8 ms·

This is a terrible page and the product manager of this thing should be ashamed. The inmates are truly running the asylum. The technical specs are completely i

• platinum1 14y ago
  https://www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/devices/features-key.html https://www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/devices/features-key.h... Is that better? edit: To explain, I think how they expect you to experience the website is: http://www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/devices/ http://www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/devices/ (from www.google.com/chromeos) http://www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/devices/features.html http://www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/devices/features.html http://www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/devices/features-key.html http://www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/devices/features-key.ht... http://www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/devices/features-devices.html http://www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/devices/features-device... http://www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/devices/chromebox.html http://www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/devices/chromebox.html So, we're looking at a relatively deep link, which assumes the reader has been shown the main OS features and is looking for which specific product to buy. That said, I agree that this page doesn't do much except show pretty pictures and throw out a few tech specs, and won't sell the product on its own.
  • chmike 14y ago
    > Intel Core Processor Why not specifying what processor and hardware is in the box ?
    • jyap 14y ago
      It's marketing. The emphasis is on the simplicity of the product. That being said, it's a 1.9ghz Celeron CPU. That can give negative connotations since Celeron is Intel's cheap line of processors.
      • genwin 14y ago
        Good to know. I just got a quad-core desktop for US$377. The Chromebox w/ Celeron would have to print gold to compare to that.
        • VikingCoder 14y ago
          I'd be curious to compare your time from power off, to viewing a web page. They're very different machines, with very different goals. If you compare the components, then yes, it probably doesn't make any sense for you to get a Chromebox. If you look at the features they both have, then it might make more sense. If I were buying a machine for my grandmother, I'd buy the Chromebox over your $377 desktop, in a heartbeat.
        • no_more_death 14y ago
          I have a chromebook with 1.66 ghz Atom CPU. ChromeOS is lightning on it.
        • dangrossman 14y ago
          Most likely, your desktop would have to print gold to make up for the difference in your power bill compared to a ChromeBox too. My desktop needs a couple hundred watts; my Google TV box needs closer to 10. Running a full-size desktop where you don't need the power is equivalent to a voluntary subscription fee versus a one-time payment.
          • no-espam 14y ago
            Unless you have an overclocked, ultra graphics machine running distributed apps or playing games most of the day, a desktop does not cost that much more to run. Just because your power supply says 500W doesn't actually mean you are using that much. I did the calculations on my mac mini vs my i2500K win7, which is much faster, and I was surprised the difference was about $60 a year.
  • GFischer 14y ago
    It's still not good enough for me, though it is a million times better. "Go fast". The set top Androids are also pretty fast. Also, as someone said, who reboots these days? (though it's a selling point for a media player replacement) "Stream HD movies without a hitch", ok, that's a selling point, though my cheap Android phone does well enough on "good enough" quality, so I'd expect the Android set top boxes or equivalents to do just as well. "Go straight online to creating, sharing and enjoying. Chrome devices come with built-in apps for editing photos, creating documents and presentations, and video chat, so you can get everyday tasks done right out of the box." Ok, though the Android boxes do that too. "Google+ Hangouts. You can also integrate multiple chat accounts with apps like imo or eBuddy. " Not a selling point for me (what is a Hangout?) Edit: I tried explaining myself. Why the downvote instead of a rebuttal? (I can accept those)
    • sp332 14y ago
      Why are you comparing this to Android? Also, I've never heard of an Android set-top box.
      • GFischer 14y ago
        I'm comparing them because the form factor and use case look to be exactly the same (heck, the UI looks very similar too, both being made by Google). Examples of Android set top boxes (the first one has 4 GB): http://www.dealextreme.com/p/google-android-2-2-hdmi-tv-set-top-box-72086?item=2 http://www.dealextreme.com/p/google-android-2-2-hdmi-tv-set-... http://www.dealextreme.com/p/mele-1080p-android-2-3-internet-tv-set-top-box-w-wifi-optical-3-x-usb-hdmi-av-lan-sd-119913?item=4 http://www.dealextreme.com/p/mele-1080p-android-2-3-internet... They were featured recently by a local supermarket chain.
