Chrome OS: A Desktop Replacement for Casual Users

Note: This article has had minor updates to keep it relevant over the years.

Chrome OS: What is it?

While Google is busy conquering the world with its army of Android handsets and tablets, another battle has taken place on the desktops of millions of PCs. This battle, which many call the “Browser Wars”, resulted in one undisputed winner -- the Google Chrome Browser with a whopping 42.68% (June 2013) global market share.

The Chrome browser was introduced by Google five years ago, in 2008, and it immediately disrupted the ongoing head-to-head battle between Internet Explorer (the most popular browser back then) and Mozilla Firefox, a browser made from the remains of the now-very-dead Netscape browser. And since then, Chrome has been sitting comfortably in homes across the globe thanks to its almost 20% market share lead against Internet Explorer.

And it’s precisely this domination that led us to conclude that Google recognises Chrome’s potential, which is why Chrome OS exists in the first place. Why else would a company put such immense efforts into two highly different operating systems -- Chrome OS and Android -- otherwise? This led many to speculate that the two operating systems would merge eventually.

Convergence on the Horizon?

Google’s ex-CEO Eric Schmidt also publicly said that convergence would be the two operating systems’ eventual fate, but he later came out to assure the public that the two operating systems would “remain separate for a very, very long time.”

However, despite what Schmidt says, there are also signs that the two operating systems might eventually merge into a mega mobile operating system. Andy Rubin, previously in charge of Android, has left the care of Android to Sundar Pichai. Sundar then became the senior vice president for Android, Chrome and Google Apps. And since he’s in charge of all three, he might find it hard to prevent any crossover from either side later down the road, or he might be better equipped to prevent such a scenario from happening.

In any case, Chrome OS is chugging along at a slow comfortable pace, with no real target in sight. After all, it's pretty much a browser-oriented operating system that requires connectivity to accomplish anything. It was just launched in Singapore, together with three different notebook bodies made by Samsung, Acer, and HP at fairly affordable prices. Before you rush out to get yourself one of these affordable, cheerful Chromebooks, you must know what it's capable of.

The Chrome Operating System

The most important feature to remember about Chrome OS is that it works best only when it’s connected to the web. If you cannot maintain a constant web connection and you expect to have periods of offline usage, you might want to consider a standard notebook that runs a full-fledged Windows or Mac OS instead with full-fat standard applications to augment your usage needs.

On the other hand, if you see yourself constantly connected to the web, and would like to use your system mostly to surf and access services off the web, then the Chromebook is custom-built to fit into your life. That’s because the Chrome OS is very much a browser at heart and very similar to the Chrome browser that most of us are used to, so it has a negligible learning curve. The Chrome OS is kind of like a browser built with file management capabilities, and compatible with various USB accessories to extend the usability of the browser with notebook-like capabilities than a standard Anrdoid-based tablet.

Apps built for the Chrome browser over the past few years are 100% compatible with Chrome OS, which gives it an advantage right out of the box. All you have to do is to log in to your account, and everything -- apps, bookmarks, extensions, passwords, etc. -- you have setup to sync between Chrome browsers will be there waiting for you to use just as if you've never left using your previous browsing session after you log on. Here's our video overview of the Chrome OS as we tinkered with one of the first Chromebooks available locally:-

Play

Current Issues with Chrome OS

The downside here is that there aren’t many apps available in Chrome since it’s not as easy to monetize as Android is. However, since it’s a browser, any and every web service or web app is immediately available and accessible on Chrome OS.

We also found that almost everything you need to do can be done with the apps already in the Chrome store or apps that are built into Chrome OS. There are also plenty of web/cloud services already available online. We've compiled a list of essential apps that can help you get started on using Chrome OS (or Chromebooks) in the later pages. 

Another critical area where Chrome OS is different from your run-of-the-mill operating system is you’ll find that almost every app in Chrome OS requires you to be connected to the web. These apps are built to live in the cloud, and not your system. While there are some offline apps available, it detracts from Chrome OS’s real purpose -- to get you living off cloud services only.

While this means that Chromebooks are generally cheaper (or start off from more affordable price points), it’s only useful in countries (or places) where a stable web connection is not an issue.

