Customer Ratings & Reviews

The Google Chromebook is a great tool! I have all the tools I need with Google Docs, Drive and Picasa for images and slideshows. This is a full featured computer that starts up in just a few seconds and you are ready to go! NO waiting on the OS(x) to boot up. The color is good on the screen and the resolution is just fine. If you need a compact computer to take with you on the go utilizing Wi-Fi when you need internet and the ability to work offline, then this is it! I rate this computer my own 5 Stars out of 5 Stars. The turf has changed as this is a game changing tool to have in your hands. I recommend this without hesitation or reservation! Dan Webmacman

Great for researchers, young users, gamers, travellers. It encourages skilled use of cloud computing as the primary option for document storage and access to applications.

Being disabled I some times have to spend time in bed. This allows me to have a internet connection with out all the hassle of moving my main computer connection.

I think the biggest question that is asked when it comes to Chromebook is "Why do I need this?" There are a number of us that need a portable device that we can carry with us but require a notebook or laptop interface. Regardless of the advancement of tablets, nothing replaces the usefulness of a laptop when writing, editing and updating cloud based Documents, Social Media,a etc... Now you could spend well over $1000 for a small ultrabook but you should really consider how often you use native applications on your computer. Most of us unless we are playing a game or editing photos, videos or other media, never open any program on our computer other than a web browser. As computing moves more and more into cloud based application and storage, you have to rethink how you will accessing and using computers in the future. The trend is a "terminal" that access and uses the computing power of a much larger and more powerful computer. Ending the need to have that processing power and storage on your device. If you own a smart phone or other mobile device you are already doing this with just about everything you do on that device. Now is this a replacement for your desktop or laptop? Yes and no, it really depends on what you use it for and the biggest question is storage. With only 16gb of storage on board and even with the included 100gb of Google Drive Storage, it's limited not only in space but in the fact that the online storage is only for 2 years. If you have a great number of media files, you will need another machine to store the files or find another option. Many of you will think, external hard drive as I did but since you can not install native applications to your chromebook, if the hard drive is encrypted or compresses files and/or requires a application to open files, you are out of luck. I have a Western Digital 1t portable hard drive and there is no way at this time to unlock the drive or read the compressed files. Other than the storage question, you have to really consider whether you can work within the Chrome cloud. Before buying a Chromebook, I strongly suggest that you go to the Chrome Web Store and see if you can work within the applications and extensions that are available there. I think you may find it surprising how many useful web based applications there are. If they can replace your native applications, Chromebook will be a good choice for you. However if you need to run native applications for business or other purpose, you may find a Chromebook unusable. Though there is a remote access application that could be used to access your main machine when needed. When I was considering a Chromebook, I was looking for something that fit between the completely useful but often less portable and power sucking Sony Notebook and the frustratingly act of typing, editing, and portability of my Android Mobile device. I had considered a tablet but I need a real keyboard and not some after market plug in play keyboard. I needed something, I could carry with me, turn on and get to work, not unpack, boot up, and plug in plug and play add on. Mainly to update and maintain my Drupal and Word Press websites, write and edit content, and post to social media on the go. The Chromebook has met all these requirements. I have also tethered to my mobile phone for on the go access. The set up is quick, just sign into your google account and you are up and going within a minute or so. If you have ever bought an android phone, it is about the same. The UI is pretty straight forward though it will take a while to get used to some the touch pad gestures. I still find the two finger press that replaces the