TT: The Google Cr-48

I've always felt that I was lucky. Ever since I learned my Chinese Horoscope animal was a rabbit, I seem to attract luck easily. If I'm broke, I come up on money soon after. When I'm driving, I seem to always be ten seconds ahead of a crash. If I have my heart set on something, it's usually soon in my possession. When the chips are down, I somehow get this ungodly streak of luck. Case in point: the package I received two weeks ago. No packing slip. No sender info. Nothing. Where did it come from? Was it for me? What was is?

I left that package in the kitchen. It kept burning a hole in the back of my head. What the hell was it?!? Since I had started participating with Klout, I had received numerous packages that were a bit of a mystery. But Klout typically slapped their stickers all over their shipping boxes. Was it from the now defunct 12seconds crew? An Amazon shipping error? Satan?

Getting a Cr-48 was like hitting a baby lotto. The best part was I had completely forgot that I had signed up for the damned thing in the first place.

Alright. Officially done freaking out. Let's dive into this baby:

So just what is this thing? This is Google's prototype Notebook: The Cr-48. The name is derived from the fact that the device runs Google's new operating system "Chromium". Chromium is also an element. Cr-48 happens to be an unstable isotope of Chromium. So "Cr-48" reflects the unstable stage of the Chrome beta. Neat! But what's this Chrome OS all about? Why would anyone care to replace their current device?

Google has this idea that the future is on the web. In a browser. I couldn't agree more. The only time I'm off my browser is to spank some noobs in Warsong Gulch. The other time spent on my PC is checking email, visiting social sites, watching something on Netflix or YouTube. Google realizes this and has built a light and fast device that will allow us to do all these great things in less time. Let's look at the specs:

• Atom N455 Processor, 1.66 GHz, 512 Cache
• Intel CG82NM10 PCH Chipset
• 2GB DDR3 RAM
• ITE IT8500E Flash ROM
• 16GB SATA Solid-State Drive
• Build in WiFi, 3G, and Bluetooth
• One USB port

The Cr-48 is blazing fast for a notebook. The only thing I've come across that can rival it is the MacBook Air. Then again, an Air is 2k.  I have a good feeling the Cr-48 will sell for much less than that. It's whisper quiet to the point that I doubt it even has a fan inside. The notebook is awesome. The fact that Google decided to sweeten the deal and comp us in the pilot program two years of data service through Verizon is just icing on this already delicious cake. Working on this notebook is a dream. Everyone who's played with it agrees: it's an awesome little book. All in all, a great piece of tech. I'm very excited to see the updates and improvements to it going forward.

Thanks again, Google!