Experiencing Chrome OS

Cr-48 Secrets - 1. Familiar with Cr-48's keyboard

2011-01-13T20:55:00.002-06:00

The keyboard of the Cr-48 does not like those keyboards normally seen on other laptops, for example, there are no F keys, no Home, End, Insert, Delete and PrtSc keys etc. I feel that the Cr-48 sucks because both the touch pad and usb mouse are not stable. The cursor jumps to somewhere else or disappears when it is moving or when editing a text.

One day I was holding the control key and typing different keys to see if there is shortcuts or special functions and I found that ctrl + alt + / brings up a hidden screen keyboard.

When you hold ctrl, alt, shift key or any combination, this screen keyboard shows you the function for specific key.

Cr-48 Short Cuts

2011-01-12T20:55:00.002-06:00

Typing ctrl + alt + / on the Cr-48 brings up a screen keyboard. This screen keyboard tells you all the special function of different keys. For example,

ctrl + n: open a new window
ctrl + t: open a new tab
ctrl + u: view source
ctrl + o: open file viewer
ctrl + next window key: take a screen shot.

Cr-48 Hardware Specifications

2010-12-29T16:43:00.003-06:00

• Motherboard: Tripod MARIO - 6050A240910 - MB - A03
• Processor: Intel Atom N455 1.66GHz 512K Cache, Single Core, Hyper-threading
• Chipset: Intel CG82NM10 PCH
• RAM: Hynix 2GB DDR3 1Rx8 PC3 - 10600S
• ROM: ITE IT8500E Flash ROM
• Hard Drive: SanDisk 16GB SATA SSD
• Wi-Fi: AzureWave 802.11 a/b/g/n PCI-E Half Mini Card
• Wireless Wan (Verizon 3G): Qualcomm Gobi2000 PCI Express Mini Card

• Bluetooth: Atheros AR5BBU12 V2.1 EDR

Display:
• Screen Size: 12.1 inches
• Screen Resolution: 1,280X800 pixels

Input:
• Keyboard: 74 keys
• Pointing device: Track-pad (Multi-touch)

Interface:
• USB: 1
• Audio outputs: 3.5 mm
• Video outputs: VGA
• Memory Card Reader: SD
• Built-in-microphone
• Built-in-Webcam

A Surprise From Chrome Team

2010-12-26T11:56:00.000-06:00

I received an email in a title "You are eligible to receive a free Chrome notebook" on December 7th 2010. Those emails saying something free for you are suspicious, usually I trash them right away, but this time with a little curious I opened this email. The email was indeed sent out by Chrome Team, I was so excited that I clicked the link and filled out the request form without any delay. Since then I haven't hear anything from Chrome Team about my request. I thought there probably hundreds of thousands of people are replying for the pilot program, so I have never expected to receive the Chrome notebook.

On December 17th, when I came back home from work, a big package was sitting on the floor. What was it? I didn't order anything. With curious I opened the package. Oh Yeah! It was a Cr-48, the Chrome OS notebook.

So here comes my blob: "Experiencing Chrome OS". I believe what Google is doing, the thin client, is the trends. I am glad that I can be part of the Chrome OS pilot program and become one of the few people to test out the New operating system. As the agreement of the Chrome OS pilot program, I am going to post my Chrome OS experience and help to improve Chrome OS.