Google Unveils Beta Chrome OS Notebook

adeelarshad82 writes "Google has unveiled a beta version of its Chrome OS notebook, dubbed CR48. The device will have a 12.1-inch screen and full-size keyboard, as well as an oversized, clickable touchpad. It will also include world-mode 3G and 802.11 dual-band Wi-Fi. Google promised eight hours of active use and eight days of standby, as well as a webcam.Those hoping to get their hands on a Chrome OS device, however, will either have to wait until mid-2011 or obtain one through one of several Google-backed giveaway options. Google plans to release two, Intel-based Chrome OS notebooks from Acer and Samsung in mid-2011, with Verizon Wireless providing cellular connectivity which comes with 100MB of free data per month for the first two years. According to Sundar Pichai, Google's vice president of product management, CR48 is not and will not be for sale. All Chrome OS devices will be launched and priced by their partners, who will hold their own launch events in the future with more details."

Will it be as hard to update as Android?

[eaddict]

With all the flavors of Android out there will google do something different to make this hardware can take upgrades?
Hopefully google will keep Chrome OS in house and not sell it to vendors to cover with their unremovable crap.

Black???

[harrkev]

The PICTURES [engadget.com] show it as black. With a name like "chrome," shouldn't it at least be shiny?

Wait, that's not right...

[LeftHanded]

Chromium [wikipedia.org] is 24 on the periodic table of the elements. The element that's 48 is cadmium [wikipedia.org]. Maybe they're going for some sort of esoteric Chromium Chromium == 2 * 24 == 48 kind of thing?

Re:pay as you go

[gregrah]

T-Mobile recently came out with their dirt cheap (for an Android phone) "Comet". The phone costs about $150 to buy outright, and you can use it on their pay-as-you-go plan (10 cents per minute calling). A "Web Day Pass" can be purchased* for $1.49, and it gives you unlimited 3G data access for 24 hours on the days that you need it.

You should also be able to use a nicer, more expensive Android phone on the pay-as-you-go plan, if you don't mind paying $250 or more up front for the phone.

I've been waiting for a long time for a pricing model like this to come along before purchasing a smart phone. $80 a month (or even $50 a month on some of the cheaper carriers) is just too much for me to pay for a smart phone given how much of my day is spent sitting in front of a desktop computer and land line. I would love to see T-Mobile be successful with with this pricing model, and to see other carriers following suit.


* Currently T-Mobiles servers are crapping out and you can't actually buy a Web Day Pass. Pretty sloppy - but I assume it's just a temporary problem as they roll out the new system.