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Google gives away its CR-48 Chrome OS laptops

After its announcement of  Chrome OS, Google started sending out free CR-48 unbranded 12 inch laptops loaded with Google Chrome OS. PCWorld was one of the first to report the CR-48 shipping.   It is estimated by some sources Google had ordered 60000 of these laptops from inventec for the purpose of Beta Testing.

The lot of  free shipments is randomly selected when applied as individuals, but specific websites and media organisations have been handpicked to receive one.

The laptop looks like a plain slim version of Lenovo X series or Macbook 12 inch laptops, comes in a full black with no labels whatsoever, it is 12 inch with LCD display with wifi and 3G inbuilt. The laptop has webcam and a large keyboard without function keys and new search key. The trackpad is much bigger in size and  doesnt have a separte clicker as the entire trackpad is clickable. So the right click is achieved by two clicks.

The Laptop is powered by Intel Atom processor and supplied with Verizon Wireless 3G plan 100 MB per month for two years free of cost.

But the most significant factor about the device is not the hardware ofcourse, the Notebook boots up in less than 10 seconds, and the OS  comes with no bells and whistles attached. You  can install apps from the Chrome Appstore ranging from GMAIL  Pandora etc. But the best feature of the device obviously its browsing, which is accomplished with Chrome.

The initial reports indicate the Laptop is sluggish when running Flash and even crashes at times. But HTML5 seems to be much better.

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Microsoft Kinect – The next Big Step

Microsoft Kinect has given a fresh lease of life for Microsoft’s Gaming department, couple of years back when the XBOX 360’s where failing with Ring of Death, Many experts predicted the fall of the Redmond Giant in one more category.

But in 2010, Microsoft is still growing strong, rather has become the buzz of the holiday season with the launch of its innovative hands-free motion sensitive controller the Kinect. Coupling with the slimmer XBOX 360 S (2010), the combination is proving to be deadly in negotiating Sony’s PS3 (with Move) and Nintendo Wii.

There is a crazy demand in the market for XBOX Kinect which is usually associated with iPhone launches and seen in other cases like Amazon’s kindle and Nintendo Wii. Microsoft has gone low key over the last few years and has started showing some good results.

Microsoft Xbox 360 4GB Console with Kinect Sensor $299.95 w/ Free Shipping

But coming to the Kinect, when Microsoft showed some demo’s of the Kinect concept sometime back, I was wondering how long it will take for Microsoft to come out with a practical device for public use. But to everyone’s surprise MS has come out the device in a much short time and a very affordable price point of $150. When you buy the Kinect in a XBOX bundle it becomes even more cheaper.

If one thought Wii was a new concept in Gaming, Kinect definitely takes it to the next level. Now with Kinect not just gaming but a whole new suit of medical and practical applications of the device will surely hit the market. Imagine a Therapy DVD which will monitor and correct every step and move of the patient and so on.
Lets wait for couple of more months to see more Game titles and applications of the Kinect.