromebox offer a rapid experience. With the Chrome operating system, you can get online in seconds, load web pages with incredible speed and access all of your favorite apps in one click through the app launcher.

Automatic updates mean that Chromebook and Chromebox users always receive the latest functionality, without any hassle. Security features are also built-in and updated to defend against the ongoing threat of malware and viruses, reducing the need for users to install anti-virus software.

Built-in cloud storage enables both Chromebook and Chromebox users to access their files securely from anywhere, and sync technology backs up all of your preferences, bookmarks and apps, so you can easily access them from a Chrome browser on another device.

Both new Samsung products also come equipped for Google Cloud Print for easy web printing to any Samsung Google Cloud Print ready laser printer.

The Samsung Series 5 Chromebook and the Samsung Series 3 Chromebox will be available beginning May 30th. The Series 5 Chromebook Wi-Fi model will retail at $449.99 while the 3G model will retail at $549.99. The Series 3 Chromebox Wi-Fi model will retail at $329.99. The Chromebook and Chromebox are only available at Amazon.com, Tiger.com, NewEgg.com, BestBuy.com and BHPhoto.com.

Think Chromebook is a passing fad? Google doesn’t. In fact, Google is more adamant than ever about proliferating its browser-based platform and operating system. That’s why it’s announced a new line of Chromebooks and, now, the introduction of the Chromebox.

Chromebox is a Samsung creation that’s finally being launched after its announcement over a year-ago. The product is exactly what it sounds like: a small, square box akin to a thin client that’s specifically designed to boot, load and run Chrome OS. It comes with a keyboard and mouse, and is complemented by two new Chromebooks, the Samsung Series 5 550 and the Acer AC700.

The Chromebook Series 5 550 is the spiritual successor to the original Series 5, but it comes outfitted with a lot more muscle. The 550 has the latest Intel Core CPU and features a 1280×800 resolution screen, 4GB of RAM, a multi-touch trackpad, an HDMI out, 3G capabilities and the all-important USB 2. The 3G version carries a $549 price tag.

The Acer AC700 aspires to be a more budget-friendly unit, both on price and feature-set, and rests at a comfortable $399. The Chromebox features similar guts to the Series 5 550, but is cheaper, at $329.

These new Chromebooks will also come pre-installed with the latest version of Chrome OS, which has received a considerable usability revamp. Users have access to a more traditional desktop environment with a pseudo-task bar allowing for an app-centric use of the Chromebook. In the past, Chrome OS was essentially a Linux distribution that ran the Chrome browser, so Google’s focus on usability is a welcome change.

Google is also touting a bunch a new and useful features, like, the ability to natively view common Microsoft Office files, Google Apps and Google Drive integration, enhanced offline capabilities and the Chrome Remote Desktop Beta. As the name implies, this Google-branded remote desktop platform promises to deliver a near real-time experience with a remotely connected Mac or PC. But be warned, this is – after all – in beta.

A more careful observer may notice that Google has implemented features that make Chromebooks more appealing to the average business worker – and that’s just the point. Chrome is platform, and Google’s proliferation of new Chromebooks furthers that agenda. But when Google introduces remote-desktop features and Office document compatibility, suddenly the Chromebook becomes a much more viable workbook. And a Chromebook that’s also a workbook is a gateway into Google’s world, potentially attracting more customers to Google’s entire application ecosystem.

Right now, Google’s Chromebook reseller program is still a pilot program intimately wrapped up in the reselling of Google Apps, but that doesn’t mean Google can’t change its tune. If Chromebooks continue to rise in popularity, especially among the workforce, Google could reshape the pilot program into a more mature model, opening the floodgates for tons of resellers to reach out to existing and new Google customers.

With users becoming more deeply entangled into Google’s cloud at every passing minute, it’s not hard to see why everyone could find a use for Google’s Chromebook. More relevant than the Chromebook is the inexpensive Chromebox, which could  replace traditional thin clients, allowing for a user to have a personalized work experience inside Chrome OS while remotely connecting to a VM image.

Really, the use cases are endless, so long as you’re happy to live inside Google’s world. And it may sound crazy, but so did the iPhone in 2007. Given enough time and maturity, there’s no reason why Google’s Chrome OS won’t find its way into the enterprise, just like iOS did.

