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What to do if your HP Chromebook 14 won’t turn on [Troubleshooting Guide]

When it comes to electronic devices, power is very important because without it, no matter how expensive or fast your device is, it’s useless. It seems that there are some HP Chromebook 14 owners who are experiencing power-related problems and the most common of them is the not turning on issue, which might be triggered by a defective battery or busted circuitry. But whatever the case may be, there’s only so much we can do about a laptop that won’t turn on.

In this post, I will walk you through in troubleshooting your HP Chromebook 14 that no longer powers on. We will look into every possibility and rule them out one by one until we can determine the problem and hopefully bring your phone back to life. So, if you’re one of the owners of this laptop and are currently bugged by a similar concern, continue reading below as this post may be able to help you.

Before we proceed with our troubleshooting, if you found this post while trying to find a solution to a different problem, then make sure you drop by our HP Chromebook 14 troubleshooting page for we have already addressed some of the most common issues with this laptop. Try to find problems that are similar with yours and use the solutions we suggested. If they don’t work or if you need further assistance, fill up our questionnaire and hit submit to contact us. Don’t worry, it’s free.

How to troubleshoot HP Chromebook 14 that doesn’t turn on

The course of our troubleshooting will be to try and power up your Chromebook. Just a flicker on the screen might be a sign that its components are fine so we will have to do everything we could to fix it.

Step 1: Perform a visual inspection

If this problem occurred without apparent reason, then you should perform a physical inspection to see if it suffered physical and/or liquid damage. Remember, your chromebook is not a water-resistant device so liquid can easily find its way into it. A few drops of water on the keyboard can cause the laptop to go haywire and the same thing may happen if you got upset and smashed the keyboard. It’s a very compact laptop and while it doesn’t have moving parts inside, the components are pretty tiny and even low impact can cause a lot of problems.

However, an impact that could cause the device to not power on should leave something on the outside. It might be some scratches or dents. So, if you can find some, then there is a higher probability that the cause of the problem is physical damage. You should also check for some water residue or moist and if it exists, the it’s a liquid damage that’s causing the problem. Either it’s physical or liquid damage, you can’t do something about it without voiding the warranty so it’s better so bring the chromebook back to the store and let the tech handle the problem and do some tests.

If the laptop won’t turn on out of the box, don’t bother yourself troubleshooting it, instead, send it back and have it replaced or ask for a refund.

Assuming there are no signs of liquid or physical damage, move on to the next step.

Step 2: Open the lid to see if your Chromebook turns on

Chromebooks would automatically power on when the lid is opened assuming it has 5% or more battery left. It is imperative that this step comes in the second place so that you can make sure that there’s no sort of liquid damage. Remember, turning your laptop on when there’s a clear sign of liquid damage may cause more problems.

If the laptop doesn’t turn on when you open the lid, then it’s possible that the battery is below 5%, at least, that’s what we have to assume at this point.

Step 3: Try pressing and holding the Power button

Assuming there’s no sign of liquid damage and your computer didn’t power up when you opened the lid, then try pressing and holding the power button. Your Chromebook won’t power up by opening the lid if the battery is less than 5%. But if it has, at least, 1% battery left, it should power up when you press the power button.

However, if it still refuses to turn on after this, then move on to the next step.

Step 4: Try charging your HP Chromebook 14

Again, you only have to do this if there’s no sign of liquid damage since water and electricity don’t mix well. There’s a chance that the battery has completely been drained that’s why the laptop won’t respond when the lid is opened or the power key is pressed. So, in this step, we’ll try to replenish the battery to see how your Chromebook responds. Follow the steps below…

Plug the original AC adapter of your laptop to a functioning wall outlet. It is important that you directly plug it into the outlet and not to a power strip or any secondary power source just to be sure.
Now, connect the other end of the AC adapter to your HP Chromebook 14.
Check the battery indicator light; if it’s green, wait for it to turn amber and then press the power button to see if the laptop turns on. If it doesn’t, make sure it’s not heating up because if it does, don’t not continue charging it instead bring it back to the store.

If the battery indicator light is lit when the charger is connected to the laptop and assuming it’s not heating up, then allow it to charge for 10 minutes and then try to turn on again. If it still won’t turn on after that, move on to the next step.

