Google Chromebook is believed to be the new era of computing, but considering the fact that it also has some disadvantages, there rises a question. We already wrote what Microsoft Kin Smartphones and Apple iPad lacked.
1. Good Internet Connection
Since majority of the works you do are based online, you will probably need a good internet connection.
Consider these situations: Both 3G and Wi-Fi have their own limitations. Mobile broadband connections won’t work or connect in many locations. Home Wi-Fi routers may stop to work anytime. Yes, these are also possible on regular PCs and netbooks, but Chromebook users will affect a lot.
Though you can also get offline access to most of the files, a decent internet connection adds more value to it. So I believe connectivity can be another disadvantage.
2. Data Plans
You will get around 100 MB of free data transfer each month for two years, after that you are better off paying for 3 GB of data transfer for each month.
3. Compatibility
Using Chrome OS, you won’t be able to run your Windows Application directly. Moreover you won’t be able to install many software.
4. Security
Well, this is something, for which you have to keep trust — both on Google and Cloud. The recent cloud attacks and Blogger downtime are bit worrying though. It is not a good idea to rely primarily on the cloud.
5. Information About You
Your Chrome OS account will be liked to a Google account, so it is possible for them to gather more information about you, which you may not like. Google owns your hard drive.
6. Default Browser – ONLY!
Suppose if your website or your own web application doesn’t work well with Chrome then you are stuck!
You won’t be able to use another browser (unless you use Virtual Machine kinda thing) except the ultimate Google Chrome, Google shows more love for Chrome than Microsoft showed for IE. 😀
7. Not everyone goes ONLINE
If you are an average net user, who has no experience of doing things in online, then this Chrome concept may sound different or even weird.
8. Limited Software
The selection of Chromebook software is limited. Though Google is trying their best to provide free and low cost apps, it is not admirable.
Google can provide Google Docs for Microsoft Word, but they won’t be able to provide alternative to the massive Adobe Photoshop.
9. Gaming?
Forget about it if you are a hardcore gamer.
10. Printing your documents
Well, unless you own a printer that allows you to print directly from cloud, you have to set up Google’s Cloud Printer on both your Chromebook and a PC. Hard time!
11. Apple fan? Forget about ti!
ZDNet blogger pointed out that most of the Apple products are not compatible with Chromebook. Millions of existing users will suffocate.
12. Bit costly – comparatively
A good quality Chromebook is available for 400$ and believe me you can get a powerful netbook worth that price! They should have reduced the price to at least 150$.
You will surely get some better hardware than what Samsung and Acer are offering.
13. You can make your own Chromebook!
Well, you can indeed make your own Chromebook on the cheap by simply installing Chromium OS on any netbook you own already
It will take only minutes to wipe the previous OS and install Chromium.
I know all the gadgets and software have both good sides and bad sides, but when you are spending your bucks you should consider the bad sides as well.
Do you think Consumers are ready for Cloud? Will people prefer iPad 2 over Chromebook? Do share your opinions below as comments.
This is super crap article I have ever seen. People who don't understand the future of technology and how life-style changes along with it, opine like this.
Your article is like – "I bought a kindle and it doesn't have color and touch screen" – you have to understand the purpose first, the kind of customer it's intended to next and then comment.
Try again giving reasons if Chromebook seriously fails – you might make some sense then.
Kiran, I think the title of my article would be quite disappointing, but I thought of showing some -ves Chromebook have. 🙂
Data plans would be really good 🙂
Google chromebooks may be not success now, like as android need a few year to get success.
chromebooks are not meant for hardcore gamers or PC users they are made for only people who surf net casually and have their all things going online..as you mentioned correctly that there will be not much proprietary software available for it..
Google took a risk with Chromebook, hope it will turn out fine.
– You could have argued the same against electric cars. The fact though is, you have to wait in a line that's a year long in order to buy one.
– You seem to be thinking that for Chromebook to succeed, it needs to be able to suddenly replace the PCs of the entire world. The fact is, even if it works for only 10% of the use cases now, it's still a huge success! What has been Mac/Apple's share? And Mac is just another product in the same old vein as the PC, with all the complexity, virus vulnerability and everything.
– Nowadays, without a network connection, you cannot do much already, unless you are gamer, a writer, a power photo editor, which most people are NOT (let's say, for safety, at least 20% are not – that still does not change the argument here). Me personally, I don't even know what applications are installed on my Mac, other than browsers and terminals.
– To be more forward looking, the current notion of an application being designed to run on one machine, installed on one machine, does not have to continue to hold. That can be very last century. The user just wants to access an application – that should be what the user sees. That said, Chromebook can succeed NOW, regardless.
It may be a bit too early to conclude that chromebook will fail altogether. However, yes, I do agree, it is not that easy for google to achieve some remarkable success so soon (as they think). But this is also expected that Google will try to revamp and work on fixing lots of negative points in the future releases of the hardware as well as software, bringing down the price as well at the same time to survive in competitive market.
I like to play game very much. I think I can't live a day without playing game. I'm just addicted. It means Google Chromebook is certainly not for me as I can't play games there.