Samsung Series 5 Chromebook review

The Samsung Series 5 Chromebook is the first laptop to use Google Chrome OS operating system. The software gets rid of the conventional start menu and folder system and relies almost entirely on browser based operations. The Series 5 laptop is in itself well-built, with a dual-core, 1.66GHz Intel Atom N570 processor, 2GB of RAM, and a beautifully bright and clear screen. The machine has a super fast start up which may please quite a lot of buyers though the price is a bit on the higher side. Although it may seem odd initially, there are numerous reasons why one may wish to opt for an operating system based entirely around a Web browser. Although one won’t be able to download the conventional apps like Adobe Photoshop, Windows Live Messenger and Microsoft Office on the hard drive, equivalent apps are available in the Chrome Web Store which can be easily downloaded and operated within the browser. The main advantage of this feature is that it allows a comparatively slow machine to perform processor-heavy tasks with utmost ease. All that the computer needs to do is keep the browser open. It’s a similar system to that used by game-streaming firm OnLive, which allows users to play demanding video games on low-end machines at home. It also makes the 5 series run smoothly as the apps no longer need to be installed on the hard disk. One more advantage of the 5 series is that since data files are stored locally on the laptop, it’s less at risk from viruses that can sneak into the machine and tamper with user data. It becomes all the more vital as the 5 series does not come with an antivirus software. Though the chrome OS looks very tempting from the outside there are reasons why one should avoid it as well. The whole concept of operating permanently in the cloud — a concept that the Series 5 is sold on — is probably one that most users would find difficult to live with. This is because while certain Chrome Web Store apps, such as Angry Birds, allow the user to sync the app, so it can be played offline, but these apps are few and far between. Google Docs is not available offline, even though it has been promised for a while. If Google itself isn’t even able to sort out offline editing, it doesn’t spell good for the small developers. But on the hardware part, the Series 5 itself is an attractive laptop. Its 12.1-inch screen means it’s a portable size, and it’s only 20mm thick too. Weighing around 1.5kg, it isn’t the lightest machine on the market still is not the heaviest either and wont burden the users a big deal. The Samsung Series 5 Chromebook is well-built and pleasingly portable, but Chrome OS feels more like an experiment than a finished, polished product.

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