        • tomkarlo 14y ago
          What, because they're square? By that measure, an Apple TV, Mac Mini and Airport Extreme are all in the same category.
          • 14y ago
  • randomdrake 14y ago
    edit: To explain, I think how they expect you to experience the website is: http://www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/devices/ http://www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/devices/ (from www.google.com/chromeos) When I search Google for chromebox the first result is the link that was submitted. I concur: it is a terrible landing page for a product. Consider the first page results for things like macbook, ipad, or mac mini and you can see where the failure lies. They do, after all, have control of search results, don't they?
    • loceng 14y ago
      http://www.apple.com/ http://www.apple.com/ vs http://www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/devices/ http://www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/devices/ http://www.apple.com/iphone/ http://www.apple.com/iphone/ vs https://www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/devices/chromebox.html https://www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/devices/chromebox.html I'd say Google's doing a better job.
      • fratis 14y ago
        Not sure how that's obvious from your links. It'd be helpful if you gave some explanation.
        • loceng 14y ago
          It's nuanced UI-related. There's a lot of psychology involved to understand the holistic effects. You need to include things like someone's brand perception into deciding how effective a UI will be, such as trusted brands will let someone assume that what they are looking at is trustworthy - and therefore of enough value for them to care and look further into it / to get interested. Hope that helps?
      • shpoonj 14y ago
        I'd say you should compare Apple's and Google's sales reports.
        • AncientPC 14y ago
  • DFDFDFDFD 14y ago
    BFHGFHJFGHJGFHFJGFHFJGFTHGFHFTJFGH
  • DFDFDFDFD 14y ago
    • jonursenbach 14y ago
      Can an admin or somebody fix this comment? It's breaking the page layout.
      • tfb 14y ago
        Just a tip for those who aren't web devs: the page layout can be fixed by removing the comment/element via Chrome's inspector. Right-click on the comment, choose "Inspect Element", and delete it. And of course the same could be done with any modern browser's inspector.
        • tvon 14y ago
          FWIW, it's also useful to use something like "HN Collapse": https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/bbkfcamiocfccgmcjngdljolljhifdph https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/bbkfcamiocfccgmcjn...
  • DFDFDFDFD 14y ago
    BEN10
• webignition 14y ago
  The Chromebox is a fast, compact home or office device. The first sentence describes this as a device not a computer. This seems like a poor choice, as is that the page mentions the word 'computer' not once.
  • Angostura 14y ago
    And "device" without context is as appalling word without context. When I was an editor I always banned it without context, telling the writers "Would you use the word 'thingy'? Because that's what you've just called it."
  • dsawler 14y ago
    I can't even figure out what it is/does. "The Chromebox is a fast, compact home or office device." That means nothing to me.
    • tripzilch 14y ago
      > "The Chromebox is a fast, compact home or office device." That means nothing to me. Fast, compact device used in homes and offices. A microwave maybe? Or maybe a novel type of stapler?
• qxcv 14y ago
  The imagemap to the right of the specs is horrible as well, you have to hover over their tiny "+" icons to see the quick selling points which are actually of interest to consumers. Saying "boots in 7 seconds" is great, but only if the user can see it right away.
• gojomo 14y ago
  It's still early (in the life of this device). Early adopters will be techies. It's OK to be geeky at this stage. They can dumb-it-down later.
  • Angostura 14y ago
    Ummm, I'm pretty geeky. But I haven't been following Chrome in detail, so I don't have a clue what this box is for or what it actually does. Reminded me of this: http://www.theonion.com/video/sony-releases-new-stupid-piece-of-shit-that-doesnt,14309/ http://www.theonion.com/video/sony-releases-new-stupid-piece...
    • Karunamon 14y ago
      You weren't immediately aware that this was a desktop version of the Chromebooks that you've probably heard of?
      • tripzilch 14y ago
        Chromebooks?
      • teach 14y ago
        Is that what it is? That's certainly not clear from the "landing page". I assumed from the form factor that it was some sort of Home Theater PC (HTPC). Honestly.
      • engtech 14y ago
        no, I had assumed it was an HTPC from the landing page. I've completely forgotten that Chromebooks even exist because I've never heard of anyone buying one.
