Google is releasing its Chrome OS-clad netbooks, called “Chromebooks”, mid-year, and bringing a few new features to the platform. The new Chromebooks will have a better file browser, a new media player, and offline access for Gmail, Google Calendar and Google Docs.
Last week, we made the case for why tablets can be a great productivity tool. However, if you want portability and need to do a lot of typing in your job, then netbooks are a better — and more affordable — option than ever before.
There’s pretty much no question that you’ll want a portable computer for use at university, but should you go the cheap and cheerful netbook route or splurge on a powerhouse that will see you through your degree? Lifehacker student readers weigh up the alternatives.
Dear Lifehacker, I just figured out how to install Windows 7 on my new eMachines/Acer 350 netbook. Problem is, it’s kinda sluggish. Even though I’m only using it for the internet in my lounge, both Firefox and Chrome run sluggishly.
Jolicloud, the netbook OS we thought was an awesome mix of Chrome-like cloud and desktop apps, had started rolling out a much-improved 1.0 version last month, but with prior subscribers first on the list. Now anyone can grab version 1.0 and install it, whether through Windows or as a separate partition.
The head of Google’s Chrome OS project said the netbook-focused operating system would make its debut in the fourth quarter of 2010, at a trade show in Taiwan.
Maybe you want to give Linux a try on your netbook with Ubuntu’s Netbook Remix, but don’t want to have to wipe your system to do so. Luckily, you can install and remove Ubuntu from Windows, just like any other application.