Windows right click a bit of a struggle from time to time. Performance wise, quick boot, and very responsive. Since everything is done in Chrome for the most part, there are issues from time to time when a number of tabs are open. I noticed that when I had my standard 6 or 7 tabs open, that when I switched back and forth often the pages would freeze or seem to be delayed. I'm not sure if this is a Chrome Browser problem or a memory problem. The build is plastic but for the cost and the weight, I think it is a far trade, I found the keyboard comfortable and responsive but some key locations take a while to get used to. If you want to bend and flex the case for some unknown reason, there is flex but this is a $250 machine and it feels a lot better than a majority of the Laptops in the same price. All of the jacks are tight fitting. If I was going to replace anything it would be the low grade webcam. I haven't tried to plug the plug and play cam I have but since it needs an application, I think it won't work so you are stuck with it. Also under the Google terms, you can not upgrade or change the OS. Google will brick the device if you change the hardware or alter the OS. Useful for you if: You always have access to a wifi connection. There is a 3g model for additional cost. You do a majority of your online activity through a browser. You can work with only cloud storage or can deal with the limited storage provided or expanded with SD or external memory like a flash drive. You find the Google applications and extensions useful. I highly suggest installing applications and extensions on your current machine to get a feeling for weather you can live with them. You need a light, quick booting machine to use for media consumption and activity that is handled through a browser. Not going to play PC Games that require native applications. You need a small portable device with a keyboard and 6 hours of battery life. You would like to stream video or presentations through HDMI. You would like to video chat using gtalk and Google + Hangout and don't mind the low resolution of the built in camera. If you want a secure and automatically updated OS. Not Useful for You: If you are going to be without aces to a wifi connection. If you need to use a lot of native applications. If you need access to a large media achieve stored on your machine. If you need functions that are not found in Google applications and extensions. If you need to have files that are encrypted or only stored off line. I'm sure there are work around but I could not get the Chromebook to read files off of my encrypted external hard drive. If you need an optic drive to access files or watch DVD/Bluray disc. There is no optic drive. It goes without say that you can not burn files to disc either. If you are going to want to play PC games that require a native application or a disc to play. If you are going to need uses that is longer than 6 hours without charging. Since the battery is not removable, you can't carry a spare with you. If you would like to stream quality video. If you would like to upgrade your machines. Google does not allow upgrades. In fact it will brick the device if you change the hardware. Comparing the new ARM Chromebook to Apple Macbook Air 11.6":- PRICE: Macbook=$999 Chromebook=$249 DISPLAY: 11.6-inch 1366x768 for both. STORAGE: Macbook= 64GB Flash SSD Chromebook= 16GB Flash SSD ($50 extra for 64GB Flash SD card to take this up to 80GB) PROCESSOR: Macbook= 1.7GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 Chromebook= 1.7GHz dual-core ARM A-15 Cortex RAM MEMORY: Macbook= 4GB DDR3 Chromebook = 2GB DDR3 SIZE AND WEIGHT: Macbook= 11.8 in x 7.56 in x 0.68 in. Weight 2.38 lb Chromebook= 11.4 in x 8.09 in x 0.69 in. Weight 2.43 lb GRAPHICS: Macbook Air= Intel HD Graphics 4000 integrated graphics Chromebook= ARM Mail T604 high end integrated graphics RESOLUTION: 1366x768 on built-in display, up to 2560 by 1600 pixels on an external display for both VIDEO OUT: Macbook= Mini DisplayPort (requires purchase of adapter for HDMI) Chromebook= HDMI port USB: Macbook= 2 USB 3.0 ports Chromebook= 1 USB 3.0 port + 1 USB 2.0 port WIRELESS: Macbook= 802.11 a/b/g, Bluetooth 4.0 Chromebook= 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0 KEYBOARD & TRACKPAD: Full size keyboard and oversize multi-touch trackpad for both BATTERY: Macbook=5 hours continuous use Chromebook=6.5 hours continuous use and ultra low standby consumption. I wrote a blog about the first week with the Samsung Chromebook that goes a great deal more into the daily uses, limitations and usefulness of the Chromebook. If you are wishing for more detail feel free to contact me.