When Google introduced its Chromebooks a year ago, tech reviewers were pretty dismissive of the low-cost computers running Google’s Chrome operating system and browser and which are intended to be used while connected to the Internet —specifically, to cloud-based services like Gmail, YouTube and Google Docs. Price cuts on the machines in November didn’t help. Michael Gartenberg, an analyst with Gartner Inc., called that first generation an “interesting science experiment,” saying that the Samsung and Acer Inc. machines were lacking in power and storage and that it was an open question whether the world needed yet another desktop operating system in the form of Chrome.

That’s still an open question, but Google at least has taken criticisms of the devices and its software to heart and is unveiling today two new models from Samsung that, among other things, lets users work offline with Google Docs and Gmail, removing the need to be connected all the time to access files and mail. The new generation also gives users remote access to Macintosh and Windows PC computers, adds more storage, boots faster and will soon integrate with Google Drive for storing a wide variety of file formats (such as Word docs and PDF files) and photos, the Mountain View, California-based company said. They include Intel Core processors (rather than the Atom used in last year’s machines.)

Samsung’s new Chromebook and Chromebox

“Google has made the Chromebook a lot more usable from a consumer standpoint,” said Gartenberg, who calls the new versions a “pretty big upgrade. It becomes much closer to something that could be used by the mass market. In a world that’s being driven by personal cloud services, these become great devices. For a certain user scenario and for certain business cases, this will be a viable choice — certainly more viable than they were last year.”

And while Gartenberg was enthusiastic after hooking the Chromebook up to his TV and using a wireless keyboard to access mail, Hulu and browse the web (it’s a better experience than Google TV, he notes), the new and improved “hardware design isn’t going to set the world on fire — its not as slim as the MacBook Air or an ultrabook.”

Samsung is selling two new models online starting today in the U.S. and starting tomorrow in the U.K. The Series 5 550 notebook, with a 12.1-inch display and weighing in at 3.3 pounds, is $449 for the WiFi version and $549 for a model that supports 3G networks. The Chromebox Series 3, a mini desktop computer, is $329. While Samsung and Acer Inc. were the original providers of the Chromebook last year, Google says Intel is expanding its support for the Chromebook specification and that other manufacturers will offer models by the end of the year. The machines, which have been sold online up until now, will also be available in some Best Buy stores in the U.S. next month.

For its part, Google says the Chromebook boots up in a few seconds, is much faster at loading web pages, and gives users the choice of thousands of apps at its Chrome Web store. Its biggest selling point is the fact that the device automatically receives new updates to the Chrome software every six weeks (there have been eight updates in the past year), eliminating the need to manually install updates, security fixes and other patches. “Chromebooks is more of a service rather than hardware,” Caesar Sengupta, director of Chrome OS, said in an interview at Google’s Mountain View, California, headquarters. “When you’re buying into the Chrome OS, you’re buying into a service.”

Google says its devices are winning over buyers who understand the use case for the machines. New users include retailer Dillard’s, which is planning on using “hundreds” of Chromeboxs in more than half their U.S. stores; Kaplan, which will be using Chromeboxes in its New York call center; and Mollen Clinics, which will deploy 4,500 machines to its mobile immunization clinics at Wal-Mart and Sam’s Clubs stores. California also plans to distribute 1,000 Chromebooks to libraries across the state for lending out to patrons, Google says.

“The new Chromebooks and Chromebox I think are now good enough to carve out their own little niche in the market,” said Frank Gillett, an analyst with Forrester Research. “The example use cases about retail, mobile medical workers and call centers all sound like credible use cases where the simple technology of these devices is very appealing.”

