Google Cr-48 Chrome laptop hands-on

By on Dec 9, 2010 at 3:44 PM
General December 9, 2010

We just said adéu to our friendly FedEx delivery person and ripped into our care package sent by Google. On first glance, the Google Cr-48 Chrome laptop looks very similar to Apple’s black MacBook. The screen is 12.1-inches, the entire computer is done up in a soft-touch rubberized finish, and — while it’s a bit thick (we’re used to using a MacBook Air) — we have had some fun typing on the well thought out (and well spaced) keyboard. Here are our first impressions:

  • We can’t get over how instant this thing is — it boots and wakes from sleep literally in one second max!
  • The soft-touch rubber finish, which at first didn’t sound very appealing, works really well on this super stealth, never-being-released notebook.
  • This is more of a preference, but we’d take a glossy display over the matte one on here any day… although the matte finished does fit into the anti-gloss vibe of the machine.
  • We can’t begin to explain how great of a feeling it is to have Verizon cellular support built in and how simple and easy the set up process is. Activating our 100MB/mo free account was extremely simple. One or two more steps than signing up for AT&T’s prepaid iPad plans — very solid.
  • Switching between open windows (think Spaces on a Mac with less jazz) is incredibly quick.
  • It’s so hard to get used to the fact that everything is browser-based, but it all has seemed to work very well for us so far.
  • Guest accounts rock!
  • All of our Google Chrome extensions and bookmarks were transferred over instantly for us — super cool.
  • The speed of the machine, in general, is obviously slower than we’d like and for a 12-inch (read: large) computer. But again, this isn’t meant to be released to the general public.
  • We had some wonkiness with the upper part of the LCD screen when we first turned it on, but we’re thinking that might have been due to the extreme temperatures this poor sucker had to endure on its journey to us this morning.
  • The trackpad hates us. It’s incredibly annoying and difficult to use. First off, it feels cheap, and second, unless you are scrolling with two fingers, don’t even try and have more than one finger at a time on here.

We’re cranking away and exploring Google’s first Chrome OS laptop and we will be sure to report back with more findings over the next couple days. In the meantime, hit up our hands-on gallery while we go make some insanely hot hot-chocolate!

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38 Comments

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  • Big Papi

    I need a job with BGR

    ~Envious poster

    • Norm

      It’s fairly easy. Just go to engadget, click copy and then paste on your own site.

      • http://twitter.com/derrickisonline Derrick -Lex-

        ::snickering::

      • Anonymous

        But but but… all those times that Engadget copies from BGR would just lead to an endless redirect loop.

      • Roniron

        infinite regress.

  • http://djpooka.net Pooka

    Ummm… don’t you mean Cr-48?

    • Anonymous

      They must have got the low-spec model…

    • http://twitter.com/carcomptoy Jeremiah

      Me too! I wonder how soon we find out!

  • http://twitter.com/ju12zo Joey Izzo

    The trackpad issue is for sure, my meaty palms touch it and it seems like the mouse freezes. takes some getting used to.

    But this thing is great!!!

  • Anonymous

    Love the vaulted ceiling, windows, & railing but wtf is up with the fabric on the bench?

    • OopsieAL

      Was totally thinking the same thing (sorry Jonathan!)…I love getting peaks inside JonJon’s abode like this…I’m very curious about the man behind the mask and his rise to fame(hats off to you brah)…usually love your taste/selection of gadgets and how you arrange them…(you teased me with your TV so I had to go out and get a 46″ Sony Bravia for myself, lol)…your color choices are always nice and neutral…but I have to say that bench thingy has some hideous fabric. Doh! Recover it with something solid…maybe some “buttoning” or whatever that stuff is called, around the edges? That window is gorgeous, though, I’m so jealous! Could def use some art on your walls though love. But what do I know about decor…down here in LA (Lower Alabama)…;0)~

  • Jacmeister99

    Hey BG

    you cant spell, it should be adieu , you dont want to upset all those french people do you !!

    • Asher

      Yes, and if he’s your friendly Fed Ex driver, you probably shouldn’t bid him adieu, as that’s reserved for when you don’t expect to see someone again!

