[ENOTTY]

> Normal people just want things that work when they turn them on. And they don't want complicated

Is that not the Chromebook's design? They have produced a product with curated hardware (QA tested and none of the sharp edges of Linux), an operating system that has a browser with one of the best UIs as the primary interface, and a pretty secure and automatically updating operating system that will help protect against malware. From the second he gets it, a user can turn it on and start using the Chromebook.

The only worry I see is not having standard apps like Microsoft Office and Google hopes that Docs will be able to replace that.

[zmmmmm]

> The only worry I see is not having standard apps like Microsoft Office and Google hopes that Docs will be able to replace that.

This is the same worry I have. I'm not sure Google 'gets' how hooked into some of the more sophisticated features of Word, Excel, etc. many businesses are. I love Google Docs and default to it for anything that doesn't require a lot of sophistication. But it just doesn't even scratch the surface of what I need when I write complex documents. I could see new businesses who aren't entrenched in any of this stuff picking it up - it's certainly how I would start a business. But I can't see established businesses buying into it when the "bread and butter" software that they buy their computers for in the first place is so weak. Ironically, Google's best hope might be that its customers will use Microsoft's own online version of Office.

[stcredzero]

The only worry I see is not having standard apps like Microsoft Office and Google hopes that Docs will be able to replace that.

Because they have Office, Microsoft is in a better position to make a Chromebook than Google is.

[nextparadigms]

If Microsoft made a "Chromebook" but with some Windows lite OS and Office included, it could cost a lot more, you can be sure of that.

[stcredzero]

Well, I said they'd be in a better position. I didn't claim that they wouldn't #^%$@& it up.