The Shrine

Has anyone messed around with a Google Chromebook? I'm considering getting the Samsung one that is dirt cheap at $250 for wifi only (not 3G). I think last year, when they were first introduced, the concept was lost on people and it got bad reviews, but now it seems like a great 2nd device that was ahead of its time. Many tech sites are changing their tune. I'll, of course, have my gaming desktop as my main computer for the heavy lifting, but a cheap-o cloud based glorified internet (real internet, not a shoddy mobile or tablet version) browser should make a great companion. I've thought about a tablet, but i really dont enjoy using them all that much.

All i want to do is surf the web for news, forums, and e-mail from the bed or couch, then also be able to hook up the device to my TV for Netflix and HBO Go watching. Currently, i have a 7 or 8 year old old laptop hooked up to the TV that its only function is to try and play Netflix/HBOGo and it doesnt do it very well or very fast, thats for sure.

FOr those unaware, a Chrome book is essentially a laptop without windows. Everything runs through a Chrome OS and it has very very little internal storage. Youre expected to use cloud for your files and apps/webpages for everything else. It is expected to always be in WiFi range, once offline it is basically useless, but 95% of the time my desktop is online. With a Chomebook you can use Google Docs for word processing and spreadsheets.

http://www.slashgear.com/samsung-series ... -20252951/

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-XE303C12- ... k+series+3

I don't want everything to be stored in the cloud. I like my stand-alone devices

Chromebook pixel is the hotness...

After that post I ended up buying the $250 Samsung Chrome book and it is everything i needed. Its super small, portable, browses the REAL web (not tablet web), hooks up to my TV to play Netflix/HBO Go... and what else do you really need at that point for $250? Way more comfortable to type on for e-mails or forums than a tablet and its definitely paid for itself in the use i've used it for. If it dies... BEZOW i can buy a new one for $250 and all my files are on Google Drive so you lose nothing.

Zeus, get with the times, cloud is awesome. "Oh, darn, that word doc (or spreadsheet) is on my home computer." doesnt exist anymore since any file I have is essentially accessible from any machine. Just guard them well and it isnt a big deal because, really, no one cares about your budget or shopping list like you think they do. In fact, homeland security can have a field day on my cloud files if they wan to, i dont care.

I'm OK with the cloud existing but not OK with everything on it. Not sure how it is down in the US but we do get dead spots in WiFi up here and data is still insanely expensive. It honestly would be far too limiting a machine for me, basically a tablet with a keyboard. I'd rather just buy a laptop for a small amount more