So I've been asked after having messed with a Chromebook for the past month I got asked to write a review on my personal blog. Well I can honestly say there's a few things that bug me, so lets break it down like a game review, and see what it needs. This is for the Samsung Chromebook weighing in at 249.99 in price, or if like me finding it on sale, and giving it a whirl. In many ways I wish I had the extra cash for a Surface RT due to versatility and well the screen, but it has its drawbacks too, and one is the 70+ USD keyboard/touch-pad. Final Thoughts: Would appreciate the Chromebook OS a lot more if I could truly take it as a competitive end against lower end laptops and PCs, but at this moment I still have my doubts, or haven't learned all the tips and tricks quite yet. The biggest complaint, the desktop based access for apps is still limited, but slowly expanding. For those wanting what I need, a on-the-go access to the internet, an access to my cloud storage for documents at any time, this is a wonderful piece of machinery. When it comes to wanting an all around pc-tablet like experience, you're better off with the iPad, Kindle Fire HD, Android based tablets, or the Windows Surface RT mini-computer/tablets. The Chromebook seems focused on staying recognized as a on-the-go worker computer. For writers, college students, and high school students this is perfect. Comes with a built-in virus scanner, etc. The system wipe? Well that was very easy, lightning fast, and deleted any of my offline content faster than I downloaded it. When it comes to needing a secondary PC, something just for my journalism I have kept eyeballing the Google Chromebook, something that has been the hype on twitter among writers, why though? Well now that I've had my hands on it I've come to understand this question and the answer is simple - accessibility. When it comes to accessing your files, Google Drive is lightning fast as a cloud-based system, one which allowed me to grab my article on while Capcom is going broke, have it loaded and ready to publish in seconds. This has become amazing, but sadly it's something that Microsoft has only begun to do, they need to catch up quickly, Google is seeking to make ease-of-access their focus. With the OS I was excited to see after having accessed log-in I was able to instantly click my email, sync it, and of course check it offline once the messages were downloaded. I was even able to respond to the emails from PR members of the gaming companies I review games from and of course work with for information based on upcoming releases. This was very welcomed as was the ease of access to saving pictures once I learned how to save and of course access my downloaded content, which was a bit of a learning curve, and something that should just be explained by them on the get go. Now that we've got the ease-of-access written down its start to digging quickly into this OS itself and seeing what it comes down to very quickly. When it comes down to the Chromebook, I was quickly amazed by it, and booted up within seconds. I was up and going literally in less than 15 seconds, logging in, and accessing the internet. I was on Facebook, Twitter, Gmail, and of course Google Drive in all of under a minute. You may ask how this is possible, and it's because of Google's cloud based focus. After getting set-up by choosing language, keyboard, and of course an internet so it could connect; it asked for my Gmail account and password. Once logged in I was getting myself up and ready to go. Adjusting the settings was awkward since it is literally done through the Google Chrome browser settings. Okay so it was awkward, still is, and is making me scratch my head. Why didn't they go the Linux type route or simply use the Android OS for this? Well guess that's the idea when calling your product line the "Chromebook". Though what is astonishing is the constant updating, tweaking, and work they add for this thing to function better and better than before. With the update last night my online browsing compatibility has gone up, especially with Java script, and of course Flash based sites. Lets not forget, almost everything uses Java and of course Flash these days, don't be surprised by this since even your phone uses both. Feeling acquainted with Google Chrome, which reminds me of Ubuntu Linux, I was off. Downloading apps, browsing the internet, and well scratching my head wondering why I am complaining or seemingly complain; lets just say I'm more of a Windows guy and prefer some if not more at times. I've still been trying to figure out if Google will have dashboard based apps for instant messaging, video chat, and have a better Skype compatibility, which is doubtful since Microsoft owns the product. With that being noted, I decided to try hang outs and call my mom, well that didn't work. Instead Google wanted to set-up billing even though my moms on an android based product, and has chatted with me before, this stumped me; did Google really just slap me and try and take my lunch money? Yes they did and I just left my head hanging realizing this was not going to go over well. Once having wrapped my head around Googles trick, I decided it was time to at least try and get where I could try the Facebook video chat, and went for it. Wait, it doesn't work on Chrome? This can't be right. Well it is, Google wants you to use their in-house app, Hangouts, they want you to try it out, pay for the service if your friends and family aren't Google+ members, which is stupid. That was a low blow that left my gut aching. Why would Google do this in an age where even Microsoft, Linux, and Mac offer these programs across multiple platforms including tablets? That answer is still up in the air. I hope Google will at least take notes from their mistakes and go to the Android route of allowing app based hard drive installs. Though that may mean Google would heighten security risks and this is something they pride themselves on with Google Chromebook's versatility; Safety and ease-of-access. Sorry to say Google, you just punched yourself, and this is something where Surface owners can feel they are secure in solidifying their choice for video chat as well as a range of it. For those wondering, as of today I was able to download a few offline and out-of-browser apps, which was great. Problem? One of them bugged out and was removed, perhaps it'll get an update, and fix it. Aside from that they even added an offline virtual DJ app, which was quite fun, and cool. Though this computer not being a powerhouse, I expected some FPS lag or slowed reaction time, and got neither. Very well done Google. Now lets really get into the hardware. When it comes to Samsung I was welcomed with a 11.6'' based screen, something similar to many tablets, which makes this ultra-light, ultra-portable, and of course easy to hide when commuting between classes or needing to go across campus while not wanting to lug around an extra 4-5 pounds on your back. This would be an excellent choice weighing in at around 1.4 pounds. The keyboard to some of you will also remind you of the Apple keyboards, and you're right, it does. The keyboard itself does not feel cheap, instead it feels strong and reliable, this however does not mean go smash it against the wall, you'll shatter this thing with ease. We wouldn't want that right? The other nice part is it supports 802.11 b/g/n and also supports portable hard drives, disc drives, and anything else you can imagine. The media player however, it is spotty, and needs polish before I can take it seriously. The oddest part? Much like the Apple computers there is not a left click, instead users will have to adjust to left and right click being their right click for copying, pasting, and of course opening new browsers, deleting apps, etc. It's a hassle that can be eliminated with a cheap USB mouse. The sound its strong, powerful, and of course plays HD video and music in amazing quality.