      • duaneb 14y ago
        Not at all.
  • jeffool 14y ago
    But the complaint (and a legit one I feel) is that this page is the opposite. This page has very little information that techies want (as seen by all the complaining here.)
• revorad 14y ago
  Come on, it's clearly aimed at tech geeks. Nothing to be ashamed of.
  • Tomis02 14y ago
    As tech geek it's not clear to me what the "device"'s capabilities are. Is it running Linux? Can you install your own OS? Is it a PC? Is it a console? Is it a TV with with browsing capabilities? The page is very vague on that. The only clear thing is that you plug mouse/keyboard/monitor in it, but that's it. I'm not sure what exactly that "device" is and does. > The Chromebox is a fast, compact home or office device. Oh, I see. It must be a printer.
    • tripzilch 14y ago
      Printers are either fast or compact, but not usually both. So that would be quite innovative. I bet it makes a mean espresso, though.
  • bratsche 14y ago
    If it's aimed at tech geeks, what does it do that we're not already able to do with our myriad of existing devices? I noticed that it conveniently comes with a remote desktop utility.. you know, in case you want to do something other than use Gmail or Google Docs with it. And you're too comfortable in your chair to just go to your real computer.
• aristidb 14y ago
  Yes, Apple shows that showing specs is not necessary: http://www.apple.com/macmini/ http://www.apple.com/macmini/ </sarcasm> If specs help sell the things, by all means Google should include them. Whether they are "relevant" or not. Also note that the info that it is _not_ an Intel Atom CPU is highly relevant IMO, because the Atom is slow as molasses.
  • withad 14y ago
    But Apple's page doesn't give nearly as much focus to the tech specs as Google's does. Most of the page "above the fold" is given over to a description of what it can do and the details they do give are more about relative improvements (2x faster, etc.) than raw numbers. The specs are available and it's clear where to see them but they're not the first thing the eye is drawn to.
    • aristidb 14y ago
      Perhaps they should change the emphasis. But IMHO they should change it in the way that maximizes conversions. What I took offense at was the suggestion that the specs are irrelevant and by consequence should not be shown _at all_. (Also note that on my screen, the "fold" is below the Core i5/i7, Radeon HD and Thunderbolt blurbs. Meanwhile even above that, it emphasises "2x faster processors", "Thunderbolt I/O", "upgradeable memory", as well as physical size and software.)
    • Schlaefer 14y ago
      This https://www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/devices/chromebox.html https://www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/devices/chromebox.html is equivalent to that: http://www.apple.com/macmini/specs.html http://www.apple.com/macmini/specs.html This http://www.apple.com/mac/ http://www.apple.com/mac/ is equivalent to https://www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/devices/ https://www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/devices/ You have to click "Explore", then the "Devices" tab and then on the Chromebox image. Or you have specifically click "Chromebox" in the top-menu. Using a deeplink and complaining it provides no general information about the whole ecosystem is imho a little bit silly. Let's talk about the base url: https://www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/devices/ https://www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/devices/ that's bad. It should have its own domain.
• rodolphoarruda 14y ago
  It reminds me "HP Invent" motto. One thing that Mark Hurd made very clear during his tenure was that "invent", at that point, was less than "sell" (or "market", maybe). Hurd's point was that people were spending too much time on the lab and less time talking to customers. "If innovation is fuel, selling it is oxygen".
• GFischer 14y ago
  Indeed.. Why would I buy this instead of, for example, a MUCH cheaper Android set top? (as in, four times cheaper). Does it do anything different? I'm in tech and I don't know anything about Chrome OS, and I wouldn't buy even if I had disposable income (and I do want a media player/home theater PC someday). Heck, I could probably buy an equivalent Windows-based HTPC for a similar price. See http://s.dealextreme.com/search/android+set+top http://s.dealextreme.com/search/android+set+top or alibaba prices. Edit: once again, why the downvote? Also, I showed it to my coworkers, one of them was quite receptive to the Chromebox.
  • mcantelon 14y ago
    DealExtreme is kind of a crapshoot, quality-wise, IIRC... and this should have a larger community of English speaking users, in terms of community support.
