Chromebook is coming

Chromebook現身　將顛覆傳統PC市場？

2011年05月13日 
What will happen when no internet access ?
Compared to a mobile phone ? a PDA ?
Compared to a "thin client" ?
Compared to iPAD /~tablet PC ?


 Windows 作業系統與硬碟機製造商請小心， Chromebook來了！Google 期望藉由這款以其 Chorme 網路瀏覽器命名的新一代筆記型電腦平台，實現產業界長期追求的精簡型連網電腦目標。該系統的訴求是開機速度比傳統筆記型電腦更快(僅8秒)、安全性更高、操控更容易、價格也更低；首批產品會採用英特爾(Intel)的雙核心處理器。

Google在近日(美國時間5月10~11日)舉行的2011年I/O大會上正式宣佈，宏碁(Acer)與三星(Samsung)將在6月份推出該套只採用網路作業系統與服務的系統；Chromebook不需要安裝Windows作業系統，也不必搭載硬碟機。

而Google也將扮演「資料載體(data carrier)」的角色，並以綁約三年、管理軟體與服務月租費分別為28與20美元的模式為企業或是教育機構提供整套系統。消費者也可以透過零售商店，直接以349~499美元的價格買到Chromebook。

Google共同創辦人Sergey Brin在美國舊金山的發表會親自上陣回答媒體提問，他表示，明年大部分Google員工將開始使用Chromebook；目前該公司員工主要是使用搭載Windows 7作業系統的個人電腦。

Google的Chrome瀏覽器平台業務資深副總裁Sundar Pichai則在接受EETimes美國版編輯訪問時表示，該公司有詳列出Chromebook的所有晶片規格，每個功能所需晶片都讓OEM廠商有2~3種選擇；但是Google尚未決定是否將公開Chromebook的規格。

多年來，電腦產業界高層包括昇陽(Sun)的Scott McNealy與甲骨文(Oracle)的Larry Ellison，都曾追尋過精簡型電腦的夢想；Google是否能在前人跌倒過的地方取得成功還有待觀察，但該公司看來已經打好了所需的基礎，相關技術也已經成熟到可實現全部以網路為基礎的系統。

「操控電腦的複雜性折磨過我們所有人──那是有問題的，而Chromebooks提供了全新模式，不會把操控電腦的負擔加諸使用者身上；」Brin表示：「不會利用這種新模式的企業，將無法獲得成功。」他強調，該新模式不會叫使用者「只信任Google」，雖然用的是Chrome瀏覽器，但可以上所有網站，使用者也可以連結Bing或是Yahoo等其他搜尋引擎。

Google的Chrome瀏覽器平台業務資深副總裁Sundar Pichai在Google I/O 大會上發表Chromebook

Samsung、Acer的Chromebook產品將於美國率先上市

在Google I/O大會上，Samsung也公布了其預定6月上市的Chromebook部分規格；該Series 5產品搭載英特爾Core2 Duo N570 1.66GHz處理器，配備12.1吋顯示器、2個USB埠、高解析度網路攝影機，支援可插拔快閃記憶卡、全尺寸鍵盤，以及續航力8小時的電池。具有Wi-Fi功能的機型訂價為429美元，3G版本機型則訂價199美元。

Acer也將推出一款尺寸較小的Chromebook產品，電池壽命6.5小時、11.6吋螢幕，訂價349美元起(Wi-Fi版本)。以上兩個品牌的產品都預定在6月份於美國與歐洲市場開賣，更詳細的產品規格應會在接近上市時間才公布；首批Chromebook外觀設計預期就像是一般的筆電。

Google先前曾將代號Cr-48的Chromebook原型提供全球數千位使用者進行測試，對此Pichai表示：「我們修正了一些問題，改造了軌跡板，還與Adobe在Flash軟體方面進行合作，並升級採用雙核心處理器。」

此外該公司也讓Gmail與Google Docs等程式，實現了可離線使用的功能；很多非Google應用程式也能透過本地快取記憶體運作，包括熱門遊戲Angry Birds以及許多新服務。Chromebooks還支援能讓網路服務以文件控制碼(file handlers)形式註冊的API，例如若用戶插入內含照片的隨身碟，顯示照片的檔案夾也會有按鈕讓使用者直接連到網路相簿。

藉由完全成熟的作業系統、BIOS、防毒軟體已及所需的各種定期更新，Chromebook的目標是消除所有終端系統管理問題；Pichai表示：「多數企業花費在維護每台電腦上的預算，一年高達3,000到5,000美元，實在是很繁重。」

已有數家大型企業開始試用Chromebooks，未來Google的服務也將包含一個統一的網管控制台，讓企業的IT部門人員進行公司內所有Chromebook的管理。而Google提供的三年綁約內容，也會包括各種支援、保固與硬體汰換服務。

Brin並表示，他樂見 Android 平板電腦與 Chromebook筆記型電腦同台競爭：「手中同時有兩個傲人成就，真的很讓人左右為難；不過Chromebook是開創了一個全新的運算模式，而這是我在幾年前甚至不曾想過可能實現的。

「我有一支Android智慧型手機、有一台平板電腦，也有一台Chromebook，他們將會和平共存；」Pichai則表示：「Chromebook是一種截然不同的產品模式，就算我們不做，相信也會有其他人做類似的事情。」

編譯：Judith Cheng

(參考原文： Chromebooks challenge netbooks，by Rick Merritt)

Updated: Chromebooks challenge netbooks

Rick Merritt

5/11/2011 3:12 PM EDT

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Lookout Windows and hard-drive makers, the Chromebook is here. The Google notebook named for its Chrome Web browser hopes to make good on the long sought concept of the thin-client network computer.

