Chromebook Takes Top Place In Laptop Sales On Amazon 372
rtfa-troll writes "Amazon's latest table of the top selling laptops will be a surprise for many on Slashdot whose first reaction when we discussed this before was 'so what,' with pundits describing it as 'an enterprise contender.' Given the recent launch and huge advertising campaign, you might expect that the top selling consumer laptop would be based on Win8. If you read recent discussions about Microsoft's troubled new system you might expect a Mac to be leading, but Google's Chromebook topping the sales chart on a consumer site without any major advertising campaign is a major surprise. We've discussed before that apart from its web based ChromeOS, Chromebooks are also very fast running Ubuntu Linux and have several other distributions already ported."
Great system for parents (Score:5, Informative)
My mom's laptop failed, so I convinced her to get the Samsung Chromebook. So far, she says she really likes it. It's dead simple to use, as it pretty much only does what she needs--web browsing and email. There's no settings for her to mess up, updates are silent and automatic, and it's next to impossible to "break" the OS. I offered to set it up for her, but all I actually had to do was enter her Gmail password and the WiFi password. The only setting I changed was to enable Google Instant.
From my own observations of playing around for 10 minutes, the hardware itself leaves a (very) little bit to be desired. The trackpad feels a little rough (though I'm comparing it to a MacBook Air, so it's hardly a fair comparison), and there is a noticeable delay when switching tabs. Again, though, I'm comparing a $250 machine to a $1400 machine, so it's hard to complain. Software-wise, accessing the settings page is slightly unintuitive (from the "desktop", click your username; it's not in the app list). Also, there's no caps lock, which may or may not be annoying. It's been replaced by a search button which doubles as the Windows key on a PC keyboard.
It is a great system with Ubuntu (Score:5, Informative)
Android story reloaded (Score:4, Informative)
Re:People not aware that it runs ChromeOS? (Score:1, Informative)
TFA says it runs Ubuntu -- "a full desktop OS."
Re:People not aware that it runs ChromeOS? (Score:4, Informative)
Re:People not aware that it runs ChromeOS? (Score:5, Informative)
It currently receives 4/5 stars based on 569 reviews, so it's fair to say that people like it.
I browsed over the reviews and there's nothing there to suggest that many people are returning it because it's a Chromebook.
No working Skype for Android either (Score:3, Informative)
I'd like to think Microsoft are deliberately making a second rate Android version, but I have to admit it's probably just incompetence.
To list the major faults Skype for Android has:
1. Video is upside down, if you rotate the device, then both the camera and video playback are upside down, but the other person does see you right way up in that case.
2. Video is landscape only & very fuzzy, but the camera video is not fuzzy, probably the compression?
3. Audio plays back very very quietly even with full volume.
4. Lag, lots of it.
5. Occasionally Skype gets in a state where the Android tablet won't go into hibernation until you force-kill Skype. This really sucks down the battery juice.
6. Call receive ring is very quiet, even with full volume.
So as far as I'm concerned, there is no Skype that's viable for Android either. It doesn't really matter, there are plenty of messaging/video apps, I just don't count Skype among them.
Re:Does it run Linux? (Score:5, Informative)
Yes, you can flip a "developer mode" switch [google.com] to disable the hardware lockdown, and install a "regular" distribution of Linux like Ubuntu.
Re:No working Skype for Android either (Score:4, Informative)
1. Not for me
2. Not for me
3. Not for me
4. Not for me
5. Not for me
6. Not for me.
Have you attempted to raise any bugs, give any indication of what device your using or anything you've tried? No?
I'm all for MS bashing (see previous comments :D) however spoutting utter shit like this without any facts is 1. expected on slashdot, 2. unhelpful to everyone other than trolls.
Re:Not surprising if you think about it (Score:4, Informative)
A Mac is locked down so you can't *only* run Windows on it - Windows cannot update the boot configuration if you try and do a fully native install! You need to install it via bootcamp.
You also cannot boot the Windows install media from an external device (hard disk, usb key or external dvd drive) on many Macs - the Mac won't allow it, you have to boot it fm the internal DVD drive.
You also cannot boot OSX externally and try and partition the non-boot disk for Bootcamp, again it won't allow it. You have to partition the device OSX is booted from.
So, right now, my 256GB SSD in my 2010 MBP sports a 10GB OSX partition that wll never again be booted into. Rather sad :(
Re:No major ad campaign? (Score:2, Informative)
There are Chrome Book ads on national prime time TV here in the UK, started before Christmas and still going on.
Re:Targeted customers (Score:5, Informative)
Re:so what (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Great system for parents (Score:5, Informative)
Yes it does -
https://plus.google.com/104364547339874244431/posts/gKKyJjTpzj8 [google.com]
"A new extra for Hangouts with extras: make phone calls from inside a hangout
We are constantly listening to feedback so that we can make Hangouts even better for Google+ users, and we're excited by the really cool ways people are using the product. Today we’re making it possible to make phone calls from inside a hangout, so you can dial people into the room from wherever they’re at. (Helpful for party lines and conference calls alike.)
This new feature is initially available inside Hangouts with extras (plus.google.com/hangouts/extras), and we currently support calls to the US and Canada (for free, in fact). The steps for adding a telephone participant are straightforward:
1. Click Invite at the top of the hangouts with extras window
2. Click the Phone tab on the left of the window, and enter the phone number you wish to call.
3. Click Call now.
#googleplusupdate"
Re:Targeted customers (Score:4, Informative)
"Kronar" is a common misspelling when writing Nynorsk (new Norwegian).
The monetary unit is called kroner in both Norwegian languages; but the coins are (sometimes) called {value}kronar in new Norwegian (tikronar - has a value of 10 kroner).
Confusing.
Re:Targeted customers (Score:4, Informative)
I'm surprised I'm mostly agreeing with you but you are wrong on one count, chromebooks are not locked down to the people who want to get out of the garden.
Chromebooks have a developer mode which allows you to dualboot linux and chrome os.
For mum and dad a walled garden of a mostly self administrating system is very appealing log into your gmail account enter the password for the router (its written on a label on the back of the router) and thats it setup.
compare that user experience with the one that you go through with windows all the trialware, hardsell and the rest its scary.
I bet you are asked everyday if you will setup a new windows machine for someone mostly because of that preinstalled junk.
What Google has wisely chosen to do is allow for an alternative Linux install for those people who want a bit more than the chromebook offers. For years people have been ripping out windows or moving to dualboot systems so they can scratch their itch.
Foolishly Microsoft has made an error in judgement which I think they may regret. I can't run Linux on an arm based windows system and its become a major pain to install on an x86 system with secureboot.
However Google is giving me options the chromebook is open to me to install Linux and do the stuff I want to do.
Maybe you should be looking to sell Chromebooks, perhaps even offer an alternative install. Mum and Dad won't care about the alternative but some of the kids might. I wouldn't be too surprised if steam makes it onto chrome os in the next year too, wouldn't that be ideal.
Pirating software so I can do on Windows what I can do for free on Linux is not an acceptable option. I think if i'm going to buy a laptop in the next 12 months it will be a chromebook. Don't give a monkeys about chromeOS same as for windows but I will have a nice bit of hardware to do with as I please and no microsoft tax.