Step 5: Perform the Embedded Controller (EC) reset on your HP Chromebook 14

You have to do this if your laptop is charging but won’t turn on when you close and open the lid or press the power button. It’s possible at this point that your computer is just frozen that’s why it doesn’t respond. The EC reset is a very effective method to unfreeze any chromebook and it might be the only thing that could fix this problem.

To do this, press and hold the refresh and power buttons for 3 seconds. If the phone boots up, problem solved, otherwise, it’s time to bring it to a shop and let the tech handle the problem for you.

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How to troubleshoot your HP Chromebook 14 that’s not charging [Troubleshooting Guide]

More often than not, we can only know that our laptop doesn’t charge when it’s battery falls below 10% because it’s when it starts to warn you that the battery is low. But when you connect the charger to it, it doesn’t charge and that’s when you begin looking for a solution. That’s the case with some of our readers who own the HP Chromebook 14. They contacted us because their laptops no longer responds to their respective chargers.

So, in this post, I will guide you on how to troubleshoot your Chromebook that doesn’t charge but we actually have two situations here; we will try to troubleshoot your laptop that doesn’t charge but still has battery left and one that already powered down as the battery has already been drained up. So, if you’re one of the owners of this laptop and are currently bugged by a similar concern, continue reading this post as we might be able to help you.

But before we go to our troubleshooting, if you are looking for a solution to a different issue, drop by our HP Chromebook 14 troubleshooting page for we have already addressed some of the most common problems with this laptop. Odds are that there are already existing solutions in our website, so try to find issues that are similar with yours and use the solutions we suggested. If they don’t work or if you need further assistance, fill up our questionnaire and hit submit to contact us. We will be more than willing to help you with your problem.

HP Chromebook 14 won’t charge and not enough power

In this section we will be troubleshooting your chromebook that already turned off after draining all of its battery and not charging for some reason. The most common scenario is that you left your HP Chromebook with low battery overnight and when you wake up in the morning, it won’t turn on when you open the lid and won’t charge when you connect it to the charger. For this problem, here’s what you need to do:

Step 1: Make sure the charger is plugged to a functioning outlet

The first thing you have to check is the charger especially if it’s the first time that this problem occur. There are times when we think the AC adapter is plugged to a wall outlet when it’s not. Then there are also cases that it’s connected to a non-functioning outlet. Unless you have a tester to check if the outlet is actually providing electricity, it’s better that you plug the adapter to the outlet that works. For instance, you may use the outlet where your TV is plugged in just to make sure.

Also, the AC adapter is composed of two cables actually. The first cable is the one that you connect to the wall outlet, which also need to be properly plugged to the adapter itself. The second cable is the one that has the adapter on one end and the other end should be connected to your laptop. All of these should properly be plugged in.

Step 2: Find out if the battery indicator LED lights up when you connect the charger

Usually, the battery indicator LED should be lit when the charger is connected to it. When it charges, more often, you will see an amber light. If, however, you see a green light, wait for it to turn amber and leave the computer charge the battery before attempting to power it on.

If the indicator doesn’t light up, still leave it charging for ten minutes as there are times when the battery doesn’t respond immediately especially when it’s totally drained. But also be mindful if the bottom part of the laptop is heating up because if it does, disconnect it from the charger immediately to prevent further complications.

Step 3: Perform the Embedded Controller (EC) reset

There’s a chance that your chromebook is just frozen that’s why it’s not responding when the charger in connected. By doing the EC reset, you’re actually trying to unfreeze it but do so while the laptop is connected to its charger.

To do this, press and hold the refresh and power buttons for 3 seconds. If the laptop boots up, problem solved, otherwise, it’s time to bring it to a shop and let the tech handle the problem for you.

There’s only so much we can do about the laptop that won’t turn on and not charging, so let the professional fix it.

