Samsung Chromebook Review - A Good Little Reasonably Priced Laptop For Buyers On A Budget
By Tran Dinh KhueTechnically, if Google's own CR-48 prototype is counted, the Samsung Chromebook can be considered Google Chromebook's fifth iteration. Like the other four Chromebooks before it, this one also runs the Google Chrome OS instead of conventional operating systems, such as Mac OS X Mountain Lion or Windows 8. However, it will actually be really easy for you to decide whether or not this Chromebook is for you. You should know is that it is a really cheap, light, slim, long lasting laptop, and if you spend most of your time in web apps, then it is worth considering.
Specifications
Processor: Unlike previous Chromebooks, which had Intel chips, this one is powered by a 40% faster, dual-core 1.7GHz Samsung Exynos 5 Dual ARM Cortex-A15 core processor. This makes this Samsung Chrome particularly notable. You will notice how silent it is when you are using it.
Hard Drive: Its smooth performance is also because it has a SSD hard disk instead of a mechanical one, although with only 16GB of space. Of course, the storage can be expanded by connecting a portable hard disk to its USB 3.0 or USB 2.0 port.
Memory: This new Chromebook merely has 2G of RAM, but it will never feel underpowered in general usage. The memory is sufficient for the Samsung Chromebook since only a single app is being run on it. An external monitor can be connected by getting an HDMI port.
Max Resolution & Screen Size: This Chromebook has an 11.6-inch screen with a maximum resolution of 1,366 x 768 pixels, which is perfectly good, though which a distinctly lackluster quality.
This new Chromebook also has a Shared video memory (UMA) graphics processor, and it is not a surprise that it does not have an optical drive. With a weight of 1.1kg, it is light, portable, and could be carried in a tote bag.
Performance
For doing things like browsing, emailing, watching YouTube, writing and the like, the performance of this Samsung Chromebook is practically remarkable. The only time when delays will be noticed is when information is being pulled by it from the Internet. Most of the time, the stability of this Chrome will seem rock solid, but occasionally it may reboot without any warning even when doing apparently harmless things. SD video streams play quite perfectly, though without any downloads and it may struggle with HD.
Pros
Decent build quality
Easy to carry around and lightweight
Easy to type on keyboard and an easy to use trackpad
Quite inexpensive, starting from $248
Cons
A slight learning curve to get familiar with the Chrome OS
Does not run a full blown operating system
The Verdict
The concept of the Chromebook has always seemed promising. Despite the fact that traditional computer users may sneer at it, for those on a budget, they would still end up having a brand new computer at a very cheap price. It is also worth adding that the Samsung Chromebook comes with free 100 GB of Google Drive for 2 years. This Chromebook may not be appealing to all computer users, but it is still a really good little machine with decent specs and a good-enough performance.
How Good Is Google Chromebook Pixel
By Semeli Karen McPhersonGoogle has launched the new Chromebook Pixel. This is said to be the first offering by Google that has a hi-resolution touch enabled screen. The pixel density of this laptop is more than that offered by Apple's Retina screen. It is powered with Core i5 Processor priced at $1,299. If you want an advanced model that includes 4G LTE technology then you need to shell out $1,449, this model is slated to be shipped April 2013. Let us find out more about it and discover if Google has done impressive work with its Chromebook.
The screen
The screen of Chromebook is multi touch-enabled that is up against its rival with Retina display. the screen measures 12.85-inch with a resolution of 2,560x1,700-pixel and a ratio of 3:2. The screen is protected with Gorilla Glass to avoid any scratches. Additionally, the screen brightness is high to make the contents appear clear and sharp.
The difference that the 3:2 ratio brings is the vertical space that you get. You will enjoy online experience on this dimension as Chromebook is designed for Cloud and is highly suitable for it. This is what makes scrolling easy and navigation smoother.
The density of screen is 239ppi that goes beyond what the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display has to provide at 227ppi. Here again the Google product takes a lead and provides good graphics along with smooth display of fonts. The touch screen is highly responsive, however, you might find it difficult to switch tabs in Chrome. You will need to tap twice to switch tabs, the pinch to zoom feature worked well.
Hardware Specifications
The Chromebook Pixel is powered with a dual-core 1.8GHz Intel Core i5 processor that supports Intel HD 4000 graphics and a memory of 4GB. This is what brings it on par with its competitors sporting Windows 8 OS and systems like Macs.
There are two variations of Chromebook. The first one with the Wi-Fi and 32GB SSD costing $1,299, the other has an inbuilt 4G LTE technology with 64GB storage priced at $1,449. The only common factor in both the models is the cloud storage of 1TB available for three years. The left side of the unit has a USB port, Mini Display port and a jack connector for microphone/headphone.
There are in total two USB 2.0 ports in the unit along with a Mini DisplayPort that connects external monitors. As far as the battery juice is concerned, you will be able to squeeze out 5 hours flat with basic usage. Despite the USB options and other ports, you will feel short changed in options related to video output. The unit lacks HDMI input that might disappoint you.
Yet another additional key is included in the keyboard called the search key. This key is however replaced with the caps lock key. Nonetheless, you will be quickly able to launch search functionality with one key. If you want, you can change the functionality to Caps lock as per your requirement. The traditional keyboard is out as some keys like excluding the right hand delete key and caps lock might need getting used to.
Conclusion
In conclusion, to what has been said above the good thing that you get with Google Chromebook Pixel is the design, sleek style, powered with Intel, touch enabled screen for Windows 8 OS along with 3 years of 1TB storage and enabled with 4G LTE.
The downside seems to be the premium pricing that is $1,299, the Chrome OS that needs online connectivity for its functionality.
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