Manage updates with the Download AppNew Chromebook's best feature: low price Video
New Chromebook's best feature: low price Video Transcript
-Chrome on ARM may sound like a mouthful, but the new Chromebook from Google and Samsung is powered by the same lightweight processor that runs your smartphone. Hi, I'm Seth Rosenblatt for CNET, and today, we're taking a quick tour of the latest Chrome OS laptop from Google and Samsung that so low priced, it may be the first one that people actually buy. Google is making this Chromebook the most accessible one yet, starting with an aggressively affordable price at $249, that's $300 less than the Samsung Series 5 Chromebook and $80 below the Samsung Series 3 Chromebox, the Chrome OS version of the Mac Mini. It ships with the ARM-based Exynos S Dual Chip, a dual-core processor running at 1.7 gigahertz. It can decode 1080p video at 60 frames per second. It supports HDMI, USB 2.0, and USB 3.0. It has a webcam, uses hardware-accelerated graphics, and runs software on its graphics hardware with the OpenCL interface. It comes with an external RJ-45 dongle if you want to use Ethernet, an SD card slot, and a dual jack for headphone and microphone. It weighs just under 2.5 pounds, making it the lightest Chromebook yet. It feels much more comfortable to carry around. Google says the battery will last you around six and a half hours, although we found the 11.6-inch screen to suffer from glitter pixel for lack of a better term. The trackpad is fairly responsive and supports some gestures like two-finger tap to right click and two-finger swipe to scroll. Some people might not like the fact that the Caps Lock key is a dedicated search button, although you can remap it, but there's no delete key either, only backspace. The Chromebooks run Chrome OS, the browser-based operating system that updates every six weeks on Google's rapid release schedule. New features in the version that ships with this Chromebook include deep connections to Google Play and 100-gigabytes of cloud storage and Google drive for two years on top of the 16-gigs of local storage. There are some limitations that restrict its usability. It's Wi-Fi only for one, but the fact that it's running Chrome OS locks you into either Google services or websites. iTunes won't work, although there is Google Play Music. The Chrome OS gets real sluggish with more than 20 or so tabs, although it does sync instantly across your Google power devices and Chrome browsers. It's a solid laptop for at home use, and if you hate typing on a tablet, it could be a great device for homework or mid-level productivity. It's not for everybody though. With the first look at Samsung and Google's latest laptop running Chrome OS, I'm Seth Rosenblatt.
Related Videos
Questions remain after PS4 event
Bridget Carey breaks down what was revealed at Sony's PlayStation 4 event, and Google releases the Chromebook Pixel at a precarious price.
Donald Bell looks at Samsungs first Chromebook laptop which was announced at the Google I/O conference.
A Samsung Chromebook focus group
Can the Samsung Chromebook operating only Chrome OS woo consumers away from a traditional laptop or tablet? Molly Wood finds out in a very special focus group road test.
At the Google I/O developers conference, the company announces Chromebooks. Features include all-day battery life, instant on, and built in security, amongst other features.
Inside Scoop: Chromebook Pixel debuts
CNET's Kara Tsuboi and Seth Rosenblatt discuss Google's Chromebook Pixel, the company's first-ever touch-enabled laptop built on proprietary hardware. Hear Seth's early impressions of the device and why this is a crucial step forward in Google's quest to build software and hardware.
Samsung's Chromebook Series 5 550: the second generation
One year later, the newest second-generation Samsung Series 5 Chromebook has a faster processor and more RAM along with a better Chrome OS...but it's more expensive than an iPad 2. That just doesn't make much sense.
The Samsung Series 5 Chromebook is ready for your life on the Web, but that's about it.
Hands-on with Google's Chromebook Pixel
Stephen Shankland goes hands-on with Google's first touch-screen laptop, the Chromebook Pixel.
Episode 30: Unboxing Google's Chromebook Pixel
Molly Wood and Jeff Cannata unbox the Google Chromebook Pixel and the I'm Watch from Mobile World Congress. Plus, we torture-test the Google Nexus 10 and checkout the future of log-ins and passwords.
Episode 38: Google's ChromeBook Pixel gets the ultimate road test
Have dreams of living in the cloud? Three testers take the 13-inch Google ChromeBook Pixel out for a test drive. We unbox the stylish Samsung Galaxy Note 8 tablet. Plus, Jeff drives NASA's Space Exploration Vehicle on a simulated Mars surface.
Samsung Chromebook Series 3 Review
The good: The Samsung Chromebook is a lightweight, thin, and inexpensive laptop for those times when all you need is a powerful browser.
The bad: The Chromebook's low price comes out in its build quality and performance.
The bottom line: The $249 Samsung Chromebook is a good extra computer for cloud-loving Google-centric Web users.
Samsung Chromebook Series 3 Specs
Manufacturer: Samsung
Part number: XE303C12-A01US
- Product Specifications
Samsung Chromebook Series 3 Prices
Online stores
| Store | Certified rating | Inventory | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 |  Rate this store See store profile | In stock | $249.00 |
 | Rate this store See store profile | In stock | $249.00 |
| Buy.com | Rate this store See store profile | In stock | $261.99 |
| Buy.com | Rate this store See store profile | In stock | $261.99 |
| PC Connection Express | Rate this store See store profile | In stock | $249.99 |
