Here is a list of limitations I have encountered. This is not everything it is just what I have come across since I started using Chromebooks both the CR-48 and now the Samsung Series 5.
1. No Netflix support - To be fair Google has the plugin ready for testing they are waiting on Netflix to make the needed changes so Google can put the Netflix plugin into action.
2. Very limited native file support (.zip is just one example) - Google has been constantly improving and adding more file types to ChromeOS so this is simply an issue of when not if.
3. The built in media player is VERY limited (Cannot play a lot of file types) - Google is working to add more codecs and file types to the media player.
4. Lack of streaming plugin support (DivX, Real Player) - Once again it doesn't support a lot of closed, 3 party plugins in system wide.
5. Doesn't support any native apps (VLC Player, Transmission, Cheese, etc.) or native printing or most any device that needs drivers (Like my Logitech USB headset) - Don't hold your breath for much change on these. Native client will help with some of this but it will still be really limited.
6. No java - Once again this is unlikely to ever come to ChromeOS.
7. Little to NO offline apps - Google is working to bring more offline apps by the end of summer and more in the future. Again this is a when not if issue.
8. Poor and rudimentary file manger - No easy way to move files and folders and no easy copy and paste function. It is very limited and needs some serious work.
9. If your an owner of an "i" device (Apple) good luck. No iTunes and no native support. This does not effect me but it will effect many.
10. No CD/DVD drive and no CD/DVD burning support for external CD/DVD drives. (Once again not a big deal to me.)
Even with all the limitations the Chromebook does what it was designed to do. It was designed to be a thin client a cloudbook. It was not meant to ever compete with systems running full fledged OS's. So if your like me and live in the cloud already then what are you waiting for? Acer ships for $349 and Samsung ships for no higher than $500 for the 3G model. ChromeOS is only gonna get better with time. Many of those limitations will be overcame sometime in the near future. This is a Beta OS after all and truly the first of it's kind.
A friend of mine just bought a 3G Samsung Chromebook and couldn't be happier. He came from a Windows 7 machine. Remember different strokes for different folks. If you need to do serious audio/video/picture editing I would say move on to something else. If you just wanna check your Gmail, Google +, Twitter, and browse Reddit all day then this baby is for you! It is a web browser based OS after all and it does just that! =)
5 comments:
By the way, I must do the following...
+1
What this cromebook HAS actually WORKS! (Something different from a WindowsOS-based system.
I was interested in your comment about Netflix, does this mean a Silverlight solution is on it's way? I really want to view LoveFilm and other silverlight services.
A chrome book does what it was created to do. Not Fancy. Google is a good product. I do not see why people are complaining, unless they thought it was like windows or mac os. Chrome was not made to run a lot of apps. That is why it is so slim. I just had a customer come to me wanting me to set a chrome book like the windows laptop he had. When I explained the difference he said its junk ,I want a full laptop with every thing just thin like this. I told him he was an idiot after trying to eplain the difference for an hour. He told me he would find a good computer tech. to do what he wanted. after 3 days came back and asked why the store he bought it from did not tell him what he was getting. Also brought his old laptop for me to fix, needed it to do his job. Chrome book is not a business computer that is what I do not like. Create a chrome book plus wit h either windows or mac backup. The cloud is not for everyone. his company said cloud unsafe.
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