The search giant introduces two new machines to its line of ultra-minimal computers, and critics like what they’re seeing

The updated Chromebooks get an assist from new Google services such as Google Drive, which serves as the browser-only laptops’ main file system. Photo: google.com
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Best Opinion:  The Verge, ReadWriteWeb, GigaOm …

When Google unveiled a line of cloud-based, browser-only laptops called Chromebooks last year with Acer and Samsung, the machines were met with an underwhelmed “meh.” Now the company has two new additions to the Chrome family: An updated $499 Samsung Chromebook with Wi-Fi only ($549 with 3G), and a $329 small desktop version named Chromebox that’s similar to Apple’s Mac Mini, which requires its own mouse, monitor, and keyboard. Surprisingly, critics are pleased with the updates. Some say that the experience feels “polished,” and that Chrome OS is finally “starting to show its potential,” says CNET. What changed? Here, four key improvements:

1. A grownup OS
Older versions of the Chrome OS were basically a browser with a built-in keyboard, says David Pierce at The Verge. Now, when you flip open your laptop and log-in with your Google account it feels like you can do so much more. The new OS is “still browser-based, but Google has clearly realized that people want an interface that feels more like Windows or Mac OS.” Now, app and browser windows can be moved around and resized in all the familiar ways. Work can be done with two windows side-by-side, making multitasking a cinch. “The greatest compliment I can pay the latest revision of Chrome OS is that it finally feels like an operating system.”

2. More cloud services
A slew of new Google services, most notably Google Drive, make Chromebooks easier to use. Since the machines come with a paltry 16GB of internal storage, Drive serves as the “main file system,” letting users save files directly to the cloud and sync them across multiple computers, says Jon Mitchell at ReadWriteWeb. Of course, the big flaw with Chromebooks still remains: You need an internet connection to get much done. But once connected, now you have Google Drive, Google Play, Google Docs, Google+ video chats, Gmail, YouTube, and more.

3. Serviceable hardware
Samsung’s machine is “screamingly fast,” says Om Malik at GigaOm. Improved technology under the hood, while hardly cutting-edge, finally lets Chromebook users enjoy services such as Amazon Prime and Netflix; older models couldn’t handle the load. Navigating the user interface is easier, too. A new trackpad, “which used to have the responsiveness of a piece of wood, feels like a trackpad on any modern laptop.” The battery’s improved as well, says The Verge‘s Pierce. When pushed to the edge with heavy use, the machine managed to last seven hours and 10 minutes — “a very good score.” And the boot time still crushes the competition, says Edward C. Baig at USA Today. From a complete shut down, “I arrived at the log-in screen for Chromebook about five seconds after pressing the power button.” 

4. More things to do
With the old Chromebooks, all you could pretty much do was browse and email, says Malik. A new Chrome Web Store opens up a whole new world of possibilities. Web apps like Google Docs and YouTube come preloaded, and company reps say the store has tens of thousands more. It’s incredibly useful, says Pierce. Quick access to Rdio, Gmail, or Evernote makes Chrome OS a real machine. One complaint: The Chrome Web Store still has a high signal to noise ratio, “and it’s often hard to figure out what an app does or whether or not it’s any good.” But Google is constantly updating the Store with improvements. Windows better “look out,” says Mitchell.

Today, Google and Samsung officially launch the second-generation Chromebook, starting with the Series 5 550, which like its predecessor comes in WiFi-only and 3G combo models. I had the pleasure of using the new Chromebook for the past week as my only PC. The overall user experience is surprisingly satisfying and refreshing.  In a computer market dominated by Mac and Windows, Chromebook is freedom from duopolies that define the experience within walled gardens and around desktop applications. But changes introduced with Chrome OS 19 make the user experience much more desktop-like, as Google cedes some of the browser motif for familiarity and usability, with multitasking being high among the reasons.

If you read no further, the answer to your question is this: Yes, you can use Chromebook Series 5 550 as your primary, and only, PC. Google has succeeded offering online and offline capabilities balanced to most computing needs, while keeping cloud benefits primary but seamlessly integrated. For two months last summer, I used the original Samsung Series 5 Chromebook as my primary PC, in the first weeks and as my only one later on. I’ll repeat the experiment at least through the end of June, and I might not go back — strange, considering new OS X and Windows versions debut within months. That commitment says much about my positive first impressions.

By the specs, Samsung’s second-generation Chromebook is hugely underpowered: 1.3GHz Intel Celeron 867 processor (dual-core); 12.1-inch matte display (1280 x 800 resolution; 300 nit); 16GB solid-state drive; Intel HD graphics; 4GB SDRAM; webcam; two USB ports; DisplayPort; WiFi N; 3G (one some models); Gigabit Ethernet; 4-in-1 media card slot; and Chrome OS. The operating system stack supports Bluetooth, which therefore can be added by dongle.

