Yoga is my Chromebook
by Volker Weber
When Google beta tested the Chromebook, I wanted one. I was immediately thrilled by its ease of operation. It felt like a black Macbook, without the software. Alas, I could not get one. Then Samsung et al produced el cheapo Chromebooks. I wanted to try one, but never got around to actually buy it.
With the latest developments at Google, I am happy I didn't.
Now the Yoga is the closest thing I could get to a Chromebook. It's a Windows machine without all the Windows legacy. I know that Windows RT is a disaster so far. Nobody wants it because it won't run Norton Commander. But for me it's excellent. I can live in the browser, I have a few excellent apps like NextGen Reader. Today, Twitter released a native client.
Lately I also started using a Microsoft Surface. I wasn't convinced the very first day. But it's growing on me quickly. Ute just said today "you are using this thing all the time".
There is one caveat. Google is pushing me. I cannot get at my Gmail calendar and contacts from the Surface. Microsoft is working on IMAP support for Outlook.com. It is their #1 priority right now. When they are done, it's time to move. Did you know there is no quota on Outlook.com?
Why Yoga and not a Macbook Air? Apple does not make notebooks that run 12 hours on one charge.
Comments
Looked at the Yoga, but ended up with the Lenovo Carbon. Loaded it up with 8GB memory and 256GB SSD, screaming little thing and its so light I have to look sometimes to see I stuck in the bag.
Getting used to Windows 8 yet, it's not perfect, but pretty good for the first touch version. I just wish more of my apps were the new ui or whatever they call it today.
The wife and I played with a Surface Pro at Best Buy the other day, I have a feeling that will be my next tablet, I'll give the iPad to the kids, win, win.
The Carbon is a more powerful machine. Completely different pattern. I need a typewriter with Internet access.
OK, google is pushing us (as an iPhone user I feel pretty p*ed off, too).
But has it really gone that far, so that now MS has become the better choice?
I would not say so. Politically, there's still no reason to trust them, technically, c'mon, what's so great about IMAP support? IMO IMAP is great for intranets; via internet it can only be a fallback choice.
I sincerely hope google gets the message, but time to move? For me at least not yet.
The argument for Microsoft is that they are in the business of building software for people. Google is in the business of selling ads.
"Nobody wants it because it won't run Norton Commander."
Thank you vowe. One sentence describing it perfectly. When will people stop using all that old stuff on a modern system?
Yoga is my Chromebook. And Qi is my power supply. ;)
Volker, I want to order one for myself now.
Is it still a recommended product? ;)
It is not a product I recommend. It is however one that I refuse to give back. :-)
It does very few things. But these things happen to be the things I need while away from home. The Yoga 11 (RT) is currently on sale. http://www.amazon.de/dp/B009M5E1UE And I believe they are still not moving inventory. So they may be dropping further to make room for the Intel non-RT version.
Ok, thanks, I ordered one now as a companion to my tablet and my 17inch mbp, mostly to be used on the go.
Hope I will be able to deal with Windows. But anyway I should find out soon and otherwise return it to Amazon.
Quick question ;)
Are you aware if there is any file sync solution available? I want to put files I have to read later (office documents, pdfs) in a folder on my Mac and expect them to appear on my Yoga later on, so that I can read them while I am on a train, offline.
Dropbox, Sugarsync and Skydrive don't do that on Windows RT, they just allow me to download files, but I have to manually do that when I am online.