Google officially announced at its annual developer conference that Acer and Samsung will begin shipping in June the systems that use only Web-based apps and services. The systems do not need Windows or hard disk drives.

Google will even act as a data carrier, selling to business and education full packages of hardware, management software and services for $28 and $20 a month, respectively for a three-year contract. In the US, Verizon will provide a data plan for up to 100 Mbytes/month for free, charging extra only for users who want more data. Retailers will sell the systems direct to consumers for prices ranging from $349 to $499.

The Chromebook aims to boot faster (eight seconds), be more secure, easier to manage and lower cost than traditional notebooks. All the systems initially use a dual-core Intel Atom processor.

Google founder Sergey Brin, on hand for a press Q&A here, said in the next year he expects the majority of Google's employees will use Chromebooks. Today they mainly use Windows 7 PCs, he said.

In an effort to limit the number of chips it must support, Google qualified each chip in the two Chromebooks which had to pass a performance test for the targeted OEM systems. Google has not yet decided whether it will make its list of approved chips available.

Right now the systems only use a dual-core Atom processor. However, the partners are considering an Intel Core i3 chip for a higher performance desktop box being designed by Samsung and an ARM SoC for a future lower power, ultra-thin mobile system.

The partners are concerned many current ARM SoCs may not meet performance requirements. They are currently aiming to test a quad-core Nvidia Tegra3 as a leading candidate.

One way the current Chromebook hardware differs from a conventional notebook is that they require support for a hardware root of trust as part of the boot process. They also use a unique, secure fast path for boot transactions.

One of the selling points of the systems for business users is their higher level of security than conventional PCs. The Chromebooks also have a protected file system which by design prevents download of malware.

For years, computer executives from Sun's Scott McNealy to Oracle's Larry Ellison have pursued the dream of a simpler client computer. Whether Google can succeed where they have failed remains to be seen, but Google appears to be covering all the bases and the technology has matured to the level where a Web-only system is becoming viable.

"The complexity of managing your computers is torturing all of us--it’s a flawed model and Chromebooks are a new model that doesn’t put the burden of managing your computer on yourself," said Brin. "Companies who don’t use that model won't be successful," he said.

"This model doesn’t say just 'Trust Google'" with your data, Brin said, answetring a question about privacy and control. "You are using Google's Chrome browser, but you can go to any Web site out there and they can provide you great functionality--you can go to Bing search or Yahoo," he said.

At a press event, one Samsung marketing manager said the partners hope to sell a total of as many as a million Chromebooks in the first 12 months. But other execs said that such a figure would exceed their expectations.

5/11/2011 3:12 PM EDT

Specs of Samsung's Chromebook

Samsung published few specs of its Series 5 Chromebook, a device Google said it will provide free in June to an estimated 5,000 attendees of Google I/O where it was launched. More details of the bill of materials of the Samsung system came out at a press event after Google I/O.

The Samsung Series 5 packs an Intel Atom N570 1.66 GHz processor (aka Pine Trail) with Intel embedded graphics. For communications, it uses an Atheros 2x2 MIMO 802.11n Wi-Fi chip and a Qualcomm Gobi 3G modem in the US or a Samsung 3G module in Europe.

Most of the other major components are all from Samsung. They include a 12.1-inch display, 2 Gbytes RAM, a 16 Gbyte flash drive and an eight-hour Samsung battery. Samsung designed the motherboard and makes it in a Shuzhou, China plant.

The system also sports two USB ports, a high def Webcam, support for removable flash cards and a full-sized keyboard. A version with Wi-Fi only will cost $429 in the U.S., and one also with 3G will cost $499.

Acer will ship a smaller system with a 6.5-hour battery life, an 11.6 inch display and 16 Gbytes flash starting at $349 for a Wi-Fi only version. A 3G version is expected to cost $429. Both company's systems will be available in June in the U.S. and Europe.

Samsung and Acer are expected to host their own product introductions closer to the product roll outs. More details of their specs, such as use of flash, are expected then. The initial systems are uninteresting from an industrial design perspective, looking like generic notebooks.

Google has conducted tests of an early version of the system, the Cr-48, with thousands of users worldwide. "We fixed some issues, revamped the track pad, worked with Adobe on flash and upgraded to a dual-core processor," said Pichai.

The company has also enabled a wide range of programs—including Gmail and Google Docs--to work when the system is not connected to the Web. Many non-Google apps also work using local cache memory including Angry Birds and many news services.

Chromebooks also support an API that lets Web services register as file handlers. Thus, for example, when a user plugs in a USB drive with pictures, the folder showing the pictures can also show a button linking to the user's online photo site.

"We're trying to open up your files to the world of the Web," said Pichai.

Chromebooks aim to end management issues related to full blown operating systems, BIOS, antivirus software and the regular upgrades they require. "Most companies spend $3,000 to $5,000 per computer per year--it's really complicated," he said.

Several large companies are already piloting Chromebooks. Google's service will come with a unified Web management console IT managers can use to manage Chromebooks. The Google three-year contracts will even include support, warranty and hardware replacement services.

Brin said he is delighted both Android tablets and Chromebooks could compete in similar markets.

"It’s a great dilemma to have two fantastic successes on our hands," Brin said. "Chromebooks is venturing into a really new model of computing that I don’t think was possible even a few years ago," he said.

"I use an Android smartphone, a tablet and a Chromebook--they will coexist," said Pichai. "The Chromebook is a very different model, and if we didn’t do a model like this someone else would," he said.