HP Chromebook 14 not charging but still has power

Now, we’ll try to troubleshoot your HP Chromebook 14 that won’t charge but still has some battery left and is working properly. I’ve encountered this kind of problem, too and was able to fix it by doing some things you might not believe work. But before that, make sure you follow the instructions in the first step above to make sure you connected the charger to a functioning outlet and that all the cables are fitted properly. After which, follow these steps as they worked for me a few times already:

Turn your HP Chromebook 14 off and then close the lid.
Unplug the charger from the wall outlet and disconnect your laptop from it.
Connect your Chromebook to its charger again and then plug the AC adapter to a functioning wall outlet.
Keep the lid closed.
The battery indicator light may not turn to amber, which means your Chromebook is charging.
Leave it charging for an hour without opening the lid and everything should be working after that.

If, however, your laptop still won’t charge after this, then it’s time to troubleshoot.

Step 1: Perform the EC reset on your Chromebook

Press and hold the refresh and power buttons for 3 seconds and your laptop will then boot up (of course, this is only applicable if there’s still enough battery left to power it up) normally. After which, try to charge it again and if it still not charging, then move on to the next step.

Step 2: Verify the AC adapter is actually charging the battery

The charging process in chromebook is pretty straightforward and Chrome only plays a little role when it comes to charging but it can tell you if the AC adapter actually pushes current to your laptop’s battery. Here’s how to know…

Plug the adapter to wall outlet and connect the other end to your laptop.
Turn the laptop on if it’s still turned off.
Press the ctrl + alt + t keys to open crosh.
Type battery_test 1 into crosh, and then hit enter.
Check the result to confirm the battery is charging.

It should say “Battery is charging” when it actually does. If it show it, then the power adapter isn’t charging the battery of your laptop. Unplug the adapter from the wall outlet and physically inspect for breaks. If everything looks good, try a different charger only if there’s one available, if there’s none then it’s time to bring it to the shop and let the tech check it for you but I would also suggest doing the next step just to be thorough in our troubleshooting.

Step 3: Check the discharge rate of the battery

We’re actually checking the health of the battery here and the test we have to undergo may have the following results:

If the Battery health percentage is greater than 50%, the battery is within the expected wear limits.
If the Battery health percentage is equal to or less than 50% and the battery is less than a year old, the battery is outside expected wear limits and might need to be replaced.
If the test results show Battery is Unknown, the battery might need to be replaced.

Now, here’s how you check the health of the battery in your HP Chromebook 14…

Disconnect the charging cable from the Chromebook.
Power on the Chromebook and sign in to your account.
Close any open apps or tabs and reduce the screen brightness to the lowest level.
Open the Chrome browser and type chrome://extensions/ in the omnibox (browser address bar), and then press enter.
Remove the check marks next to Enabled to disable all of the extensions.
Press the ctrl + alt + t keys to open crosh.
Type battery_test 1 into crosh, and then press enter.
A screen displays the current battery health and discharge rate.

Depending on the result, you may need to have the battery replaced as it might be the reason why it doesn’t charge anymore.

I hope that this troubleshooting guide can help you deal the not charging problem with your HP Chromebook 14. Good luck!

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What to do if your HP Chromebook 14 cannot connect to Wi-Fi [Troubleshooting Guide]

Chromebooks are primarily designed to be used while connected to the Internet. Google designed it to be able to connect to Wi-Fi without any problems at all but it seems that many HP Chromebook 14 owners are complaining about their laptops not being able to connect to Wi-Fi hotspots. One of the possibilities here is that your Chromebook has a serious issue with its hardware responsible in connecting to a network but then we won’t know if that’s really the case without troubleshooting.

But the thing is we really can’t open the laptop up and do some tests on the hardware and we won’t suggest you do that by yourself. So, the best thing we can do is troubleshoot the laptop to know if this is a problem with its operating system or some misconfiguration. We only need to do some basic troubleshooting procedures and if the problem still persists after that, then we’ll leave everything in the hands of a tech.

Troubleshooting HP Chromebook 14 that won’t connect to Wi-Fi

We really don’t have to do something fancy to be able to know if this problem is temporary or not, just some basic procedures that you may have already done countless times. With that said, here’s what I suggest you do about this problem:

Step 1: Make sure Wi-Fi is on

This might be the first thing you checked when you encountered this problem but I suggest you toggle the Wi-Fi switch off and then on again. If your Chromebook has already connected to a network before and you’re within range, it might automatically connect to it after you toggled the switch.

