The Google Chrome team is happy to announce the release of Chrome 13 on the Stable Channel for Chromebooks (Acer AC700, Samsung Series 5, and Cr-48).

Chrome version 13.0.782.108 (Platform version 587.100)

Release highlights:

• Supports new Chrome 13 functionality (check out the
  Official Chrome Blog for more information)
• Google Cloud Print settings added to Settings > Under the Hood
• Allow auto-connect using 3G
• Remove/forget added VPN connections
• L2TP IPSec with pre-shared key support
• More SSH options in crosh
• 802.1x support
• Allow USB mounting of Android
• Crash fixes
• Security updates

Would you buy a laptop that comes with only one major program—a Web browser—and doesn’t allow you to install widely used software such as Microsoft Office, Apple’s iTunes, Adobe Reader, or, in fact, any other locally installed program?

Are you ready for a laptop that has almost no storage space to hold your personal files, photos and videos, and is designed around the idea that you’ll keep all that precious personal stuff on remote servers?

If you want a Windows laptop, get a Windows laptop. But, if you want an easy-to-use, Web-based laptop, consider getting a Chromebook. So long as you realize that the Samsung Series 5 and its brother from another company, the Acer Chromebook, is not a full-featured Windows or Linux notebook computer you’ll be fine.

So it is that I’m pretty happy with my brand new Samsung Series 5 3G even though CNET gave it a just “ok” rating pending software improvements. While neither Chromebook will be generally available until June 15th, I was able to get my hands on one a week early. I’ve been working with mine for several days now and this is what I’ve found.

Hardware:

The Samsung Series 5 comes with a matte 12.1-inch display. It’s powered by an Intel Atom N570 dual-core CPU running at 1.66Ghz, has 2GBs of RAM, and a 16GB solid state drive (SSD). For graphics, it uses an Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3150.

On the netbook sized system’s left side you’ll find a headset/mic jack, with a USB 2.0 port and a proprietary port for a VGA dongle hidden behind a plastic door. The second USB port and a SIM card slot hide behind plastic door on the right side. In the front you’ll find a card reader that can handle SD, SDHC, SDXC , or MMC cards. At the top of the display, it also has a video-camera.

Under the hood, there’s a 3G radio and 802.11n Wi-Fi. You’ll need one or the other of these because the Samsung doesn’t have an Ethernet port.

There’s also no Bluetooth. I can live without an Ethernet port, but the lack of Bluetooth bugs me. The Samsung, to me, screams to be used with a Bluetooth headset.

On the other hand, The keyboard, while not back-lit, boasts large, well-spaced out keys. Although larger than most netbooks, many laptops have abysmal keyboards. I found the Samsung Series 5 keyboard to be the next best thing to my gold standard for keyboards: the Lenovo ThinkPad’s keyboards.

That said, this is not your normal keyboards. It has no function keys and the delete key is also missing in action. Instead, it duplicates some of this functionality with keyboard shortcuts.

That’s great as far as it goes, but the Chromebook doesn’t have any documentation to speak of so finding the Chromebook keyboard shortcuts can be a pain. The keyboard combo “Ctrl-Alt-?” will show you keyboard overlay that shows most, but not all, of the keyboard shortcuts. For example, Ctrl-M, which opens up the file manager, isn’t to be seen on the overlay.

The touchpad is good-sized and I was able to work with it without much trouble. I say this as someone who hates touchpads. Give me a mouse or the ThinkPad’s pointer any day of the week. The touchpad is capable of multi-touch gestures, but two-finger scrolling is the only one that’s currently supported.

The battery life is remarkable. I’ve used my Chromebook constantly for up to ten plus hours and I’ve yet to bring it under 10% of remaining battery life. I’ve finally found a laptop that, provided my plane had Wi-Fi, I could use constantly over a trans-Atlantic flight.

I could also use that long on my lap comfortably. The Samsung runs cooler than any other laptop or netbook I’ve ever used and at a bit over three-pounds it’s quite light for its size.

Google officials said at Google I/O that Chrome Operating System notebooks from Samsung and Acer would be available June 15 online from Amazon.com and Best Buy.

That's still the case, but Google said it came in possession of a limited number of Samsung Series 5 Chromebooks, which I got to play with at a Samsung party in San Fran last month.

The Series 5 notebook boots in 8 seconds and boasts a file system that supports documents and a media player for video and music, as well as integration with Picasa to let users manage their photos on Chrome computers.

Renowned for its largess to employees, Google could have seeded the Chromebooks to its employees.

Instead, the search engine smartly hewed to consumer loyalty and instead opted to sell them to people who signed up to be a part of the Cr-48 pilot program last December. Google offered the 3G models for $499 a pop.

