The Samsung Chromebook Series 5: Life on the Cloud | ManualTech Site
The Samsung Chromebook Series 5: Life on the Cloud
Is Google ready to go head to head with Microsoft? Maybe. Google has created its own operating system that is completely cloud based and it is available for three manufacturers including Samsung.
Samsung has released the Samsung Chromebook Series 5; it’s a new type of laptop. The typical laptop has an internal hard drive to store downloads and software and other files, but the Chromebooks that run on Chrome OS are completely cloud based, meaning that all applications are done online. It may not be good for gaming, but if users wanted to participate in online training, the Chromebook is perfect.When you first see the laptop, you’ll be amazed by its simplicity—just a thin white cover with a metallic Samsung logo as well as a metallic Chrome logo in the corner. It is also extremely light at 3.3 lbs. But what is most amazing is its boot up time: about 8 seconds. You just open up the laptop and press power and it’s ready to login in no time. This also extends to its sleep mode. For instance,when a student closes their Chromebook, packs it up and goes to their next class, when they open it back up it is ready to go.There is no desktop with Chrome OS. Chrome loads up as you turn on the computer and your apps will load up with it as well as any documents that you have been working on. It will seem weird at first, but this is really pretty cool for a computer. There are two options for internet with the Chromebooks: Wi-Fi and 3G. The 3G model costs a bit more, but has a bit more connectivity.The Chromebooks are very user friendly. Google included special keys on the top row including refresh and a window toggle button to switch through windows. The keyboard is QWERTY and it also has an extra-large touch pad. The touch pad doesn’t have any buttons; it relies on taps for selections. It may be better to have an actual mouse, because the computer can’t always distinguish between left or right click. Another notable feature is the panel system. Panels can be opened for video, including Youtube. But what makes panels special is that they don’t close when you toggle through windows. They remain on the screen until you close them yourself. This can be very good for when you need to view multiple videos and write a paper at the same time.There are two USB outlets for this model as well as a VGA outlet and dual headphone and microphone jack. And in the front is an SD slot to load other information like pictures to social media sites or other files. The computer also has a 16 GB hard drive, just enough for apps and a little space for documentsThough it has no disc drive, there is no need to buy an antivirus for any Chromebook. All Chromebooks have a built in security that keep it safe from all viruses. As for display and battery life, the display can shift from a normal mode into a brighter mode, with 300nlt brightness—brighter than normal laptops—and the battery life is around 8 to 9 hours. Lastly there is no reason to worry about sharing. You should be able to log into a friends netbook much like if you were logging into a social media network. Just type in a username and password and you’re in.Though the Chromebook is not your average laptop, it is still a very capable machine for the business person or the student. It may not be great for everyone but it is still a very nice choice for those who do most of their work and learning online.Guest Post by Ty Cobb