Turn on your Chromebook.
Click your account photo.
Click No network. Note: If you see “Connected to” and your Wi-Fi network name, your Chromebook is already connected to Wi-Fi.
To turn on Wi-Fi, click the switch.
Your Chromebook will automatically look for available networks and show them to you in a list.

Step 2: Make sure it’s a network issue

After making sure Wi-Fi is enabled in your Chromebook, it’s time to look at this problem at a different angle especially if this problem started without apparent reason. For instance, if you were able to connect to the same network a couple of days ago and now you can’t, you have to ask yourself if the problem is with your laptop or the network.

The best thing to do now is see if other devices such as smartphone and other laptops can connect to the same network without a problem. If they can, then there’s no problem with your network. However, if you don’t have other devices you could try, then I suggest you go to a local bar, resto or cafe that offers free Wi-Fi and connect to it. If it’s possible to try two different networks, that would be better just to be thorough. If your Chromebook cannot connect to public hotspots, then it’s clearer now that the problem is with your laptop. Move on to the next step if this is the case.

However, if your other devices can’t also connect to your network of if your Chromebook can connect to public hotspots, then the problem is clearly with your network. Refresh your connectivity by powercycling your network equipment: simply reboot your router or modem. If it’s just a minor problem with your network, this is enough to fix it. However, if it’s more complex and can’t be fixed by doing the powercycle, then you have to call your Internet Service Provider and have it checked. If your network is fixed, this problem will also be gone.

Step 3: Reset your HP Chromebook 14 using Powerwash

Unlike Windows operating system, there’s nothing much you can do about your Chromebook if its core functions fail so I suggest you reset it by using the Powerwash feature under Settings. It will reset your laptop and delete all locally stored files so make sure you backup important files and data before the reset.

Click the status area of the taskbar, and then click Settings.
Scroll to the bottom of the Settings page and click Show advanced settings.
In the Powerwash section, click Powerwash.
Click Restart to begin resetting the Chromebook.

Alternatively, you can reset your Chromebook by the sign-in screen if you want to and it’s easier than the previous method…

On the sign-in screen, hold down the Ctrl + Alt + Shift + R keys.
In the Powerwash your Chrome device window, click Reset.

After the Powerwash, proceed to initial setup to know if Wi-Fi is working this time. You will be asked to login to your Google account during the setup process and to be able to do so, you need to connect to Wi-Fi.

After all these steps and the problem still occurs, then you have no other choice but to bring your HP Chromebook 14 to an authorized service center and let the tech handle the problem for you. For sure restoring your Chromebook will fix this problem but it’s a bit more complicated process so let the tech do it.

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How To Setup VPN On A Chromebook

Chromebook have become one of the most popular computing devices available in the market mainly because they cost cheap and they require little maintenance when compared to Windows 10 laptops. The target market of this device was initially for the education sector but it also found its way to the consumer market.

Product	Brand	Name	Price
	ExpressVPN	Get 49% off ExpressVPN here (drops the price down to $6.67 per month)	Buy It Now\|$6.67(Price as of 09/03/2018 15:37 ET)
	NordVPN	Get 67% off NordVPN here (drops the price down to $2.99 per month	Buy It Now\|$2.99(Price as of 09/03/2018 06:36 ET)

* Links in this table contain affiliate links, which means at no additional cost to you, we will earn a commission if you click through the link and make a purchase. Thank you for your support. For more details, please visit our Privacy policy page.

For people who mainly just use the browser when using a computer then the Chromebook is the perfect companion since you will only be able to use Google Chrome on this device. While you won’t be able to install regular apps such as Microsoft Word or Adobe Photoshop there are alternative apps you can get from the Chrome Web Store which will run on the browser.

Although this is a secure computing platform which does not even need an antivirus program for protection it is recommended that you use a VPN connection when going online. A VPN or Virtual Private Network creates an encrypted connection between the Chromebook and the server run by the VPN company. This not only secures your data but also gives you a level of anonymity since your exact location will be hidden.