Another major issue encountered while using the Chromebook is that it might not be compatible with all your other devices. This means that you won't be able to manage your other devices at very complex levels with just a Chromebook. Many of our modern devices, like phones and tablets, offer powerful over-the-air management methods, so you might not need to engage your devices with a PC. Power users, however, will always need a Windows or Mac PC to tinker with their other devices. 

It’s For Casual Users

For now, it’s positioned to be an affordable secondary machine for users with their fair share of gadgets from tablets, handsets and even desktops. However, that doesn’t mean Chrome OS isn’t powerful enough to become the only machine you use, especially for casual users who don’t rely on PC-exclusive applications such as AAA gaming titles, or an Adobe suite, for example.

During our time with the Chromebook machines, we found that it's perfect for users who spend all their time on a PC with the browser open, because that’s what Chrome OS is - a really robust and capable browser with the power of a full keyboard and mouse to use it like a regular notebook and not be hobbled with Android tablets trying to masquerade for being able to do more. And from how it’s built, users also don’t need to worry (as much) about the OS contracting a virus. Since it is built on a Linux kernel, it fundamentally differs from regular applications running on the Windows or Mac environment.

On top of that, the operating system is constantly being updated with security updates and more directly from Google for at least three years, so you’ll always be running the latest version of the Chrome OS. Then in 2017, this was updated to 6.5 years, and this was again revised upwards to at least eight years for newer models released since 2020.

It has an Expiry Date

However, unlike typical Android or Window based systems that can still receive software/app updates even if their firmware updates have ended after the first few years, Chromebooks are designed with an expiry date where the Chrome OS doesn't receive any further update after the stipulated 6.5 to 8 years of support. Since the OS is pretty much the browser itself, you are out of luck from receiving important Chrome updates to use the browser securely. This could be a bummer, but on the bright side, 6.5 to 8 years of support is probably more than the device's usable lifespan. Here is further reference to this from Google's own support page.

If you still think you want a Chromebook, you might want to stick with us for a bit longer as we walk you through further getting familiar with the Chrome OS and how to choose between the Chromebook offerings available now.

Get Started with Chrome OS

Part of the charm of using Chrome OS is its simplicity. Assuming you’re already a Chrome browser user, all you have to do is to log-in, and everything from your bookmarks, extension and apps will be synced automatically.

Step 1: Set to Sync

The very first step, is to connect your Chrome browser to the Google account. You can do this on any Chrome browser, even the one on your Android device. Simply go into the settings page in your Chrome browser, and the sync options are right on the top. Before you key in your Google credentials, click on Advanced sync settings and choose the data you want to sync across all your browsers.

Step 2: Sign-in to Chrome OS

Once you have the data you want synced, all you have to do on Chrome OS is simply sign-up and choose your profile picture. At first glance, everything about Chrome OS is the same as you’d expect it to be. However, since it is an operating system, there are specific differences you’d need to be aware of.

Navigating Chrome OS

1) Taskbar

One of the additions to the Chrome operating system over just a browser window is the taskbar. So just like in Windows, you can pin your favourite apps there (by dragging them onto the taskbar from the app menu), and it will also show apps that are currently open. There’s also an app menu icon showing all the other apps you have installed in Chrome OS.

 

2) App Menu

Another significant difference is the way you can access your apps. For the Chrome browser, you would have to open the browser before you can access the apps. In Chrome OS, all your apps are hidden in the App menu. There is also a convenient search button so that you don’t have to go through pages of apps to find what you want.

 

3) Windowed Apps

Most apps appear as tabs in Chrome OS. However, there are some apps like Google Keep, Maps or Google Hangouts that appear as standalone windows. These apps are constantly open, even when the Chrome browser in Chrome OS is closed. There are very few of them in the Chrome Web Store now, but they’re very convenient to have, so there might be more of these apps down the road.

 

4) Quick Access Settings Menu

The settings menu appears as a tab within the Chrome browser, and Chrome OS. However, Chrome OS has a pop-up menu that gives you quick access to hardware options to control connectivity and volume. Options for locking or turning off the machine are also available there.

 

5) Google Drive / Files

Google Drive is integrated into Chrome OS by default. Opening the File app gives you access to files stored both locally and in the cloud (Google Drive). Chromebooks from Samsung and HP give users only 16GB of local storage space, but since each new Chromebook comes with 100GB of cloud storage free, users needn’t worry too much about storage space.

