Chrome OS was one of those technologies that made me go “WHYYYYYY???” when it was first announced. Maybe it was because I (and a lot of people) was expecting a more traditional Linux flavor, Google-style. Or maybe it was because I couldn’t see the value of an operating system that’s usable only when it’s online.
However which way, I treated it with disdain, and every announcement of a new Chromebook always made me go d’oh. That was until I got a taste of Chromebook goodness (sort of) when I created a bootable Chrome OS in a flash disk. That’s when I saw the merits of owning one. It’s not out to replace your laptop. It’s to supplement your existing gadgets. And though it’s still of limited use to me, I see who this piece of technology is for. Its speedy bootup and uber-dedicated function (it’s a glorified bootable Chrome browser) appealed to me somehow. So now, I treat every new ChromeOS/Chromebook news with enthusiasm.
Case in point: Google’s announcement of a new Chromebook a couple of days ago. Named HP Chromebook 11, it’s being billed as “the Chromebook for everyone”. Available in black or white with blue, red, yellow, or green accents, it comes with the following specs, which are meaty as far as Chromebooks go:
HP Chromebook 11 Specs
- 11.6″ display with 1366 x 768 resolution
- Exynos 5250 GAIA Application Processor
- 2GB (4x 4Gbit) DDR3 RAM
- 16GB Solid State Drive
- Dual-band WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n
- Bluetooth 4.0
- 2 x USB 2.0
- optional Micro-SIM slot for 3G and 4G/LTE models
- Up to 6 hours of active use (30 Wh battery)
Aside from that, yoou also get free 100GB Google Drive storage for two years, a 60-day trial of Google Play Music All Access, and 12 free sessions of GoGo in-flight internet, or at least in the US they are. For the international market, I doubt if the latter two would be offered.
The good news is HP Chromebook 11 is now available online at Google Play, Amazon, and BestBuy for $275 in the US, and in the UK at Currys. No word on an international release, though. But I’m hoping it reaches our shores. From the looks of things, it’s the best Chromebook to date, not counting the Chrome Pixel, which is in its own category.
*TIP: You can use Globe GCash AMEX to buy stuff from Amazon. Check out more details here.