How To Setup VPN On A Chromebook

The first way you can do this is by using the Chrome VPN extensions. You can for instance choose to use NordVPN, Private Internet Access, or TunnelBear. One drawback to this method is that this will only secure your web traffic and not the connection of your other apps.

Another way to setup VPN on your device is by using Android VPN apps. This will only work if your Chromebook already has the Google Play Store available and if it is able to run Android apps.

To create a new connection or to connect to a VPN provided by an Android app:

Click your account photo.
Click VPN disconnected.
Next to the app, click Add
Follow any onscreen instructions.

The third method is to manually setup the VPN connection of the device. Listed below are the steps that you can do to connect to the OpenVPN network.

Click your account photo.
Click VPN disconnected.
Next to OpenVPN / L2TP, click Add
In the box that appears, fill in the info: Server hostname, Service name, Provider type, Username and password, OTP, Server CA certificate, User certificate. You might need to get this information from your administrator.
Click Connect.

Product	Brand	Name	Price
	ExpressVPN	Get 49% off ExpressVPN here (drops the price down to $6.67 per month)	Buy It Now\|$6.67(Price as of 09/03/2018 15:37 ET)
	NordVPN	Get 67% off NordVPN here (drops the price down to $2.99 per month	Buy It Now\|$2.99(Price as of 09/03/2018 06:36 ET)

New ASUS Chromebook with a 1080p display and 64GB of storage spotted online

The ASUS C301SA was spotted a couple of months ago on the company’s website. #ASUS subsequently removed the listing only to unveil an upgraded model now. This variant brings an upgraded storage option at 64GB (up from 16GB) and a price tag of $299. The bump in storage comes at a time when Android apps were finally made compatible with Chrome OS. This means that users can no longer rely on cloud storage options, especially if they want to download and install Play Store apps on their devices.

Chromebooks were usually found in 16 or 32GB variants, but the new changes announced by Google has practically forced all manufacturers to bump up the internal storage. Well, we’re not complaining.

In addition to 64GB of storage, the ASUS C301SA comes with a 13.3-inch 1080p display, 4GB of RAM and the Intel Celeron N3160 chipset, clocked at 1.6 GHz. B&H mentions that the Chromebook is on pre-order right now, so it hasn’t been launched yet. Interested? Make sure you register your interest from the retailer’s page below.

Source: B&H Photo Video

Via: Liliputing

Acer releases new Chromebook with an all-aluminum body and 14-hour battery life

Taiwanese manufacturer #Acer has just released an upgraded version of the #Chromebook14, which comes with a premium design as well as an attractive price tag of just $299.99. For this price, you’re also getting a 14-hour battery life and a Full HD display on board, making this a truly attractive piece of machinery.

The Chromebook 14 has always been competitively priced by the companies (Acer and HP) and it’s good to see that the trend is continuing with newer models as well. This appears to be a U.S. only offering for the time being, so don’t expect to grab it if you live outside North America. You can pre-order the new Acer Chromebook 14 from Amazon right away, while Best Buy will start carrying it in April.

In addition to the 14-inch Full HD display, the Chromebook 14 also comes with 32GB of flash storage as well as 4GB of RAM underneath. There’s also going to be a model with 16GB of storage and 2GB of RAM underneath, but Acer hasn’t announced the prices or availability information for that variant as of yet.

Source: Amazon (pre-order link)

Toshiba refreshes Chromebook 2 with backlit keyboard and an upgraded processor

Are you looking to invest in a #Chromebook? Well #Toshiba has you covered with its new and upgraded model of the #Chromebook2 which comes with an enhanced Intel CPU as well as a new backlit keyboard, letting you type even in darkness.

There are two models on offer now, one with an Intel Core i3 processor and the other with the Intel Celeron processor. These will set you back by $329.99 and $429.99 respectively.

In addition to the aforementioned features, the Toshiba Chromebook 2 also has Skullcandy tuned speakers on board, which should make it a decent offering for multimedia enthusiasts.

The device retains the 13.3 inch Full HD display from the original Chromebook 2, so you’re getting a more than decent hardware for a reasonable price here. The USB 3.0 port is available as well.

The two Chromebooks can be bought from Toshiba’s own website as well as a handful of other participating retailers starting October.