 

6) Most Visited pages

The most visited page, displayed when you open a new tab in the Chrome browser (on desktop or Chrome OS), displays a list of your most regularly visited web pages. The Chrome Web Store icon is located at the bottom right of the page, along with the access button for recently closed tabs and tabs open on other devices.

 

7) Personalisation of Chrome OS

If you’ve already personalised your Chrome browser with themes and such, it should automatically be transferred over to Chrome OS if you’ve set it up to sync. Otherwise, you can easily change the browser theme by selecting one in the Chrome Web Store. Changing the wallpaper in Chrome OS is even easier. Simply right-click on empty space (two-finger tap if you’re using the trackpad on a Chromebook), and select the option for changing wallpapers.

Apps to get you started on Chrome OS
 

Essential Extensions

Google Mail Checker - Displays number of unread emails.

Google Translate - Translates entire pages into your native language.

Image Search (by Google) - Search using images instead of text.

Turn off the Lights - Turns space around web video dark for easy viewing.

Web of Trust - Helps identify trustworthy sites or sites to avoid.

Docs Viewer (by Google) - This lets you preview documents in Google Docs / Drive

Which Chromebook Should You Get

Chromebooks have recently launched in Singapore, but only the entry-level options from Samsung, HP and Acer are available now. If you’re waiting for the Chromebook Pixel, your wait might be a long one. Each Chromebook has its own strengths, so here's a little comparison to help you choose the Chromebook that suits you best.

Performance

Chrome OS requires significantly less resources to run well than a Windows OS, which is why Samsung chose to deck their Chromebook with a tablet-class Samsung Exynos 5 Dual (core) processor. This is the same chip found on Google’s Nexus 10 tablet (which is manufactured by Samsung). Using a tablet processor also means that its performance would be closer to that of a tablet than a regular notebook or Ultrabook.

Meanwhile, the HP Pavilion Chromebook (as well as the Acer C7 Chromebook) uses an Intel Celeron 847 processor (1.1GHz). This chip was launched in 2011, and was used in low-cost notebooks. Despite its age, it’s still more powerful than the processor found in the Samsung Chromebook.

To gauge performance on Chromebooks, we relied on a browser benchmark called Sunspider since there aren't any professional benchmarks developed to run on Chrome OS yet. Sunspider gives users a gauge of how fast a browser performs and is affected by the processor's speed, which is fair considering the Chrome OS is essentially just a browser.

The HP Chromebook managed a Sunspider benchmark score of 377.9, while the Samsung Chromebook managed to score about 800. For comparison’s sake, a brand new Intel fourth-generation notebook with Windows 8, scored about 113.8 in the same benchmark, while the Microsoft Surface Pro with Intel 3rd generation processor scored 155. Other devices like the iPad (850) and Microsoft Surface RT (1015) managed to get scores that are similar to the Samsung Chromebook.

From the machines’ Sunspider results, you can also guess which notebook fares better. The HP Chromebook’s CPU is a much older and power-hungry processor. Meanwhile, the much newer and power-efficient Exynos (ARM-based) processor on the Samsung Chromebook allowed it to stay alive far longer. This meant that with a Chromebook, users would have to choose between processing power and battery life priorities.

Web pages load slightly slower on the Samsung Chromebook, but it’s also able to last longer partly due to its lower performance, allowing users to surf the web or consume online content for a much longer time. This makes the Samsung Chromebook much more portable than the HP Chromebook - from a form factor perspective and for up-time of the device.

Which Chromebook Should You Get?

The Samsung and HP Chromebooks both cost $449, and run Chrome OS. However, that’s where the similarities end. Both Chromebooks represent a different usage scenario which fits differing user needs.

The Samsung Chromebook has excellent battery life and better portability but sacrifices screen size and connectivity. This notebook is best for consumers who have access to good wireless connectivity and need their notebook to be as portable as possible.

The HP Chromebook, on the other hand, is suitable for consumers having spotty wireless internet connections, and require more power and a more prominent display. While consumers who opt for the HP Chromebook shouldn’t be particular about its battery life, it will hold up for at least a few hours when you’re on the move.

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