This is a great laptop which my daughter is enjoying!!!

Overall I've been very impressed with this Chromebook for the price. I build my own desktops, I have a business laptop from 6 years ago that keeps on working strong and smooth. However, this laptop has become my go to device because a majority of everything I need is web based. For just over $200 and it basically replaces 90% of what I need to do on a laptop. Surf the web, check email, Google Drive work, and even Google Hangouts works without problems. The main draw is the quick boot and the simplicity. It's lightweight, nice and slim, and great for carrying around when traveling. Samsung did a good job on the overall design. The keyboard has a quality feel, the touchpad has good response, and the overall look is simple, clean, and smooth. It does feel a little cheap with the thin plastic but it holds up to daily usage. Plus this is how it's able to stay so thin, compact, and light while still feeling like a full size laptop. The best feature about this is the screen has great variation of brightness while still having great battery life. I easily go 5-6 hours of actual usage before the battery alert comes on. Sometimes even longer. I find with my casual daily use I might charge it once every 4 days. Sometimes only once a week. The only thing to be aware of is Chrome OS is a different operating system. It's not like windows of OS X. It does take some getting used to and there will be a learning curve. A good example is that if a user locks the laptop, another user can login but must sign off the other user. The OS currently doesn't allow for a user to be running in hte background. However once you figure it out you'll have no problems. Also, the significant battery life can also be attributed to the processor Samsung chose. It's very efficient and handles most of what people will do. However, I've noticed when I get into work documents and have multiple spreadsheets and word documents open, the machine can begin to slow down. Response is laggy and sometimes even typing seems to take it a while. More RAM might help but probably not as much improvement as we would like to think. Bottom Line: If you use gmail, Google Drive, Photos, Calendar, and mostly use the web. Then this laptop is a great bargain for what you get. If you use more applications to complete tasks and for work then you might need to look elsewhere.

This is a masterpiece. I have been using 3 different Samsung Chromebooks including this one. My first Chromebook was Intel Atom based Samsung Chromebook. The price was too high, low performance, bad touch pad, but the battery life was long enough. It wasn't light. 2nd one showed better performance, but the battery life became shorter and the price was still high. I was happy about the product but didn't like the price. This one's great. It's very cheap, light, and long battery life. It's just 249 USD, why not buy this? No need to set up, quick boot up, quick response when you close and open the lid, easy to use. I am a software engineer and I only need web browser and secure shell terminal. There's an awesome secure shell terminal at Chrome web store. If I set the app "Open Maximized" I can use shortcuts like Ctrl+N, which will open a new window if I don't. Yes, I am an Emacs user. What if I don't have network access? No need to worry. I wouldn't be able to do anything with other laptops, either. Web app doesn't need to be online all the time. Instead of Outlook to check email offline, there's offline GMail. Instead of office software to write document offline, Google Drive works offline. Music? It's possible to keep it offline. I prefer Chromebook to tablets, if I am not in the mass transportation of a big city. Chromebook is easier to use than typical laptops.

My wife wanted easy access to e-mail and browsing and also occasional streaming of content such as Netflix, etc, Did not really need high powered computing and all that software but wanted a keyboard and mouse so a chromebook seemed ideal. Of course, the web based software and cloud storage is a bonus so when the need arises, documents are east to create. We have two of these and they are handy devices, easy to use, affordable and feather light.

My concern when shopping for this device was that the screen would be too small but after using it for a short while I was won over. The fonts are sharp and the resolution clear. Not only do I not miss my old 17" screen I don't think I'd ever go back. The Chromebook does everything I need (web/email/docs) and does it quickly, efficiently and with zero software problems that you *still* get with Windows 7. It's silent, boots up in seconds, is physically light and has great battery life. The only downside is that unless your printer is 'cloud aware' you need a second PC with Chrome installed (can be linux/mac/windows) to act as a print server If you just use web-based email like gmail and need a device for internet stuff without having to worry about MS virii, this is a great buy.

