First Chrome OS Netbook

The news that Acer will be the first manufacturer to release a Chrome OS netbook is making the rounds about the interwebs. The world's second largest computer manufacturer (HP is number one) has announced that it is backing Google's Chrome OS and plans to ship a netbook featuring the system.

They haven't announced what the hardware will consist of, but I have to agree with Kevin Tofel over at jkOnTheRun.com. He proposes that Acer should wrap that Chrome OS around an ARM-based machine, which is a great idea. Think about it: Chrome OS is web-based, so users will be doing a lot of web browsing, which I do anyways. With its top-notch web-browser, the iPhone and iPod Touch are great little browsing machines. And they're powered by ARM CPUs. Also, they feature impressive battery life while browsing.

So think of a small-form notebook with ~15-hour battery life and a bigger screen than the iPhone for doing all your in-browser action. Sounds like a winner to me. And if Acer doesn't step up, I know another manufacturer will, so it's only a matter of time.

As for Acer's machine, the Taiwan-based company says it will be available to consumers in the second half of 2010.

Install Chrome OS (64-bit version)

Oh how they are coming out of the woodwork now! Here is the latest Chrome OS build, created by our good friends over at Chromiumos64.org. As you might have gathered from their domain name, they have created a 64-bit version of Chrome OS for your enjoying.

However, the installation process seems a bit involved (it includes six 200 MB downloads). I would be happy to take the plunge, but the resident 64-bit machine (an AMD Turion 64 X2) is under lock and key. It isn't owned by me per say (another inhabitant of the Magna Techa group HQ owns it) and I'm not ready to go flipping tape decks on it just yet.

So get on it, you heiresses of the 32-bit era. Let us know what you find down there in the comments!
[Via Chromiumos64.org]

Chrome OS build on 1 GB USB drive

Hexxeh, the original Chrome OS on USB drive-build maker, has brought us a new build. This one does not necessitate a 4 GB USB drive, but fits on the lowly 1 GB drives many of us have lying around. So get your installation pants on and follow the instructions here: Install Chrome OS on a USB Drive.

And don't forget to download the new build here: Chrome OS Diet USB version.

I'll be sure to check it out as well, once the download link starts working... Hmm this seems familiar

Install Chrome OS on Asus Eee PC

After the adventure with the Dell Mini 10v and Chrome OS, some of you other netbook users may be feeling a little left out out. Well, now there is a guide to installing Chrome OS on Asus's Eee PC. I'm not sure if I would do this if the Eee PC is your main man in the computing area, as Chromium OS is still pretty rough around the edges. But if you like to live on the edge hit up this link for the full guide: How to Install Chrome OS on Asus Eee PC 701.
[Via Sampletheweb.com]

Got a Dell Mini 10v? We've got a Chrome OS Image for You!

Recently, some developers at Dell have prepared a Chrome OS specially for the Dell Mini 10v. The Mini 10v is one of Dell's netbooks and is very close to the type of hardware that Google wants to use when Chrome OS is released to consumers.

So do you have a Dell Mini 10v? I don't, but I am downloading the USB image to inspect the changes that the Dell developers have made. Apparently they have gotten the wireless network feature in Chrome OS to play nice with Broadcom hardware. It's pretty cool to see employees of such a heavyweight as Dell playing with Chrome OS.

However, if you don't have a Mini 10v, you have time to buy one. And by that I mean, time to work at McDonald's, save up enough money to buy the netbook, and then wait until Chrome OS' final version is released. Unfortunately, this is due to the dismal download rate of the image. I have been downloading it for 18 hours and it has three days left running at 20 kB/s (it is a 7.5 GB file).

So has anyone tried the image out? If so, do you mind torrenting it and sharing the love? I will be sure to bring you my findings on the custom Chrome OS build as soon as I can get my hands on it. And if you already have, let us know what you think in the comments!

You can check out the post from Dell here:
Chrome OS Wi-Fi Support Running on a Mini 10v... Source Code Available

Chromium OS Testing: Gateway Laptop via USB Install

As you know, I have installed Chrome OS (Chromium OS) to a USB drive. I am now testing it on an old laptop of mine. Here are the specs for the machine:

Gateway MT6729
2 GB RAM
Intel Core 2 Duo CPU (1.6 GHz)
160 GB HDD
Intel Graphics
15.4" screen
Atheros Wireless Internet

So after a few hours of playing around with Chromium OS, I have discovered the things that work and the things that do not work (for my machine).

Functioning Features
- Wired Internet connection
- Log in works as expected
- My Google credentials sign me into all Google web apps
- Flash video (with fullscreen mode)
- Audio works
- Most apps open as expected (malfunctions cited below)- The Books app takes you to a Google Books version of Alice In Wonderland :)
- Chromium OS did detect my USB mouse and it works properly, including the scroll wheel
-Surprisingly, the USB install of Chromium OS actually remembered by bookmarks after shutdown. I'm not sure if this is a "cloud"-based feature or if it is writing them to the drive somehow...
- The power button on the laptop causes a proper shutdown

Non-functioning Features
- The Contacts app oddly brings up Gmail Chat, I was expecting a shot to my contacts in Gmail instead
- The calculator would not load for me
- The "To-do list" brought up the old sign on for an @google.com account (which we do not have)
- Chess did bring up a Flash-powered web app for playing chess
- Wireless networking does not work in Chrome OS on my machine, as of now
-  There's an odd bug that will either sign me out or crash the browser every so often (does not seem to be on a set time interval).
- Other hardware buttons (i.e. volume, mute, media controls) do nothing

The State of Chromium OS: Week 1
All in all, Chromium OS is running much better than I would have predicted. I am using it on unsupported and untested hardware (not the recommended notebook) and it is a very early build. I am quite impressed with the speed of Chromium OS and how well it works even this early in the game. Have you booted your PC with Chromium OS? What did you think about it? Let us know in the comments!

Edit: And as noted in the comments, a reader has booted Chrome OS on an even older (1.8 GHz single-core) rig. Read about his or her experience below.

Would You Take a Free Netbook From Google?

Linuxjournal.com is running a story putting forth the idea of a subsidized Chrome OS netbook from Google. The cool think about the idea is that they are pondering a fully-subsidized (a.k.a. free!) netbook. The piece predicts that, without the need for an expensive hard drive, and with the falling prices of netbooks, Google could potentially validate the giving of free netbooks that run Chrome OS.

At first glance, this seems to be a great idea. Well, at second and third glance it's great, if you ask me. Who wouldn't want a free netbook computer? As the article predicts, this would completely flip the market for computers. Instead of paying $300 for a new netbook, you could get one for nothing, if you are willing to use Chrome OS. And at this point, I could say that I am. However, there is potential for Google to ruin this "free Chrome OS netbook".

So how would Google make money on this, you ask? We all know Google is in business for something, and employees have to be paid. Well, I would predict that they would implement well-placed advertisements throughout the system. You may say that this would be annoying, but I would bet that it would be tolerable if they are not "mandatory" ads like Apple is patenting. Nothing that a user must click on or interact with continuously to use the Chrome OS netbook.

I say if they played this right, a free Chrome OS netbook from Google could put them at the forefront of next-generation mobile computing. But only if they do it right, which is a long shot in many cases. What do you think about this? Would you take a free netbook with Chrome OS on it? A ad-supported netbook? Let us know in the comments!