December 2010
Chromebook CR-48 pilot begins
Google began shipping CR-48 Chromebook prototypes to beta testers in December 2010 — the first ChromeGoogle's web browser — built on Chromium and the most widely used browser worldwide. OSOperating system — software that manages hardware and provides services to applications. laptops.
What it was for
The CR-48 had no caps-lock key (replaced with Search), booted to the browser in seconds, and stored everything in the cloud. Developers tested web apps on a laptop that assumed always-on connectivity — foreshadowing Chromebooks in schools and enterprises. ChromeGoogle's web browser — built on Chromium and the most widely used browser worldwide. OSOperating system — software that manages hardware and provides services to applications. later added AndroidGoogle's open mobile operating system — the dominant platform for smartphones worldwide. and Linux app support, but the CR-48 proved a browser could be the whole OSOperating system — software that manages hardware and provides services to applications..
Companies
Why it's here
The CR-48 pilot launched the Chromebook category and ChromeGoogle's web browser — built on Chromium and the most widely used browser worldwide. OSOperating system — software that manages hardware and provides services to applications. as a laptop platform.
Why it mattered
It validated cloud-first computing for mainstream hardware beyond netbooks.
What it solved
Traditional laptops carried slow boot times, heavy local software, and complex ITInformation technology — the use of computers, networks, and software in organizations. management.
Media
ImageChromebookPmsyyz, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Related
- Google Chrome beta releasedSeptember 2, 2008
- Intel Atom announcedApril 2008
- iPad introducedJanuary 27, 2010