Google did this exclusively through Gilt, a "members only" e-commerce Website that sells designer goods. Google told me:

We were able to get our hands on some early Samsung Chromebooks before they go on sale June 15, so we wanted to find a way to make them available to our biggest Chrome enthusiasts. We teamed with Gilt Group to provide early access to our eager applicants of the Chromebook pilot program last year.

The offer, which began an ended June 1, looked like so:

Google Chromebooks apparently went like hotcakes on Gilt because there are no more available. But how many Chromebooks was that exactly? What is a limited number to Google? 100? 1,000? 10,000?

While Google reported that "we're happy with the sale," it declined to answer that key question, which would allow me to better gauge the demand for these machines, at least 5,000 of which will begin shipping free to Google I/O attendees.

Given that Google targeted pilot program members, my guess this was an early adopter frenzy and isn't fairly indicative of how Chromebooks will fly in the broader, more fickle and discerning consumer market.

I expect to get a Series 5 to test from Samsung next week. I will review it and do a slideshow on it post haste.

The much awaited laptop powered by Google Chrome (a cloud-based operating system) is all set for launch on June 15.

Here are few things that you need to about the all new Chromebook.

How does it work?

The Chromrebook should always be connected to the Internet in order to make use of its functionalities. In other words, everything will be on cloud and you’ll need Internet to access all of the apps, documents, photos, movies etc. Installing softwares or updating them, taking backup of files or running anti-virus checks and all other PC related tasks will be eliminated as everything will be done over the cloud.

Who will release the laptops?

Google has tied up with Samsung and Acer which will release laptops powered with Chrome OS.

The Samsung’s device will come with 12.1-inch screen with an 8-hour battery life and will retail for $429 (Wi-Fi enabled) and $499 (3G enabled laptop), while Acer’s device will be an 11.6-inch display and a 6.5-hour battery life. Acer’s notebook will start at $349 and up.

No storage

Since Chromebook is Internet based, all of the files and folders will be stored on the cloud. The laptops will be highly integrated with the cloud services and there will be no storage space available. However, the laptop will have slots to plug in other storages devices.

Boot-up Time?

According to Google, Chromebooks will boot in about less than eight seconds. Once it is up and running it’ll check for any updates and will reboot up with the latest version.

Offilne mode?

Yes, you can work with your Chromebook if you’re not connected to the Internet. You can access Google Docs, Google Calendar and Gmail accounts without an Internet connection. (You won’t be updated with new notifications/mails if you’re not connected to the Internet)

Security

Chromebooks uses the principle of “defense in depth” to provide multiple layers of protection, so if any one layer is bypassed, others are still in effect. Your files and folders will be protected and will be kept safe.

Availability

Chromebooks will be available for sale from June 15.

Laptop Specs

Acer Specifications:
11.6″ HD Widescreen CineCrystalTM LED-backlit LCD
2.95 lbs. | 1.34 kg.
6 hours of continuous usage 1
Intel® AtomTM Dual-Core Processor
Built in dual-band Wi-Fi and World-mode 3G (optional)
HD Webcam with noise cancelling microphone
High-Definition Audio Support
2 USB 2.0 ports
4-in-1 memory card slot
HDMI port
Fullsize Chrome keyboard

Samsung Specifications:
12.1″ (1280×800) 300 nit Display
3.26 lbs / 1.48 kg
8.5 hours of continuous usage 1
Intel® AtomTM Dual-Core Processor
Built in dual-band Wi-Fi and World-mode 3G (optional)
HD Webcam with noise cancelling microphone
2 USB 2.0 ports
4-in-1 memory card slot
Mini-VGA port
Fullsize Chrome keyboard
Oversize fully-clickable trackpad
Oversize fully-clickable trackpad

The pocket-size, point-and-shoot digital camera was once a standard part of many consumers’ electronic tool kit. But it has been challenged by smartphones with better and better built-in cameras and photo apps. While they lack some photographic capabilities, like physical zoom lenses, phones are carried everywhere all the time. Plus, they are wirelessly connected to email and the Web, where digital pictures often wind up.

Prepare to get hit by a ton of Sammy marketing. The commercial embedded here is likely just the first wave of Samsung’s assault on the iPad. And it seems that they’re going about it the right way, too.

The commercial simply shows off the Galaxy Tab‘s capabilities in an Apple-ish sort of way. We’ve said all along that if any Android tablet has a chance to steal marketshare away from the iPad, it’s the Samsung Galaxy Tab and this commercial, along with our extensive hands-on, seems to confirm our thought. Now all we need is to know is its price tag and when it will hit stores.

Missed this one last week. Verizon Wireless announced a new netbook mobile broadband bundle in the form of the Samsung N150. The 10.1 inch netbook is available for a mere $49.99 after a $100 dollar mail-in rebate and a new two year agreement for a Verizon Wireless mobile broadband plan.

The N150 has the following specs: