Chrome OS reviewed: The final verdict on Google's cloud platform

Today, I'll get my head out of the cloud.

I've spent the past two weeks, you see, using Google's Chrome OS. I called it my Chrome OS experiment: I wanted to dive in head first and experience what it was like to live completely in Google's cloud-centric world.

I used a combination of the new Samsung Chromebook (Series 5 550) and the new Samsung Chromebox for the bulk of my computing needs, both in the office and out. Day by day, I detailed different parts of my journey -- ranging from my thoughts on the hardware to my impressions of Google's reimagined software and what it's really like to work with Chrome OS offline.

You can visit each of those chapters for my in-depth thoughts on the topics. Today, I wanted to put it all together to share some final conclusions after two weeks of life in the Chrome lane.

So grab your favorite beverage and buckle up: Our ride starts now.

Conclusion #1: Chrome OS has a come a long, long way.

From both a hardware and software perspective, it's impossible to overstate just how much Google's Chrome OS has evolved since its introduction 17 months ago.

The hardware -- in both the new Chromebook and Chromebox -- is finally powerful enough to support a compelling Chrome OS experience. Past generations of hardware, from the Cr-48 test notebook to the first-gen , were woefully underpowered and couldn't keep up with multitasking-style use. As such, it was difficult to embrace them beyond specific and limited circumstances (for me, light traveling and casual around-the-house Web browsing).

The new machines allow us to experience Chrome OS the way it was meant to be experienced -- no slowness, no lag, no more hardware limitations holding the software back.

And as for the software? Well...

Conclusion #2: Chrome OS has finally evolved into a true platform.

I've been intrigued by Chrome OS since its start, but in the early days, the software had an awful lot of pesky holes. On top of that, it was basically just a series of full-screen browser windows -- nothing more -- and that one-dimensional environment could feel rather restrictive and jarring to use.

With its newly revamped Chrome OS, Google has truly put the "OS" into the equation. Chrome OS sticks to its goal of being a browser-based, cloud-centric platform -- but it now does it in a way that's far more palatable and inviting to the user. Without abandoning its cloud-centric philosophy, the software also allows for a level of local file management and offline functionality -- even simple remote access to Windows, Mac, or Linux PCs -- taking away most of the platform's former liabilities.

Conclusion #3: Chrome OS offers a lot of attractive advantages over traditional PC setups.

As I mentioned, I've liked Chrome OS for a long time -- but between the hardware and software limitations, it's always been a limited-use, supplementary kind of system for me. With the latest hardware and software upgrades, that's no longer the case.

In the time I've been using the Chromebook and Chromebox, I've been pleasantly surprised with how little I've missed my standard Windows 7 desktop setup. The Chrome OS systems power up in three to five seconds; once you type in your Google credentials, it's literally another two to three seconds before you're in a browser window, online and ready to roll. The minutes-long wait for my Windows laptop to boot up and be ready to use has never felt more archaic.

Startup speed aside, the Chrome OS systems make a lot of things about traditional computing environments feel outdated: the cumbersome setup and installation procedures; the annoying and time-consuming OS upgrades; the need to manually update applications over time; the need to use antivirus software (and the accompanying likelihood and potential consequences of infection); the reliance on complicated drivers; and the inevitable bogged-down, slowed-down effect that always seems to happen to PCs after you've had 'em for a few months.

Chrome OS doesn't have any of those hassles. It's just about getting online and getting stuff done, plain and simple. Most of the annoyances that have long accompanied computer use are nowhere to be found.

And let me tell you: As someone who uses computers all day, that is a huge breath of fresh air. For schools and businesses, too, the implications are enormous.

Conclusion #4: Chrome OS still isn't for everyone.

For all its positives, Chrome OS isn't going to be the right setup for everyone. If you rely on a lot of resource-intensive local programs -- or if you have specific desktop utilities you just adore -- you may find Chrome OS frustrating to use. While there are plenty of cloud-based apps available for most purposes, the experience using them isn't always as good or as complete as what you find on their PC-based equivalents.

For example, even as someone who relies heavily on the cloud these days, using Chrome OS makes me realize how much I prefer the desktop TweetDeck application over its Web-based counterpart (the old desktop TweetDeck app, that is -- you know, from before Twitter bought and ruined it). Photoshop is another program where I feel a slight sense of loss; while cloud apps like Aviary do a decent job, they're just less robust than what I'm used to, and they lack the hotkeys and shortcuts that save me tons of time in my traditional configuration.

For me, I'm finding the tradeoff to be largely worthwhile; I find myself willing to adapt to the cloud apps in exchange for what I gain from Chrome OS. (I also realize that if push comes to shove, I can use Google's Chrome Remote Desktop feature to remotely utilize Windows-based programs -- though outside of basic testing, it isn't something I've done very often.) Depending on your needs and perspective, of course, your mileage may vary.

