Samsung Series 5 Chromebook now available

Or at least, they will be within the next 24 hours.

This is of course the first dedicated Chromebook to be released and although it may be hard to get your hands on for a few days it will soon be available at Amazon and PC World, stock permitting!

Samsung have as such released two models, much like Apple and their iPad. There is a Wi-Fi only option as well as a 3G equipped model. Pricing is £349 and £399 respectively. However, the 3G option is the only sensible way to go otherwise you lose functionality of the Chromebook. The Chrome OS is internet based and as such requires an active connection to function fully.

The Series 5 features a 12.1″ display, an Intel Atom CPU and a small 16GB of flash-memory but of course most of the data is stored in the ‘cloud’. There is a full-size keyboard which includes the addition of a dedicated search button and a large touchpad .

The Samsung Chromebook weighs in at 1.49kg and is just 7.9 mm thick. The battery life is potentially over 8 hours although you do have to have an internet connection so it is not the most portable.

Although the specs and price are not favouring the release of the Chromebook too much, it is the first attempt and if it proves to be a success I’m sure the prices will drop and the spec’s will improve. The Chromebook does have a large potential to be very successful especially when you look at the number of users now using Google Chrome as their main browser.