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Ask HN: Did anyone else get a Google Chrome Laptop yet?

102 points by simonsarris ↗ HN
I submitted the application to test drive a Chrome Notebook a couple days ago.

The laptop came this morning. The packaging was very simple: One laptop, one battery, one cord, one large single piece of paper with instructions, and one business card from Intel letting me know that if I cracked the computer open that is what I would find.

I will make a large post tonight after work (5pm EST) detailing my experiences with it and taking lots of photos.

Did any other HNers get one?

107 comments

[ 3.5 ms ] story [ 345 ms ] thread
teoruiz
Did you get a confirmation from Google that they were going to send you the laptop?

Where are you based?

simonsarris
Nashua, New Hampshire, USA

I got not confirmation. The outer box didn't even say it was from Google.

mikecarlucci
Same. No confirmation. The box had a guys name and Kentucky address. I'm in Boston. Really confused at first. Can't believe how fast they got these out.

Edit: Nope, not your name. I had no idea why he would have sent me a box.

kondro
Good luck. Hope they are onto a winner.
iworkforthem
I submitted too. But no email or delivery yet. fingers crossed
doorty
So what did you put in your application? I submitted before the announcement ended. But no word yet.
simonsarris
I applied via noticing the message on the "new tab" page of Chrome dev version.

It didn't ask for anything but my name, address, and email.

edit: it specifically asks for gmail if you have an email, and I've submitted bug reports for at least two google products on google code. Maybe that factors in?

martingordon
I think I got the same page after scanning the QC code they showed during their presentation. All it asked for was name address and email.

Crossing my fingers and hoping that it was some sort of shortcut that guaranteed entry into the program.

thevinnie
I submitted as an individual, but haven't heard anything yet. I did already say my goodbyes to the CAPS LOCK in anticipation.
ctoneal
That's a lot faster than I thought they were going to get them out (I was figuring they'd be arriving around the beginning of the year). Well, here's to hoping that I get one. Definitely anticipating posts with user experiences.
jasongullickson
Not yet (I applied as an individual developer) but I'm also trying to convince my wife's nonprofit (about 12-15 users) to apply...just need to convince them running their business as a beta test is a good idea...

They already live off gmail, google sites, google calendar, etc. so it would be a bit of a slam-dunk for them.

phlux
Why convince them? Just apply for them -- if the machines show up, I'm pretty sure they'd be 'convinced'..

(I applied for an individual machine, as well as a set for my office)

[dead] sisk
How was it delivered (UPS, FexEx, USPS, DHL)? I ask because I used an old address with a mail forward (I expected some sort of confirmation).
fierarul
You might very well be among the first!

I assume Google didn't ask for an NDA with this (did they ?) so I'm looking forward to the future un-boxing videos, screenshots and blogposts about this little device one can't buy (until it hits eBay ;) ).

I couldn't use it fulltime though until I'm able to code in and run Java code on that thing.

simonsarris
The submission app asked me to play with it an talk about it, so kind of the opposite of an NDA.

So tonight I will sing its song from mountaintops and, well, take it apart.

xentronium
> The submission app asked me to play with it an talk about it, so kind of the opposite of an NDA

Fantastic move from google side. I hope more companies adopt this strategy in future.

mohsen
when did you apply?
simonsarris
Just two days ago, I think.
mohsen
wow, that is quite fast. thanks for keeping us posted.
tdupree
Mine just showed up while reading this post! I didn't get any confirmation email. I applied using the prompt on the "new page" tab (running dev channel build) during the live OS launch. It came in a UPS truck 9:40am CST. Sweet!

EDIT: The box it came in was pretty cool, and they had fun writing the copy for their instructions card. I uploaded a scan of the instructions card to my site http://tdupree.com/2010/12/09/got-my-chrome-os-powered-cr-48....

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Huppie
LOL:

"Do not expose the device to water, moisture, or rap music."

tdupree
also, you gotta love the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy reference at the top, "DONT PANIC" :)
scrame
I don't get it.
Huppie
Read the instruction card, you will notice that it contains not only all required information, but a lot of humor too.
scrame
I did, I just don't think thats funny.
jason_slack
Did you get confirmation that it was coming or did it just show up. I applied a few days ago and no confirmation yet..
tdupree
No, I didn't get any confirmation email, it just showed up.
mikecarlucci
UPS arrived about an hour ago. I had the "apply" tab in Chrome.

It runs Wave without much issue, and that crawls on a lot of non-traditional PC devices. They dropped the function keys but the keyboard does have a row of accessorie keys at the top, just without the F numbering.

revorad
What's the hardware? The Techcrunch photo looks ugly :-P
enomar
According to the original announcement video stream, the CR-48 hardware is not the actual hardware. It's a test platform for beta testing the software.
johnrdavisjr
I applied as a developer as soon as the link was posted on engadget during the live show. I hope mine comes tonight, UPS usually runs around 5.

Questions: Does it have an SD card slot? Do you have any idea size of SSD? Do you know what CPU it has?

Griever
To answer your questions, yes it has an SD slot on the right-hand side. I've been looking around but can't determine the exact size of the SSD. No idea on the specifics but I am aware that the CPU is an Intel Atom chip.
rms
What are the tech specs?
swolchok
In particular, x86 or ARM?
omgmog
According to gdgt.com it's an Atom CPU, so x86
mstevens
I applied, but from a UK address. So I'm not expecting to get anything.
Pyrodogg
I understand that Google will only ship the device to a US-based address and cannot send this device to a P.O. Box or address outside of the US

From the TOS at the bottom of the application

mstevens
Indeed, that's why I don't expect to get anything.
Micand
Ditto -- I'm Canadian, so I'm not holding out hope. I'd kill to get my hands on one of these to use as my daily beater at school.
fsniper
I wish I could have one. I applied for it from Turkey. But as we all know this program is US only (for now). Looking forward for an extension of the program.
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gojomo
This is becoming suspiciously like a post-Singularity intelligence crop-dusting free advanced tech on remaining Primitive communities.
calloc
I applied yesterday. Here is hoping!
elidourado
I got one. I think that everyone that applied using the prompt on the dev channel build of Chrome got one. Can anyone refute this?
aidenn0
As of yet don't have one. But I'm on pacific time, so may come later today.
danielson
Likewise, Los Angeles. Will report back.
xur17
I applied using that prompt (it showed up in the new tab window), and I haven't received one yet. UPS, and any other shipping company would have already stopped (I am on the east coast), so I am hoping I might get one tomorrow.

This would be the best christmas present!

marklabedz
I applied through the prompt on dev channel. No dice yet. (In Philly, so should have come by now if it was to be delivered today.)
tmcw
Likewise, nothing yet, and I applied via the dev channel. Unfortunately, I used my non-gmail (but still google apps account) address by accident; I guess I'll be a datapoint for whether that matters.
mvid
Will it blend?
briancurtin
I really hope BlendTec applied for one.