The Chromebook is a cloud netbook that aims to resemble and behave a lot like the Chrome browser.

Google’s sales pitch for the Chromebook is that your apps, documents, settings and other data will be securely stored in cyberspace and accessible from any Chrome computer.

The new Chromebook is a breeze to set up. Enter your Google account name and password, and your Gmail, calendar appointments and settings are synchronised.

The machine starts up in less than 10 seconds and wakes from sleep in an instant. Google also claims it has 8.5 hours of continuous use, which makes for impressive battery life.

If you lose or damage the computer, you can restore data from the cloud on another machine. Chrome software can be automatically updated with new features or security enhancements, eliminating the need, Google says, for anti-virus software.

However, there are some drawbacks. Many web apps that run in the browser are not as fully featured as traditional software – for example, Google Docs lacks many tools found in Microsoft Word.

Other drawbacks include not being able to connect a USB cable to print.

Printing requires an ePrint-capable wireless printer or you have to go through the Google Cloud Print service, which means having a separate Windows PC connected to a standard printer.

Moreover, while Google and its partners have devisedhundreds of Chrome appsthat work offline, including Angry Birds and an appthat caches the Wikipediaencyclopaedia, the fact isthat most applications willdefinitely need an always on internet connection. Google says offline versions ofGmail, Google Docs and Google Calendar are expected soon.

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