Chromebook

If it meets your needs, go for it. But don't expect more than a tablet (that is a better web surfer) with a keyboard.

The ones they are selling commercially with Chrome OS are scaled down netbooks, running an operating system not widely used -- it is Linux, with a GUI (graphical interface) made by google thrown on top, which they rebranded Google OS or Chromium OS or Chrome OS.

Two things to note, before you buy one of these things. I just looked at a few, and they were really basic and looked to be overpriced hardware for what you were getting -- even at those low prices. Atom processors (not much more powerful than the processors in some phones and tablets), small solid-state hard drives without much capacity, 11 inch screens, not even great battery life, no camera I could see for even Skyping, let's say -- these were models selling for around $300 to $450. You can do better for that hardware.

If you really want Chromium OS running on a machine, you can just as easily find your own bargain laptop, using the same technology or even better (dated) technology -- even a used one at some of the surplus sites, with more power and more bells and whistles. And then just load Chromium onto it -- it is an open source operating system you can download for free. They don't make it easy to find it, but it's out there. I have loaded it up on machines with much more power than what they are selling commercially.

A few things about Chromium, because I have played with it. ... It is weird. The whole look is different than Windows or Mac Os X (the GUI -- or graphic interface). It is trying to have the feel of a tablet, but it is more Web-browser based. The place they went wrong is that it is built on Linux, so it really isn't even that unique, and it isn't even tied at all to Android, Google's tablet operating system, so you don't get the Android App store, which actually has filled up with apps -- some good and some bad (the Chrome App store is still really weak -- and it mostly is just icons that take you to web pages). And if you have any specific application needs you might have in a more traditional operating system, you are out of luck. Microsoft doesn't make its office suite for Chrome. Same with Adobe products. You will basically be getting the Chrome browser and any online services (within the browser) that can provide the computing needs you have -- Google apps for word processing and spreadsheets might do it, things like Flickr, Pandora, YouTube, IM programs for other basic needs.

As a web surfer that is OK, but for more?

And if you are going to do it, honestly, you can get a computer with more power refurbished that is a couple of years old that has more power than the commercial machines they are selling. One with a Core 2 process (old, but still more powerful than those Atom processors -- whose only benefit is low power consumption), way more storage space than the typical 16 gig solid state drive and something with a camera for skyping or for video chat, although I am not sure how much streaming those Atom processors are built for.