The Google IO developer conference has just finished up, with one of the major announcements being the new Chrome OS laptops, such as the Samsung Series 5 seen in this Engadget video:
The feature list is intentionally short, but the prices are comparable to the sub-$450 laptop market — a little high, honestly, since the chromebook doesn't look all that superior to current netbook trend. If you've used Google's Chrome browser with apps, you already know about the user experience. The lack of the ability to install executable files has caused some speculation that the antivirus industry may be impacted. There's also a monthly subscription model for schools and businesses. Difficult to say how compelling that model will be, but the addition of a Citrix receiver may help.
Will Chromebooks have an impact on the legal industry? David Whelan's column offers an interesting companion to this announcement — things are changing, albeit slowly. Not every device in a law firm setting must be maxed out in terms of its hardware capability. Many reception area terminals, library terminals, lunch rooms or complementary computers in board rooms would benefit from restricted access devices. Taking a data-free computer overseas might also prove valuable for lawyers who aren't comfortable exposing client information.
Chromebooks are set for release June 15th in the US (not sure about Canada).