The WiFi model sells for $449, a $20 increase over the original Series 5 and the 3G 550 is $549 — or 50 bucks more. Price increase surprises, particularly considering what’s inside. Performance and price are so important, I pulled them out of this review into a separate, 1,500-word exploration. Quickly stated: Performance is there, but $549 is a bit rich. If you want more than that, please read the companion post.

What’s It Like?

Before continuing, trackpad is priority mention. Users of the Cr-48 test model and commercially available Acer and Samsung Chromebooks complained about the trackpad, with good reason. Expect  better now. Google rewrote the driver, and the 550 trackpad works! That said, no computer should ship with trackpad performance as bad as Google and its partners delivered last year.

Out of the box. In January, based on specs and photos my colleague Tim Conneally collected during Consumer Electronics Show 2012, I called the new Samsung Chromebook a “cheap, plastic MacBook“. Well, it’s not all plastic. The rest bar is metal, and it’s quite comfortable. Overall, the 550 feels sturdier than the original Series 5, and it’s surprisingly handsome — not cheap, or imitation after all. This has much to do with contours and curves.

Setting up the Series 5 550 is similar to its predecessor. Open the lid, wait a few seconds for boot up and walk through language, keyboard layout and connection prompts to Google account login, and that’s it. Setup complete. During my May 25 briefing with Googlers Linus Upson, vice president of engineering, and Caesar Sengupta, director of Chrome OS, I praised the trackpad performance but complained about the space bar, which consistently required multiple taps. Uh-oh, that can’t be right, they said. Google sent a second 550, presuming the first was defective out of the box. So I had the pleasure of second setup. Changing computers was never easier — just log in, baby. The point: Setup is one of Chromebook’s primary benefits.

The second Chromebook is better in other ways. The overall typing experience is smoother, and the spacebar works just fine. My typing speed is quite good, in fact. Keyboard comfort is hugely important in any laptop, and I worried about lag while typing. There is none.

Closing the lid puts the laptop to sleep, while opening is instant-on. Seriously instantly. I used a Core i7 MacBook Air before the Series 5 550, and the Apple computer is nearly instant-on from sleep when connected to electricity, while taking 4-to-7 seconds to start when on battery. Samsung’s Chromebook immediately starts whether connected to power or using battery. Truly instant-on is another Chromebook primary benefit.

The screen doesn’t exactly wow me. At 300 nit, it’s bright enough, but text is typical, meaning just okay, for a 1280 x 800 display. Google can’t magically improve viewable dots per inch without a hardware upgrade, but an optimized, customized font could go far to improve the visual experience. I compare to my Galaxy Nexus, where text is crisp, by comparison. Microsoft did wonders with ClearType. Google should do something similar.

Still, the display offers one big benefit: matte versus glossy finish. Contrast isn’t as sharp, but there’s no glare, making the new Samsung Chromebook a much better outdoor companion than most other laptops sold today.

Chrome OS. While hardware modestly improves over original Series 5, the software dramatically changes. Google introduced new window manager Aura with Chrome OS 19. While the browser motif dominates the desktop, it’s not the only landscape. There is a bottom toolbar that is something of a cross between those available on OS X and Windows 7, plus there’s a desktop now. OS X and Windows fans looking for a reason to diss Chrome OS should enjoy changes easily characterized as a big fail for the browser OS concept.

The changes aren’t so much concession as extension. The full-screen browser remains, but simply as option. Users can have it both ways, while gaining something else: Better multitasking, a capability the tabbed motif limited. Separate windows allow users to work more freely. In theory. I find the desktop motif to be superfluous. Tabs work just fine for me.

Something else: there’s an app launcher, which presents applications in grid-like fashion, reminiscent of Android. The launcher is unexpected, since these are web apps after all. But the motif works and makes the experience more familiar to everyone that has used popular mobile or PC operating systems. In the lower right-hand corner is a clock behind which there are some pop-up settings presented, and they take visual cues from Android 4.x. Actually, many of the UI changes subtly remind of Ice Cream Sandwich. Perhaps there is yet a future where Google combines Android and Chrome OS, something I would recommend.

