UPDATE!!!! SEE THE NEWEST POST!!!
Hi there. I work for a company (Sorry to be secretive, but what I am about to post could get me in big trouble) that supplies parts for Acer laptops. Today, a Google Rep visited the Acer team to install and quickly show off some of the features of the Google OS in development.
I was invited by Acer to come and view the demo.
I can say and give only what I know and have.
The OS installation was performed on a Acer Extensa 4620Z laptop to show it can install quickly on laptops from late 2007 to early 2008. The install from Vista to Google Chrome OS Dev Beta was only 10 minutes and was very elegant. Only one restart required.
A wizard asks you for basic info on the first boot up. Google was still in progress of developing the wizard so we just skipped most of this. Google at the moment installed only the Google Talk application. They did this because the Rep said “At the current time, Google has not completed compatibility tests with some laptops and netbooks.”.
This beta was extremely stripped down. However, it was amazingly fast. They did one reboot and it rebooted from Desktop to Desktop in about 25ish seconds.
There is a button on the Chrome Bar (At least that is what the Rep called it.) that is basically the blue center of the chrome logo. This button pulls up a Start Menu clone essentially. The Reboot, Programs, and Main Directory is located here.
The navigation uses two options. “Exploration” or “Browser”. Explanation is much alike the Windows Explorer. The Browser uses search options. In Browser Mode, the Google Chrome Browser comes up and you can search and also use the “Most Visited” features for your files. This part was rough feeling and Google Stressed this Dev Beta is extremely early and has much to work out.
There is a clock on the Chrome Bar. It is very stationary and looks very plain. However, it does work.
The icons are large but can be shrunk and grown to your preference much alike the dock in a Mac. May we also note a new icon for Google Talk. Strange but that is how it is.
Also, a internet wizard is very quick and shows a signal bar beside the clock.
The Chrome Bar also auto hides. It can be brought back up by the Windows key and Space (The Rep Mentioned in Google Chrome OS laptops this key will actually be a fully colored and 3D Chrome Logo in some Netbooks)
The rep also mentioned some of the Linux aspects including the option to have a status bar on the Chrome Bar for Devs.
In addition a search bar can be implemented on the Chrome Bar. Programs appear in a Windows 7 Esque icon fashion.
That is all the time I had with the demo and Rep. Soon after some other Acer employees, affiliates, and the Google Rep went to show some of the capabilities of the OS on a projectior for a more elaborate showing of the features to a larger audience.
However, I was the last to leave the room and the Google Rep seemed to forget his privacy. I happened to have my Mini-Cam with me and took these medium quality shots. I am sorry I couldn’t get better. They were all taken in less than 10 seconds. Adrenaline was rushing like crazy.
I hope you enjoy these.
I am putting my career and notability on the line in this!
Let’s see how fast these spread.
Sincerely,
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