Source: Toshiba

Via: Android Central

[Deal] Acer Chromebook with 11.6 inch display and 4GB RAM for just $129.99

The Acer Chromebook can now be purchased on the cheap, thanks to a deal running over at eBay. The 11.6 inch version of the Acer Chromebook (C720-2844) can be purchased for just $129.99. This variant also comes with 4GB of RAM on board, letting you do a lot more out of the box. We must mention however that this is a manufacturer refurbished model, which shouldn’t be a concern as the device is restored to its original state.

The listing also mentions that all packaging will be available including the accessories, so it will almost be like getting a new unit but with a cheap price tag. This particular Chromebook from Acer is currently selling for $229.95 on Amazon, so you’re saving quite a bit on the device from this eBay deal. Make sure you head over to the link below for more details.

The Chromebook is an exciting prospect for users who work mostly on the cloud and rely on Google services and apps like Sheets, Docs, Slides etc. Does this deal strike your fancy? Sound off below.

Source: eBay

Via: Android Headlines

[Deal] Samsung’s 11.6 inch Chromebook now selling for $159.99

Chromebooks are exceptional productivity devices and a lifeline for those who rely on Google services. If you were contemplating the purchase of a Chromebook for yourself, you will be pleased to know that Groupon is offering an excellent deal on one of Samsung’s Chromebooks.

The device is on offer is the company’s 11.6 inch Chromebook and the price is just $159.99. The market price for this Chromebook is $249.99, so this is a discount of $90 on the original cost. We must clarify however that this is a refurbished unit, which explains the low cost. That being said, it’s still a very good deal for a computer which can seamlessly pair with your Android smartphone or tablet.

The Chromebook also has a 16GB SSD inside, which might not be a lot for the users, but there’s a USB slot there as well, so the lack of storage shouldn’t bother you much. There’s 2GB of RAM as well, which means that performance will not be hindered.

We must remind you that most budget tablets in the market today carry a price tag like this. So when you put it in that perspective, the Samsung Chromebook is a viable purchase. Hit the link below for more details.

Source: Groupon

Via: Android Headlines

Chromebook users getting a 60-day free trial of Google Play Music All Access

Google has kicked off a new promotion to increase adoption of its Play Music All Access service. People who own a Chromebook will now get a 60 day free trial if they sign up for the service. This is only applicable for customers who have never tried Play Music All Access before.

In general, the service costs $9.99 a month, so you’re basically saving almost $20 for merely owning a Chromebook. Beyond the free trial period, you can either manually cancel the subscription or continue for the aforementioned price.

Sounds like a pretty sweet deal to try out a service like this which offers a great radio service in addition to several music storage and access options. So if you own a Chromebook and have been held back by Play Music All Access due to the pricing, this is the ideal time to try out the service. Google hasn’t mentioned how long this deal will last, but it makes sense to use it while you can. Hit the source link from your Chromebook to activate the deal, it’s literally that simple.

Source: Google

Via: Android Central

Leak reveals Samsung Chromebook with a faux leather back like the Galaxy Note 3

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is a very popular device and one of the most talked about phablets of 2013. What was also unique about this handset was the faux leather back covering with stitches on the side, almost like a conventional notepad. This design was used in several other Samsung mobile devices including the recently launched Galaxy TabPRO and the NotePRO tablets. The company has taken it a step further now by using the same pattern with an upcoming Chromebook, according to a revelation made by Evleaks.

There’s very little to know about the Chromebook itself besides the fact that it runs Chrome OS and features this proprietary faux leather pattern on the back or the lid of the device. It goes without saying that there is a huge market for inexpensive Chromebooks if managed appropriately. And if Samsung gives it a familiar look, it’s certainly going to catch on with the fans. We expect to learn more about this Chromebook in the coming days.

Source: @evleaks – Twitter

Will Android be a good laptop OS?

Recently, I wrote about Intel’s efforts in developing a processing platform that could turn Android into a mainstream desktop platform. This will clearly capitalize on a low-power architecture, while still delivering the performance requirements that desktop-bound computing will require. This points to one thing of course: notebook computers, or at least tablets that are also notebook hybrids, like the Microsoft Surface, Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga and Asus Transformer Pad.