BTW, translucency is a design element, another similarity to Android. But Google adds translucency as Apple and Microsoft largely or completely abandon it in their operating systems. I’m a big fan of the motif.

Chrome 19 is the stable build, as I write, but v20 offers additional benefits, with Google Drive integration being biggest. Chrome OS development closely follows the browser, which revs a new version about every six weeks. So Google will improve the Chromebook experience fairly frequently, within every few months compared to several years for OS X or Windows. The point: Chromebook improves with age, which is another benefit.

Down to work. Chromebook critics often point to the cloud as foible — that the computer is a brick without Internet connection. That hasn’t been true for sometime. Chrome OS supports offline apps, even games, and Google consistently extends such capabilities. The search and information giant has done well making the online-offline experience/capabilities transparent. There are more offline, desktop PC capabilities — albeit many still limited.

The file manager is one, while photo viewer, with barebones editing capabilities, is another. There’s an audio player, too, basic as it may be. I keep my permanent music library (about 13,000 songs) on an external, FAT32-formatted 1TB drive. Plugged into the 550′s USB port, the drive is fully accessible, and I can play music using the audio player, which produces rich tones. Streaming is my preferred option, using Google Music.

However, while audio fidelity satisfies, volume doesn’t. When using Bose Companion 5 speakers or Grado Reference Series RS1i headphones, I need to crank up the volume near full on the Series 5 550, whereas I rarely pass one-quarter volume on the MacBook Air. Perhaps a better software driver will fix that. Something else: On both new Chromebooks, connected speakers blast feedback/loud buzz when the computer sleeps. The noise scares the crap out of the cat, if he’s napping. The audio problems are simply unacceptable for a computer selling for more than $500.

Google Docs and Gmail are available online or offline. There’s little new to discuss here, other than I had no real problems working either way. However, most of my writing is done in HTML in a browser, so my testing Google offline apps is limited.

As a cloud computer, Series 5 550 Chromebook is meant to be mostly connected. WiFi performance is excellent, with better range than the MacBook Air. The 3G model has excellent coverage, from Verizon, which offers 100MB per month free data for two years. Google and Samsung could have really set Chromebook apart from OS X or Windows laptops by offering LTE, which would better justify the $549 price. Verizon activation is supposed to be pretty fast, and was on the original Series 5, but I couldn’t get it to work at all yesterday; five fails.

Streaming video delivers handsomely, which hugely improves over the original Series 5 out of the box. However, the volume problem is pronounced on some sites, with Hulu being a big, glaring example. Google really must fix this.

I’ve only done modest battery testing, but got more than 6 hours with heavy usage — as in more than a dozen tabs open and music streaming. I expect consistent battery life to be close to 7 hours, which is a good hour less than what the original Series 5 Chromebook delivered. Granted, there’s more overhead with GUI changes and dual-core processor. That said, battery life is a big Chromebook benefit. On a good day, I only get four hours from MacBook Air.

Will I Use It?

In early October, I ended a long run — from July 31 — using the original Series 5 Chromebook as my primary PC. In June I return, and quite unexpectedly. On May 20, I posted to Google+ about plans to go Android tablet:

I considered Chromebook, given the more desktop-UI enhancements coming, but there’s no new hardware out there. What about Android? My Galaxy Nexus is so fast and responsive, surely there’s a case for trying out an Ice Cream Sandwich tablet as primary PC for a month. Apps are plentiful, which appeals over Chrome OS.

Obviously, new iPad would be contender, too, and I seriously considered experimenting that way. But that kind of thing has been done and written about often enough. Besides, Android tablet promises more challenges and so something more interesting to write about.

I purchased the ASUS Tranformer Pad 300 and keyboard for the purpose. Someone at Google must read my posts, because later that Sunday came the offer for Chromebook and Chromebox loaners and briefing, three days later as Google+ Hangout using the 550′s webcam. The Samsung Series 3 Chromebox also launched today.

I was enthused about getting the Chromebook but apprehensive. Android seems more viable a long-term investment, given its popularity, huge app ecosystem and better hardware. Those are major reasons why I prepared to go Android tablet for a month, or at least attempt to. I also snubbed nose the specs, particularly based on last year’s Chromebook experience. So I was remarkably surprised how satisfying is overall performance and usability as primary PC replacement.

