Google Chromebook reaches Australia

The new Google Chromebook utilizes cloud storage for all your files. Source: Supplied

THE Google Chromebook, a product that has been available in the US for more than two years, has finally hit Australian shelves. But what is it and why would you want one?

> The basics

It looks like a cheap laptop but it's different to the style of laptop you are probably familiar with. Think of this as the terminal that you can use while the main brain of the computer is stored elsewhere. The machine boots up quicker than a Windows laptop, and it is fast and simple to switch between users.

A Chromebook runs on Google's operating system, which is called ChromeOS.

The Chrome web browser is at the heart of the computer. You don't install programs like you would on a Windows-based laptop, you load apps through the Chrome store.

While some Chromebooks have memory card slots, you typically don't store your files on the machine. This is a machine that's made to interact with cloud storage.

You start up the machine and access your files through Google Docs, Gmail or Google Drive.

If you plan on travelling overseas to places where you may not get wi-fi, then this may not be the device for you.

But if you're always online, then this is a cheap and very portable option.

And because your files are stored in the cloud, you don't lose them if you should happen to lose your Chromebook.

> The models

There are two models coming to Australia. The Samsung Chromebook ($349) has a VGA camera, an HDMI port and two USB ports. It weighs 1.1kg, is 17.5mm thick and promises 6.5 hours of battery life.

The Acer Chromebook ($299) is slightly thicker and heavier at 25mm and 1.38kg, has three USB ports, an HDMI port and a memory card slot. It promises up to four hours of battery life. Both models have 11.6-inch displays and come with 100GB of Google Drive Cloud storage for two years.

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