Chrome OS also requires you to rely primarily on cloud-stored data; if you aren't comfortable keeping your info on the Web, with services like Gmail, Google Docs, and so forth, the cloud computing concept is definitely not for you.

Conclusion #5: The new Chrome OS devices are no-brainers for anyone using first-gen Chromebooks -- and purchases well worth considering for anyone who lives in the cloud and wants a fast computer without the hassles.

No two ways about it: If you have a first-gen Chromebook, you're going to love the new Chromebook model. It's everything you like about your current system without the laggy tab-switching and performance limitations. (See this side-by-side comparison video that I posted on Google+ for an illustration.)

If you don't have a Chrome OS system but do spend a lot of your time in the cloud, meanwhile -- relying primarily on Web-based services and storing the bulk of your data online -- the new Chrome OS devices are well worth considering.

A lot of people say stuff like: "If you want a system that just runs Chrome, why don't you buy a Windows laptop and install the Chrome browser? Then it's the same thing except you can actually run regular desktop programs, too."

Let me tell you something: Those people are missing the point. Chrome OS isn't about limiting what you can do; it's about eliminating the hassles that come with traditional computing. It's about providing a fast, simple, hassle-free system for people who spend most of their time using the Web and Web-based applications (which, let's face it, is an increasing number of us in this day and age).

The big variable, then, is the price: The new Samsung Chromebooks cost $450 for the Wi-Fi version and $550 for a 3G-connected model (which includes 100MB a month of data, no contract required, and the option to get additional data on a pay-as-you-go basis). As I've said before, I think those prices are a bit high to attract widespread consumer interest -- particularly when you consider the variety of full-fledged Windows notebooks and high-end tablets available in that same range.

That said, I don't think those prices are rip-offs -- far from it. I think you get a lot of value for that money: You get excellent hardware, a lifetime of seamless and automatic software updates, and freedom from costly software purchases (Microsoft Office, anyone?) -- not to mention freedom from OS problems and potential tech support expenses down the road. When you consider the overall return on investment and total cost of ownership, it really isn't a bad deal; it's just not one that's going to be immediately eye-catching or an easy sell for the average consumer.

If you're on board with the cloud computing concept, though, I suspect the new Chromebook -- or the $329 desktop-based Chromebox -- will make you quite happy.

Some personal perspective

After two weeks of using Google's evolved Chrome OS on the new Chromebook and Chromebox, personally, I'm sold. I have no doubt that I'll replace my old first-gen Samsung Chromebook with the new model and use it heavily for portable computing, both around the house and out and about.

What about Android tablets? I still have one -- and use it -- but to be honest, I find myself reaching for the Chromebook more often lately. The larger screen, outstanding full-size keyboard, and top-notch desktop-like browsing experience just make it an ideal way for me to get online and get stuff done fast. My Chrome extensions give me instant on-screen access to things like my Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Voice accounts. The tablet has its strengths and advantages -- that's for damn sure -- but for the bulk of what I do online these days, I'm finding the Chromebook to be a quicker and more effective option and a better all-around complement to my Android phone.

Based on my experiences with the new setup, I'm actually tempted to move even further and embrace Chrome OS as my primary desktop platform, too, by way of the Chromebox. As I mentioned, there are really only a couple of traditional OS programs I found myself missing during my Chrome OS experiment -- and the pluses of the platform (including the lack of typical-OS hassles) seem to outweigh their absence. The missing dual-monitor extended-desktop functionality is my biggest sticking point right now; with the way I multitask during the day, I need a second monitor connected to my system. Once that feature arrives, I'm going to take a serious look at making a full desktop migration.

So, in summary: It's been an interesting two weeks living in the cloud -- enough so that I'm thinking about turning my vacation into a permanent residence.

Did you miss some parts of my journey? Not to worry: You can time-warp through the full adventure in the box below, all the way from day one through the very end. Chapter to chapter, you'll find my detailed thoughts and impressions on every part of the Chrome OS experience.

But please: Remain seated with your seatbelt securely fastened. For no particular reason, really. I've just always wanted to say that. 

The Chrome OS Experiment: The Complete Series

• The experiment begins: 2 weeks with Google's new Chrome computers

• Getting to know Samsung's new Chromebook

• Samsung Chromebox: Chrome OS meets the desktop

• Chrome OS in-depth: Cloud-centric simplicity, evolved

• Chrome OS offline: Using a Chromebook without the cloud

• Chrome OS reviewed: The final verdict on Google's cloud platform