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![art-ht_chromebook_google_16x9_992.jpg](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.smh.com.au%2F2013%2F10%2F09%2F4814621%2Fart-ht_chromebook_google_16x9_992.jpg&hash=a15fb637fd8050bacd5f29bf90c0fcd0)
Google's new plastic Chromebook is a cheap gateway into its cloud services that borrows features from higher-end models.
Hewlett-Packard makes the new $US279 Chromebook 11 laptop, which runs the internet-centric Chrome operating system and contains many of the high-end features found in models that cost $US1000 or more.
Although its price is in line with most other Chrome OS notebooks, the new model sports many design features found in pricier devices, including the $US1299 Chromebook Pixel.
Unlike Windows and Mac laptops, Chromebooks rely heavily on continuous internet connections to run Gmail, Google Drive and other online services. Many apps don't run directly on the device but over the internet. The devices also have relatively little storage, as documents, photos and other files are supposed to be stored online.
Google promotes Chromebooks as affordable laptops for a wide range of people, including schoolchildren and merchants who can use Google's tools on the internet without the extra expense and hassle of installing more sophisticated software such as Adobe's Photoshop photo-editing software or Microsoft's Office word processing and spreadsheet package. Chromebooks come with a lightweight photo editing package and Quickoffice, a Microsoft Office alternative that Google acquired last year.
The Chromebook 11 has a sleek, plastic frame with no sharp edges or corners – or even screw holes. The speakers are tucked under the keyboard so sound comes out toward the user, even when the laptop is on the user's lap.
The laptop comes in white or black. The white model has a choice of four accents around the keyboard and under the device: blue, red, yellow and green.
Chromebook 11 has an 11.6-inch 720-pixel HD screen with a 176-degree viewing angle and weighs 1 kilogram.
Caesar Sengupta, Google's vice president of product management for Chromebooks, said HP approached Google after seeing the Pixel, which Google designed and made on its own using an unnamed contract manufacturer.
He said Google and HP made a few trade-offs to keep the price low. The Chromebook 11 doesn't have a touchscreen, and the display's resolution isn't as sharp as the Pixel's. The Chromebook 11 also uses a plastic frame rather than metal, but there's magnesium underneath to keep the laptop sturdy. There's less storage, too – 16 gigabytes (GB), compared with 32GB for the base model of the Pixel.
Besides specs, Google and HP have also thrown in extra offers that consumers might like. The device gives users 100GB of cloud storage with Google for two years as well as a 60-day free trial of Google Play Music All Access.
In recognition of the growing popularity of smartphones and tablets, the Chromebook 11 uses the same micro-USB charger common in those mobile devices. Other laptops typically come with their own charger, which Sengupta described as yet another item that needs to be packed for weekend trips.
The Chromebook 11 is available for pre-order on Google's online Play store and selected retailers in the US and Britain. There has been no announcement on Australian pricing and release dates.
http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/computers/google-unveils-new-hp-chromebook-11-20131009-2v6z3.html
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