    • http://dakuten.fr dakuten

      Adéu is Catalan, even if I think they would mean Adieu. But, in french, adieu isn’t used to say Good Bye, it’s used to say good bye to someone who is gonna die, unlike in Castillan.

      And yes, I’m angry ^^

  • Rick

    I would like to know how big is the SSD capacity?

  • Ernie

    does this thing have WiFi or just cellular

    • Rick

      It has both

  • Lwwolff

    The lower case keys look too weird.

  • deletefalseculture

    Hey look at that, when did Apple release new BlackBooks?

    • Angie_mobile08

      they need to! I broke mine and had to replace it with an aluminum one… *sigh*
      Its ok tho i just got a macstyle for it

  • intokk

    Did anyone who got the “You’re eligible to receive a free Chrome notebook” email earlier this week receive one? Fingers crossed one is waiting for me at home.

    • Anonymous

      my fingers are also crossed, does that email mean that we automatically receive one if we apply?

      • Anonymous

        i actually got one, THANK YOU GOOGLEl!!!!!!!

  • http://davidlevine.posterous.com David Levine

    I’d like to hear more about Chrome OS itself rather than the computer it came installed on.

  • Adam Bullock

    “…while we go make some insanely hot hot-chocolate!”

    So random, made me laugh out loud.

  • SuperChunk

    How were you notified you would get one from the pilot program… or was it media related?

  • Anonymous

    Nice hardware…sh!tty OS, or whatever the hell Google calls that thing…browser with links, that tries to be an OS??? POS…

    • Anonymous

      Well in 5 years when you’re using Windows Cloud, or Apple’s iOwnyourlife, and they’re nothing but Safari or IE with a few add-ons, I’m sure your hypocrisy will be evident for all to see.

      • Anonymous

        Doubtful douchebag. This will never fly in the enterprise. Get a clue…

      • Anonymous

        No, you get a clue. The whole fucking point of Chrome OS is aimed at enterprise. Don’t you fucking know the origins of servers and mainframes in the first place? You’re such a goddamn idiot it’s plain for all to see.

        Businesses will be the first to quickly adopt this sort of remote terminal type of solution. It’s already happening with virtual servers and the increased proliferation of VPNs. Do your homework next time, moron.

  • NathanExplosion

    How do you know you are a fanboy and not a true geek (and certainly someone who shouldn’t be running a gadget website)? This is how you know you know:

    > we’d take a glossy display over the matte one on here any day

    Of course you would Jonathan, of course you would.

    • http://twitter.com/derrickisonline Derrick -Lex-

      You know I was thinking the same thing. Who the hell prefers a glossy screen over matte? He already said he has a Mac. That explains a lot

      • Anonymous

        Also explains how one could be so amazed by the fact that you can get built-in cellular service in a laptop.

  • dima

    the jealousy is unbearable.

  • Anonymous

    Many years ago I was contacted by this woman about a survey (yeah I told this story before, just shut up and read it), she asked if I would participate and it would take three minutes of my time. I did and when completed she asked me were I would like my free Dell computer sent to. I said, “you can go ahead and keep that.” She was shocked, “you don’t want a free computer, you could give it to someone who needs one.” My simple answer, “no one needs anything built by Dell.”

    In short that is what this machine reminds me of, the only difference is that this “OS” experiment is worse than anything that Microsoft ever brought to market. Chrome OS would have to appeal to the entirety of the world to gain any sort of footing. Even if manufacturers ever started moving these machines (they won’t by the way) Microsoft will just swoop in and start buying OEM’s right and left to make certain that their OS is getting installed on every machine.

    Perpetual Beta never makes anyone any money.

  • http://twitter.com/NICKVALENTIN0 Nick Valentino

    You couldn’t pay me to use this thing.

  • Oddsmaster

    Thanks for the pics – I think I have a VERY good idea of what the keyboard looks like. How about the back? What ports are on this thing. Ironic that the styling is 1/chrome.

  • CDunn05

    I got my Pilot Notebook today. It’s pretty sweet. The trackpad is buggy but other than that this thing rocks. The public is going to LOVE this once it’s out!

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