That’s not to say Chromebook is for everyone or even most anyone. Businesses or individuals dependent on Office or other desktop apps should look elsewhere, for example. But the second-generation is ready for public consumption, which is coming soon. Right now, laptops running Chrome OS are available only for online purchase. Next month, Chromebook arrives in Best Buy, so that people will be able to try and buy. Between time, I’ll offer ongoing updates about my next and unexpected Chromebook adventure.

SAN FRANCISCO, May 31 — Google is powering ahead with its cloud-based, web-centric computers and has taken the wraps off a next-generation Chromebook and a brand new compact desktop machine called the Chromebox.

The Chromebox and Chromebook were made by Korean manufacturer Samsung and run on Google’s Chrome OS — an app-centric user interface based on Google’s Chrome web browser.

The computers were designed for people who live on the web and use cloud-based applications to complete tasks — such as word processing, photo and movie editing and playing games — in the browser.

Google introduced its first Chromebooks (Samsung’s Series 5 Chrome OS and Acer’s AC700) back in 2011 but has since upgraded the hardware and revised the user interface.

“There’s no longer a question of sacrificing quality in hardware to live life on the cloud. This new introduction is very cool and exciting,” said Louis Gray, Google+ product marketing manager, in a post on the site.

Both the new Samsung Series 5 550 Chromebook and Samsung Series 3 Chromebox have Intel Core processors and are close to three times as fast as their predecessors.

“The new Chromebook boots in less than seven seconds and resumes instantly. With the Chromebox, you can be on a video conference while continuing to play your favourite role-playing game on the side,” said Linus Upson, vice president, Engineering and Caesar Sengupta, director of Product Management at Google.

Spec-wise the Samsung Series 5 550 Chromebook features a 12.1” screen, a 1.3GHz dual-core Intel processor, 4GB of RAM, optional integrated 3G connectivity, 16GB of storage, a 4-in-1 memory card reader, a 1MP webcam and up to 6 hours of battery life.

The Samsung Series 3 550 Chromebox has a 1.9GHz Intel dual-core processor, a 16GB SSD, 4GB of RAM, a built-in mono speaker, 6 USB ports and 2 display ports.

ReadWriteWeb compared the new Google Chromebook with “a typical HP Laptop” and found that “We’re now at a point where an everyday consumer can weigh up a typical HP laptop with a Google Chromebook and not see much difference on the software side.”  

The new Samsung Chromebook and Chromebox are available from Wednesday. The Samsung Series 3 550 Chromebox is priced from US$329.99 (RM990). The Samsung Series 5 550 Chromebook with WiFi only is priced at US$449.99 while the WiFi + 3G version costs US$549.99. — AFP/Relaxnews

Google is powering ahead with its cloud-based, web-centric computers and has taken the wraps off a next-generation Chromebook and a brand new compact desktop machine called the Chromebox.

The Chromebox and Chromebook were made by Korean manufacturer Samsung and run on Google’s Chrome OS — an app-centric user interface based on Google’s Chrome web browser.

The computers were designed for people who live on the web and use cloud-based applications to complete tasks — such as word processing, photo and movie editing and playing games — in the browser.

Google introduced its first Chromebooks (Samsung’s Series 5 Chrome OS and Acer’s AC700) back in 2011 but has since upgraded the hardware and revised the user interface.

“There’s no longer a question of sacrificing quality in hardware to live life on the cloud. This new introduction is very cool and exciting,” said Louis Gray, Google+ product marketing manager, in a post on the site.

Both the new Samsung Series 5 550 Chromebook and Samsung Series 3 Chromebox have Intel Core processors and are close to three times as fast as their predecessors.

“The new Chromebook boots in less than seven seconds and resumes instantly. With the Chromebox, you can be on a video conference while continuing to play your favorite role-playing game on the side,” said Linus Upson, vice president, Engineering and Caesar Sengupta, director of Product Management at Google.

