What is a chromebook?
A chromebook is a laptop or a personal computer running on Google Operating System. The devices are designed in such a way that they can be used effectively while connected to the internet. It supports web applications than PC applications like Microsoft Word.
Acer which is one of the largest Laptop and Laptop Parts manufacturer was the first company to introduce the chrome book range in 2011. Samsung soon released their customized range and were followed by Lenovo and Hewlett Packard. Till date, 11 models have been released including three Personal Computers called the ‘chrome boxes’.
The device is bundled with the Chrome OS which uses the Google chrome browser and Linux Kernel as an integrated media player. It doesn’t come pre-installed with applications. With web apps getting more popular on smartphones and tablets, it is high time they are brought to laptops and PCs. Now, Chromebook does just that! People have the liberty to add any web apps they want.
The design:
The HP Pavilion 14 is an eye-grabber as the screen is larger than its competitor's laptop screens. It is the usual HP design. The device has a glossy finish and looks sturdy. For now, the only color available is black. The HP logo is on the bottom corner. |
| Image Credits: google.com/intl/en/chrome/devices/ |
An added design is the Google chrome logo indicating the laptop is a chrome book. The keypad has a smooth metallic finish. Though the finger prints are visible, it is not very prominent. Overall, the design is a classic HP.
HP Pavilion 14 Chromebook:
However, the difference ends with HP’s design. The other aspects of the device are similar to other models released in this range. Here are the key configurations of HP Pavilion 14:• 14-inch screen that supports a maximum of 768 X 1,336 pixels.
• Google’s cloud based operating system – Chrome OS.
• A Celeron processor from Intel with two cores that clock at 1.1 Ghz each.
• 2 GB of main memory.
• 16 GB onboard hard disk space and 100 GB of cloud storage through Google Drive.
• A solid battery pack with more than 4 hours standby time.
• Wireless card that supports 802.11 standards on a, b, g and n channels.
• Built-in Bluetooth radio.
• Multimedia SD card reader.
• RJ-45 network port for wired connectivity.
The starting range of the product is expected to be around $329.99. The company has not provided any information on the availability of the device world-wide. The built-in security available in the device is automatically updated.
The connectivity options:
HP provides more connectivity options than its competitors. It has the following connectivity ports:• HDMI port.
• USB 2.0 sockets.
• RJ-45 network socket.
• Socket for Multimedia SD card reader.
HP14 targets users who use only the web to do their work. With the increase in the number of Wi-Fi hotspots, people have around the clock access to the Internet. This makes it easier for them to use the chromebook. However, the ‘only-web’ concept could be a hiccup for those who prefer working offline.
A summary:
The advantage of HP Pavilion 14 Chromebook is it has a bigger screen and a sturdy battery life. These are two things that are missing in other competitors’ devices. However, the main drawback is the storage space. Other manufacturers like Acer offer a cheaper laptop with 320 GB hard disk storage.People might have a problem with the mediocre 16 GB storage despite offering web space on Google Chrome. Overall, this is a decent release from HP. However, people might choose more economical chromebooks like Acer C7 (priced around $200) and Samsung’s Series 3 (priced around $250).
Ethan MillersAbout the Guest Author:
This is a post by Ethan Millers of bw9.com, a site that offers savings and current information on comcast cable and internet, as well as other Comcast.com services.