I came away from this hugely impressed by Samsung's latest Chromebook. I'm not much of a Google guy, but I can totally see the appeal of these devices. The device starts fast and is pretty easy to use. Keyboard is really nice. Trackpad isn't bad, but isn't great. I may just be too used to the trackpad on my MacBook Pro - but I did like that there was an option to invert scrolling to match my MBP. Battery lasted forever and it was nice and light. Chrome works very well, just like on the desktop. To be honest, I returned mine - but only because I don't have a personal need for a computer like this with the other devices I have. But for someone with basic needs this could be the perfect device for them.

I switched out to this smaller Chromebook after having to return 2 HP 14' Chromebooks...granted, I liked the bigger HP better (while it worked) but after both of them went deader than a door nail in less than a month I went back to a brand I trust. This little machine does the job and hasn't given me a single problem. Its fast, light weight, reliable, and easy to use. It's not a replacement for a regular laptop...but with the apps available it does everything I need..especially when I'm travelling! Great battery life...Display is solid... the sound is good given it's size. If you want a nice, little computer to browse the net, write a paper or three, check your emails etc....this is a winner. For the price it's a good deal. I have a mini optical mouse for it...makes things easier.... and the silly thing fits in my purse..(ok, I do have a big purse)

The Samsung Chromebook with 11.6" screen is a fantastic notebook for Internet usage, which constant Wifi connectivity is what it designed to use. It features the familiar Google Chrome browser on an easy to use system. The laptop can boot up in under 10 seconds, and if in sleep mode goes from sleep to usable in just a couple seconds. Video from sites like YouTube or Hulu look smooth and good. And the sound from the internal speakers is some of the better that I've heard on a notebook, though typically I'll use headphones instead. Again, this is not a traditional laptop, so there is not a readily accessible hard-drive or DVD drive. Google intends for this to use their services in the 'cloud', as well as other vendor's services. There is no installing software, no CD ripping tools, no office software, and no video editing packages. Instead they intend for you to use services over the Web, such as Google Drive for storage, Google Docs for office tasks, Google Play for books, movies, and music, or any other services that are in the 'cloud'. Hulu, works well, and Netflix support is coming soon. If you are a Microsoft fan, then Microsoft Live Mail works well, as does their Microsoft Live Office and SkyDrive. Overall, this laptop is a fantastic low-cost device for people who do everything on the Internet and don't need to install specific pieces of software on a specific platform. It performs very well, is very light, has a full sized keyboard, and a pleasant 6.5 hour battery life. For the $250 I paid when it first came out, this is an excellent value for an Internet-only type of device.

This is the third Chromebook I've purchased (I tend to be hard on electronic items), and I'm pleased with the value and quality of this model. It's very thin, lightweight and compact, and it boots in seconds. Because apps run in the cloud, you don't need lots of storage - but you do need a Wi-Fi connection for many apps. The Google productivity suite, however, works offline too, and you can save your work to your local storage until you sync with your Google Drive storage online again. At under $250, you can't beat it for value for money.

As a college student you write a lot of papers, and this laptop is the perfect size and weight to bring anywhere with very little hastle. ChromeOS is lightweight and easy to use. The inclusion of a case would be nice, to make transportation easier without running the risk of dropping it everywhere I go.

Bought this as a Christmas gift for my son; my other laptop is in its rebellious stage and i wanted something he could rely on and that was totally his. It is so cuuuute and very easy to use/handle; lightweight, compact and just perfect for his browsing, games and youtube use, etc. I sneak a use every now and then to check my emails. Love it!!!!!

Bought this for my girlfriend as a birthday gift. But now I want one for myself. There was an initial problem with the web speed, it wasn't fast. I googled and found the answer. Most internet companies set the home wifi to WEP security as default. This has to be changed to WPA2. Once I did that, laptop was blazing fast. It is so portable, keyboard is full-size, keys are smooth, touchpad is smooth, lots of great little convenient features. Video is decent but again you buy this for its portability and price. Highly recommend it.

