Open Source and Free Software

Keep in mind that a tablet is a content viewing ("lean back&quot device and a notebook is a content creation ("lean forward&quot device. These are two completely different scenarios and as a buyer you need to know what purpose this new computer will have to serve. Mostly content viewing? Go with a tablet. You need to do more writing than just emails? Take a Chromebook, even if it may not the popular choice. So, my answer is that I actually do find this a very mature device that has enough compelling features that I would buy it - if I needed a basic notebook for web surfing and some writing, and if I knew that I would always have Internet access available.

In that sense, the Chromebook feels very much what the netbook should have been and what the netbook should have evolved into.

Criticism

Of course, this device is not without issues. The Chromebook's biggest problem today may be a bit of an identity crisis. It's not as good as a tablet in app usage, and it's not as good as a productivity device as a regular notebook. It feels very much like a compromise. To win more supporters, the Chromebook needs a signature feature that is unique to this device. The Chrome Remote Desktop App is an example, but it relies, of course, on the functionality of another device.

Google's opportunity may be in connecting Android and Chrome OS much tighter than it has so far. Adding a touchscreen and integrating Android support that would allow users to exchange data between Android and Chrome OS more easily could be a feature that would make these devices much more appealing and attract much more interest.