Google Chromebook

[doodab]

??? If the app is truly in the Cloud how is it slowing your machine? - this is an earnest question BTW - if all the app is doing is delivering stuff into a browser, then surely the bottleneck's in the delivery?

Javascript.

[Sysman]

Javascript.

Yep. This is why the browser developers are keen on Javascript benchmark results.

There's also the problem of intensive graphics. It's all very well developing over a LAN with a state of the art computer, but that's not what notebook users are going to see.

I forgot to mention the case of apps which break some feature or other with a new version. We've all seen it happen, but with cloud apps you probably won't get the chance to stay on the old version (at least not as long as you might like to).

[PAH]

I forgot to mention the case of apps which break some feature or other with a new version. We've all seen it happen, but with cloud apps you probably won't get the chance to stay on the old version (at least not as long as you might like to).

Good point. I can see AtW throwing one when they upgrade all their web apps to use the ribbon from Office.

So apart from the 'access your information anywhere', which is only really useful if you regularly use more than one device so need to keep them in sync, I don't really see any other advantages of putting both your data and app versions firmly in the hands of the big corporates.

Then again, with all the numpties on facebook getting sacked or jailed for being too public with themselves, maybe the gen pop are like the pigeons at the feeder. They'll eat whatever is put in front of them and think it's a feast.

As regards all the recent attacks on websites, part of me thinks those behind it are the ones wanting to take control of the internet, with their view that it's too open and free as it is. Maybe that's as cynical as thinking it's local glaziers smashing windows, local tyre companies throwing screws in the road, and anti-virus companies writing the viruses.

[d000hg]

The $1=£1 thing has always annoyed me too.

Isn't a lot of that down to import duties?

[oracleslave]

[url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/click_online/9514017.stm]
If google are serious about getting a big market share they need to be subsidised.

Google need to save up their money for their impending court case with Oracle

[Sysman]

Isn't a lot of that down to import duties?

That certainly contributes, and there's the overhead of UK property prices, cost of living etc to factor in. When you delve into it some of those duties make it cheaper to buy assembled units (someone explained it to me in the early 90s, and quoted examples which seemed to be bonkers; it may have changed now).

But when it comes to software prices it appears to be a matter of what the market will stand.

On the other hand, a former set up a buying operation in the US to get better prices. They were threatened with legal action. The large US corp concerned thought that such a tiddly company wouldn't dare fight and didn't even bother turning up in court. My former employer won This leads me to believe that import duty isn't the whole story.

[Sysman]

Google need to save up their money for their impending court case with Oracle

[Sysman]

So apart from the 'access your information anywhere', which is only really useful if you regularly use more than one device so need to keep them in sync, I don't really see any other advantages of putting both your data and app versions firmly in the hands of the big corporates.

If you are happy with manual syncing, you can easily set up a private web site to share documents between devices.

Then again, with all the numpties on facebook getting sacked or jailed for being too public with themselves, maybe the gen pop are like the pigeons at the feeder. They'll eat whatever is put in front of them and think it's a feast.

Good point.

As regards all the recent attacks on websites, part of me thinks those behind it are the ones wanting to take control of the internet, with their view that it's too open and free as it is. Maybe that's as cynical as thinking it's local glaziers smashing windows, local tyre companies throwing screws in the road, and anti-virus companies writing the viruses.

Like an internet version of Hollywood and the music industry (aka Bg Content)?

That's the Wiki: Net Neutrality thing isn't it?

[Peoplesoft bloke]

Javascript.

Yep. This is why the browser developers are keen on Javascript benchmark results.

There's also the problem of intensive graphics. It's all very well developing over a LAN with a state of the art computer, but that's not what notebook users are going to see.

I forgot to mention the case of apps which break some feature or other with a new version. We've all seen it happen, but with cloud apps you probably won't get the chance to stay on the old version (at least not as long as you might like to).

Thanks - good points - I hadn't considered Javascript (doh!).

[Jason Mitchell]

BBC News - Is Google's Chromebook the future of computing?

Could be very interesting if they go for <£200 (they're expected to be $199 in the US), I see PC world are straight in there offering them at £350+.

If google are serious about getting a big market share they need to be subsidised.

I am not a big fan of data storage through cloud. I need my data to be stored on my laptop and not online.