I absolutely love my Chromebook (CB). It is super light and thin, the battery lasts for hours, turning the computer on and off, updating, and completing online tasks all take seconds. As a college student, the most important functions of my school computer are to type documents, create presentations, take notes and get online. The CB does all of this effortlessly using Google Docs and Evernote. I will repeat what other reviewers have, though. Do your research before purchasing! This OS is not for the faint of heart or non-Google user/tech-savs. I recommend switching over to Chrome for browsing, Cloud Print, Google Docs, Drive, and Mail before purchasing. Get used to all of these new programs you will be relying on in advance and see if it's for you. As for me, I have not regretted my purchase for a second. This is every college student's best friend. I love my purchase so much that I wrote a detailed review on Evernote to share with my friend Alec. Here is a link to it! https://www.evernote.com/shard/s288/sh/ca1a971a-4fc9-45fd-bdcf-10e51b188067/1539072b1ef83b6af3d50ded1ec07ba6 Please feel free to comment with any questions and I will be happy to answer to my best ability.

I purchased the chrome book originally as an experimental device for ARM Linux Tinkering and to test out Chrome OS. For normal use though, I expected a somewhat limited device that lives primarily online with no traditional operating system (eg. Windows or OSX). While this is true, it is an extremely powerful mobile tool when connected to the internet and developers are quickly producing apps that can live offline inside the browser OS (Chrome OS). If you do most of your work in a browser through Web Servers like Content Management Systems (CMS), myPHP, Wordpress, etc. the Chromebook gets the job done. On the other end of the user spectrum, if you need a device to watch movies and check email, this device is perfect for someone that prefers a laptop device over a tablet. The Chromebook is also very easy to set up. If you have a current Gmail account it is as easy as inputting that info and if you do not it is as easy as setting up a Google/Gmail account. The system from out of the box to plugged in can be set up and ready to go in under 5 mins. Once the Chromebook is fully charged it can easily perform daily web surfing and online tasks for hours (about 6) without needing to be plugged back in. Some people might argue that for about a $100 more you could pick up a nice Windows based laptop and not be limited to just what can be installed in the chrome browser. While this is a valid opinion, for a mobile device I do not need Windows, I only need the browser. Beyond that personal criteria for my decision in giving it a go, the laptop is ARM based and does not have fans or moving parts in its internals. This means it will not get hot like a traditional laptop and allows it to be supper thin (0.69 inches) and supper lightweight (2.4 lbs). Also by not having Windows, you will never have to worry about reformatting your hard drive, defragging, installing virus protection, or removing a virus. The simplicity of Chrome OS has it's benefits and an elegant minimalist approach. While I love the device, there is still a downside to the Chromebook in that if you do not have a internet connection, your device is rather limited at the moment. As the device and Chrome OS progress, this will be less of an issue. Also as internet connections become more ubiquitous in areas that you may travel to or through, this becomes a non-factor. Personally I tether to my cellphone 4G LTE connection if a WiFi connection is unavailable. Overall I have been very surprised with how much I like using the Chromebook for exactly what it is, a mobile browser laptop. Weather you are a web developer or just looking for a media device that has a keyboard at a great price, give it a go. You just might be surprised how little you need Windows or OSX.

I spent a long time hunting and reading other reviews before I purchased the Samsung Chromebook. I really wanted something that was easy to tote around, yet had an easy-to-use keyboard (I hate trying to type on on-screen keyboards!) plus was relatively inexpensive. I had gotten the new Kindle Fire HD and a bluetooth keyboard previously, but had to return it when it had two insurmountable problems: 1. Linked to my wife's Amazon account, anything that she added to her Kindle appeared on my home screen, and even though I deleted them, they would come right back the next time she downloaded something. 2. The bluetooth keyboard had keys that would repeat when you pressed them once. So after the first reviews came out about the Chromebook, I decided it sounded like it would fill the bill. And mostly, it has. I was up and running in no time since I had already been using Chrome. I love how quickly I can log on, and enjoyed the one time I was able to use the Offline Google Docs (apparently when I signed it at home and then let the netbook hibernate, then got on again at work, where I don't have access to wi-fi.) The speakers are a little weak, but serviceable - much betten than having to put buds in my ears! And it's amazingly light feeling and only slightly warm on my lap - much cooler than my old laptop. But the next time I took the Chromebook to work, I had turned it off all the way. Then the rude awakening! Even though it has a number of apps designed to be used offline, you can't even log on to the computer without internet access. (I even spoke to customer service, who confirmed this.) So the offline apps do you little good, unless you just allow the chromebook to hibernate while you move it out of wi-fi range, Given the long battery life, this should work out alright, as long as I think ahead. But if I'm going on a trip somewhere for several days, and want to be able to shut off the computer to conserve power, I will undoubtably find myself somewhere where I can't use it at all. But for an easy. quick way to get on the internet around the house, even in the bathroom, while having a very natural, good feeling keyboard at my service, it has been wonderful!