Spec-wise the Samsung Series 5 550 Chromebook features a 12.1” screen, a 1.3GHz dual-core Intel processor, 4GB of RAM, optional integrated 3G connectivity, 16GB of storage, a 4-in-1 memory card reader, a 1MP webcam and up to 6 hours of battery life.

The Samsung Series 3 550 Chromebox has a 1.9GHz Intel dual-core processor, a 16GB SSD, 4GB of RAM, a built-in mono speaker, 6 USB ports and 2 display ports.

ReadWriteWeb compared the new Google Chromebook with “a typical HP Laptop” and found that “We’re now at a point where an everyday consumer can weigh up a typical HP laptop with a Google Chromebook and not see much difference on the software side.”   

The new Samsung Chromebook and Chromebox are available from Wednesday. The Samsung Series 3 550 Chromebox is priced from $329.99. The Samsung Series 5 550 Chromebook with WiFi only is priced at $449.99 while the WiFi + 3G version costs $549.99.

http://www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/devices/buynow.html

L’annuncio è atteso per questa settimana ed è importante per due motivi. Il primo: Samsung conferma tutta l’intenzione di puntare, nonostante il flop di vendite registrato fino a oggi, sui computer sviluppati attorno al sistema operativo e ai servizi “in the cloud” di Google. Il secondo: Google rilancia sul fronte dei pc in diretta competizione con Microsoft, aggiornando in un sol colpo Chrome OS (l’alternativa a Windows e Mac Os targata Mountain View) e la suite Google Apps (rivale di Office).

I primi esemplari del nuovo corso dei Chromebook saranno come detto tenuti a battesimo da Samsung (l’unica, insieme ad Acer, ad averci scommesso un anno fa) e si tratta secondo le ultime indiscrezioni apparse in Rete di un notebook e di un desktop. La promessa è quella di “macchine” più veloci e versatili dei modelli attualmente in commercio, in grado di regalare all’utente strumenti per gestire i documenti creati con Google Docs anche offline e per archiviare documenti e contenuti digitali online attraverso il servizio di cloud storage Google Drive, con il quale la nuova piattaforma è ora strettamente integrato.

In casa Google non si preoccupano troppo dello scarso appeal registrato dai Chromebook (fra i suoi estimatori 500 scuole americane) presso consumatori, professionisti e aziende e sono convinti della bontà della strategia focalizzata su prodotti di computing del tutto (o quasi) votati al verbo delle applicazioni da fruire nella nuvola. Il gigante californiano fa capire di non aver troppo spinto finora sull’acceleratore per promuovere i notebook con a bordo il proprio sistema operativo per mettere bene a punto l’offerta sotto il profilo tecnico e funzionale.

Per Samsung, invece, il compito è quello di fare breccia in un mercato di per sé già difficile (la domanda di pc è in flessione) e pronto ad accogliere l’avvento di Windows 8. Le new entry del chaebol coreano sono comunque attese al varco – da ieri sono in vendita online negli Usa e da oggi nel Regno Unito, mentre il debutto nei negozi è previsto per il mese prossimo – per le novità che portano in dote, a cominciare dalla possibilità di operare con finestre di lavoro multiple sullo schermo.

I nuovi Chromebook puntano quindi sul fattore multitasking e sul quello della massima versatilità d’uso, grazie a una funzione di editing dei file che sarà a disposizione di tutti gli utenti di Google Docs, e non solo di coloro che acquisteranno i nuovi computer di Samsung.
Entrando nel merito delle caratteristiche tecniche dei nuovi arrivi, il Chromebook Serie 5 550 si presenta con uno schermo da 12,1 pollici (da 1280 x 800 pixel di risoluzione), un processore Intel Celeron 867 dual-core da 1.3GHz, connettività Wi-Fi (il modem 3G è opzionale), due porte Usb 2.0 e una batteria con autonomia dichiarata di sei ore. Prezzo di listino: 449 dollari.

Il Chromebox Series 3 desktop, invece, ha dalla sua un chip Intel Celeron B840 dual-core da 1.9GHz e una ricchissima dotazione di interfacce di connessione (fra cui sei porte Usb 2.0) per periferiche esterne. Venduto senza monitor, tastiera e mouse costa 329 dollari. Per entrambi, da notare, il cambio di processore Intel: dagli Atom ai Celeron.

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