A
While it is nice of Google to send me one to test drive, it is an interesting process they are using to distribute them. You fill out the form (currently available to US residents only), and once the form is submitted you get zero feedback, I never received an e-mail confirmation of my acceptance, or any notice of shipment, I just found a box on my doorstep that looked like this:
Even the return address gives no indication as to who sent you the package, since I had no idea I had even been chosen to get one, and it had been well over a week since I filled out the form, I had no idea what was even in the box until I opened it.
Here are some photos of the rest of the unboxing:
The CR-48 has WIFI built in, Google also made a deal with Verizon and is providing 100MB of 3G access free per month, with additional bandwidth available for purchase by the day, or pay as you go with no contract.
I am just starting to play with it now, will post more on it later
notwithstanding the ChromeOS concept, for which I’ll reserve judgment, that is one vanilla-looking notebook
The CR-48 is designed to be a prototype only for testing of the OS, they are supposed to unveil later partnerships for machines that will be sold.
I am not sold on this ChromeOS concept at all, but am glad to have the opportunity to give it a try.
Inerestingly enough, when I open a new tab on Chrome on my laptop, it asks me if want to sign up to Test Drive the CR-48, but ONLY on my laptop. On my desktop workstation, office laptop (well, in fairness, I use Chrome Portable in Incognito mode on that one), and the Macs, nada.