• bane 14y ago
  I disagree (mostly). Technical specs do tell you what a device is capable of. However, putting the specs up front and not under the specs tab (which is strangely almost empty) is poor. The overview should be pushed up to the top and expanded upon a la Apple's products pages. Even with all the specs, there's one I care about that's not on here, how much can I store on the device? All the USB ports aren't doing me any good if I can't jam my photos or some movies onto it.
  • sushantsharma 14y ago
    16 GB SSD. You can find it on amazon -> http://goo.gl/oFXeA http://goo.gl/oFXeA
    • drivingmenuts 14y ago
      That's seriously underpowered. My phone holds more than that and considering the expectation that they've set (not mentioning cloud storage at all) horribly low for what looks like a home computer.
      • wonderyak 14y ago
        Its also about half the "price" of a smartphone.
        • beeeep 14y ago
          ok, 32gb ipod touch.
  • Zr40 14y ago
    No, technical specs tell you what a device might be capable of. Only the software defines what computer-like devices can actually do.
  • freehunter 14y ago
    how much can I store on the device? All the USB ports aren't doing me any good I think you're completely missing the point of ChromeOS. You're not supposed to jam photos or movies onto it. It's a web browser in box. Google Docs/Drive, Youtube, Picasa. These are all available on the first boot. Ford doesn't advertise how far their cars can go when driven off a cliff because it's a car, not an airplane. You can't fault them for that.
• Toenex 14y ago
  Lets face it the technical specs are needed because you are just going to hack this baby and turn it into a media server or something.
  • iamdave 14y ago
    I wont lie, turning it into an HTPC was the first thing my mind went to.
• jiggy2011 14y ago
  Whilst I agree to an extent, it is still useful to have some idea what the machine is likely to be capable of. For example, does it have enough USB to accommodate a mouse/keyboard as well as an external disk and a digital camera? Can I plug it into my Monitor and my HDTV at the same time? Or does it have sufficient oomph to run HD video or graphically intensive games? At this point google will be targeting early adopters who will be more tech savvy, and also hoping that they recommend it to their family and friends. Until we can offload close to 100% of our computing to the server, specifications for client side machines will still be relevant.
• theBobMcCormick 14y ago
  That's not the first page of the site, It's a link to a spec page comparing the different models available. IMHO, it doesn't differ significantly from this page: http://www.apple.com/ipad/specs/ http://www.apple.com/ipad/specs/
• huggyface 14y ago
  At this stage in its life, the Chromebox is most certainly geared to people who very much care about specs. It is not going to be Sally Average who's signing up for one, and really if they did they would likely be disappointed. Every ad doesn't need to ape Apple, you know.
  • shpoonj 14y ago
    With advertising and spec sheets like this, you're right. But if they tried a little, their demographic could be massive.
    • tmzt 14y ago
      Come on Google, use an ARM processor, make it a dongle with a HDMI plug that attaches to the majority of cheap LCD displays, and price it at $99 or free with the first year (per seat) of a Google Apps Enterprise Account. Now add a local ActiveDirectory proxy as a stadalone router-like box and hit Microsoft where it hurts. (Before Larry does).
      • maratd 14y ago
        No, no, that just makes too much sense to actually happen.
      • tapsboy 14y ago
        Add bluetooth to the dongle and add a wireless keyboard/mouse for $25
        • ZeroGravitas 14y ago
          They already have a bluetooth keyboard and mouse set for the Chromebox, though I've not seen it priced yet. Here's an image: http://images.amazon.com/images/G/01/electronics/samsung/samsung-12q2-chromebox-keyboard-lg.jpg http://images.amazon.com/images/G/01/electronics/samsung/sam...
• wsetchell 14y ago
  You are assuming that mainstream consumers are the target audience. I think the audience is actually A) Businesses B) tech savy users. I suspect both of those users care a little bit more about the tech specs than an average user.
• MartinCron 14y ago
  The inmates are truly running the asylum Exactly, this is why I always tell people that if you let technical people run companies you'll run into huge failures like you see with companies like Google and Facebook.