More observations on the Cr-48

Well we all love the nice rubbery feel of this computer. . .buuuuut. . .I have had it a week and it is already peeling off on the corners.  If this computer was to go to market with a similar feel, it would need to be far more durable.  


Also, I am having problems with some delays. As in Welby is freezing for a few seconds. Oh great. Just like my other computer (both XP and Ubuntu do that a lot it seems)


I still do not find much use for the search button, as I am in the habit of using Ctrl+T.  Still, I have not missed Caps Lock, so I may find it has slightly more value to me. Kudos on allowing me to change as needed.


The battery life is spectacular.  I charge my computer overnight and it is ready to go all day.  I don't use it constantly, but I use it frequently for a quick Google search.  (I am known to say "here let me just google it real quick" ALL the time).  I dread the day when the battery starts to last just an hour or two.


I find I still really like this computer, but I have found it so necessary to my life that I have to have it. Unless, of course, it was REALLY cheap and would save me having to upgrade my primary computer.

Cr-48 Trackpad: FAIL

Google, you did great with some of the trackpad features.  Love the idea. It would be nice to have more features like the Magic Trackpad .  But when it comes down to using the trackpad. . .

Honestly, the copy/paste sucks. I hate it.  So difficult to get it just right.

Two finger scrolling is nice. Tends to work, except when the trackpad is PMSing which seems to happen frequently.

And Google Maps--the pinch-to-zoom does not work (at least not well enough to use). Your own site, with your own computer, and it drives me crazy. Please work on that.

As I mentioned, some more features would be nice--like 3 finger web navigation. sure there are buttons for it, but I am lazy and do not wish to move my hand.

If a similar computer is to hit the market, I would hope it has a much smoother trackpad with a few more features.

Thoughts on the Cr-48

About a week and a half ago, I received an email from Google where they reminded me that some time in the past I indicated interest in the Chrome project. I really did have interest in it--I showed this to my friends with a great deal of enthusiasm late last year.

And then I waited. and waited. WHEN CAN I GET ONE?!?!?!

Apparently while cyber-stalking Google, I told them I would be interested in learning more about Chrome OS. I later forgot. But they didn't! I got an email while I was in NYC last week, informing me that I was eligible to receive the new Chrome netbook as part of their pilot program, so of course I signed up ASAP. When I finally made it back to Mom's house this weekend, there was a large box waiting for me. I could not for the life of me remember ordering anything recently, so I tore it open wondering if someone accidentally sent me toys for Christmas--after all what else could come in a box like this?

When I opened it up and realised what it was, I walked around saying Ohmygosh, ohmygosh, ohmygosh over and over.  My cat and dog looked at me like I was crazy. 

Well enough about the excitement, and time for the good stuff--what's the big deal about the Cr-48 (to be referred to as Welby)?

I love it.  Would I spend a couple hundred bucks on it [as-is]?  No.

Here's why--

1)  

I don't spend a lot of money on new toys. As much as I love playing around with grown up toys (and some kid toys), I rarely spend the money on the latest technology.  My [former] primary computer is over 4 years old, falling apart, and barely working, but as long as I think I can fix it inexpensively I will not spend the money on a new one.  Despite the Cr-48's  limited functionality, I believe it will be my primary computer, even after I spend the time to repair Walter, my POC Dell.

2)

Printing.  Ok Google Cloud Print works if you have a working Windows PC, but Walter's not liking Windows at the moment, and I am only able to use Wubi with it.  So how are Linux or Mac users supposed to do this?  

3) 

Lack of Customisation. I LOVE customising little things.  Like telling my computer not to sleep when I close the lid because I am using it to listen to music. Or telling it how long to stay awake. And I most definitely wish I could put the clock in 24 hour time. 

I really love my Cr-48.  While it has some little issues and some things that need to be fixed, I could see purchasing it if I liked spending my money on technology instead of just drooling over it.  For people who actually do find it worth the money to have a handy secondary computer that is quick, easy to use, and very portable, I would recommend the Cr-48. I have toted Welby around with me all day, showing people my cool new toy, and now at nearly half past 6, the battery is still more than half charged.  With Walter, the battery, a fairly new replacement, lasts only a few hours--making the charger a necessary item if I wish to do more than send a few emails. More thoughts will be posted soon as Welby and I get to know each other.

P.S. I give all my electronics male names beginning with W (except my graphing calculator, but Stephen was a loaner ). Maybe it's crazy, but I feel that my car, William, responds well when I talk to him by name, as does Walter.  I finally settled on Welby today for my Cr-48, after a few times when I felt it needed some encouragement to cooperate.

Next Time

Started out this Sunday on my face again pushing in
And wasn’t it MC Hammer who said, “We have to pray just to make it through the day”
I never get tired of believing you, I never get tired of trying to break through, I just get tired of myself sometimes
It’s so easy to be human, it’s so easy to make excuses, but the simple truth is,
I was too scared of intruding
These are people’s lives you’re playing with, He said.
Every time you get a bit scared you let another one slip through the net, He said
They need me more than you need to be comfortable
He said stop listening to your head, and listen to me
Your mind doesn’t understand the things I see
Next time, next time, next time
Listen to me
My voice should be louder than your reasoning, your reasoning, those human things…

Cause if I don’t go when you say go, if I don’t speak when you say so
We might find that we’ve run out of ways to see the world around us change
If I don’t move when you say move, cause I don’t trust what you told me to do
It might never come around again
Next time, I’ll do it your way

You never know where the spirit has been whispering at night
You never know where the angels have been putting up a fight
We cannot see with our own eyes, everything is organized
We can only hear when it’s our turn to go switch on the light
Listen to me
Your mind cannot understand the things that I see
Next time, next time, next time
Listen to me
Cause my voice should be louder than your reasoning, your reasoning, those human things


These are people’s lives you’re playing with, He said
And every time you get a bit scared, you let another one slip through the net, He said
They need me more than you need to be comfortable
He said, stop listening to your head…