So what is it that makes the new Google Chromebook such a radical concept? It’s the idea that a computer, which operates entirely from the cloud, might be a worthy opponent for traditional desktop and notebook computers that rely mostly on local storage and software programs on optical media. Basically, we have two radical ideas behind this phenomenon: the first is the supposition that people today can get online almost anywhere. The second is the possibility that Google’s free online software could do everything traditional software now does, using e-mail from Google’s Gmail, Google Chrome for Web browsing, Google Talk for chat, Picasa for photos , and Google Docs for office suite software like word processing and spreadsheets. It will also have access to your usual Chrome browser so that you can search blogs or direct tv listings. Going on these two suppositions, it’s logical to arrive at the idea that a laptop must not really need a hard drive. A laptop doesn’t need programs that are installed directly on it. It also doesn’t need run on the Windows or Mac OS X operating systems to be usable. There doesn’t need to be a resident file structure or familiar desktop with icons for software programs or files. All you need is the Internet and a Web browser to view it with.
There are some advantages in terms of weight and durability to having a laptop with not hard drive. For one thing, if you cut down on moving parts, the chances of parts failure decreases significantly. A hard drive, even a solid state device, is subject to aging and wear and tear. This eliminates that particular problem. The weight of a laptop without a hard drive is also less than one with a hard drive installed, naturally.
What about not having Windows installed? What does that mean for consumers? It means that viruses and spyware cannot reside on your hardware any longer. Serial numbers for operating systems and programs no longer are required, and copy protection is not necessary anymore. You won’t have to keep watching the tech news wondering when the next big version of Windows will be out, and how you will be able to afford to upgrade. And your computer won’t take nearly five minutes to start up ever again. The Chromebook boasts a 10 second start-up.
If your Chromebook is lost or stolen, you never have to worry about files being viewed by strangers since all they will have is your hardware. All your files will be stored in the Cloud, accessible only via your authorized login.