The question here, of course, is whether Android will be a capable operating system for notebook computers. Android has already proven its worth in smartphones. And even while it had a rough start with tablet computers, Android has also proved its mettle in tablet computing, especially with popular devices like the Google Nexus 7, Kindle Fire series and a host of inexpensive tablet computers from various brands. But how about actually using Android as a platform for running notebook computers? How will the likes of the Lenovo IdeaPad A10 work, for instance?

The clear precedent here is Google’s own efforts with its own Chrome OS, and with Chromebooks that are now supposedly best-sellers on online retailers like Amazon. The premise is that Chrome OS is based on the cloud, and all the apps you need should already be available on the cloud, including email, file storage, document processing, spreadsheets, presentations and the like.

Before jumping onto the Android bandwagon, there should be a few considerations you might want to keep in mind.

Stand-alone vs. always-on connectivity. Cloud computing has clearly shifted power away from desktop software developers toward cloud service providers. Web-based email services like Gmail are clearly dominant. Browser-based document editing platforms like Google Docs are now increasingly popular. But even if you can get connectivity through mobile data, this is still a limitation that cloud-based operating systems have. Cut off the Internet connection for any reason, and you’re cut off from your data also.

How effective would an Android-based notebook computer be, then? While native apps can let users do offline work, just how well can a low-spec’d device do, in this case?

Connectivity with peripherals. Two words here: USB support. Another two words: multi-screen. Again, cloud computing has rendered many of our offline-based technologies unnecessary in this day and age. Think about disc drives, optical media or even thumb drives. How about printers? With almost everything accessible on the cloud, there is little need for local storage or even printing out documents on paper.

But a full-fledged desktop or notebook platform should be able to support these still, especially a multitude of USB devices that users might need, from printers to flash drives, to camera interfaces, and the like. Then there’s the likelihood that you would want to extend from a small display onto a bigger scree, which would require a display interface.

New perspectives. In conclusion, running Android as a platform for notebook computers would require a paradigm shift on the part of users, application developers and even the platform developer alike. Laptop computers have often been considered as being meant for more serious work — running spreadsheets, compiling code, editing long documents and the like — compared with tablets. Otherwise, then any tablet computer with a Bluetooth keyboard can simply function as a laptop replacement. In many cases, they are good enough for long emails, editing documents on the go, reading news and running apps.

But would an Android-based platform be able to replace OS X, Windows 8, Linux or any operating system currently running on popular notebook computers out there? Perhaps notebook users would have to change how we do work on our devices.

Intel announces three new Chromebooks from HP, Acer and Toshiba

Intel’s Developer Forum has not just been all about new chips for smartphones and smartwatches, but the launch of three new Chromebook’s running on Intel Haswell processor chips, for better performance and battery life.

First on the stage is the HP Chromebook 14, sporting the largest display out of the three and a 1366×768 resolution. It comes with a micro-USB, WWAN and two USB 3.0 ports. HP will also be adding 100GB of Google Drive cloud storage for two years and the price starts at $299.

Acer and Toshiba have also made Chromebooks fitted with the Haswell processor. Acer’s claim to fame comes from the slim and light body, but we are not too sure on the internals. Acer is Google’s oldest partner on Chrome OS, alongside Samsung.

They all look like Chromebooks, plastic with a curved shell design and front facing camera. The main part of the Chromebook is the software, Chrome OS is still a half-baked solution for some, but for people who only want a web-browser, it is a cheap solution.

Intel is trying to get into as many markets as they can, with Haswell planted into all future Windows 8 PCs and new Mac devices and Intel Quark for smartwatches and digestible microprocessors. With PC sales slowly dying, they need tablet and smartphone sales to keep strong.

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Intel Haswell chips may power next generation Chromebooks

Google’s Chrome OS has been a mixed bag of success, with Samsung’s netbook the top seller in the Amazon.com store for 300 days and other rumors saying Chrome OS has less than 1% of all the PC marketshare.

Despite questionable penetration in the market, more manufacturers are deciding to develop a Chromebook, with Samsung, Acer, HP and Lenovo all pitching in and creating their own cheap notebook running Chrome OS. Google has also made their own move, with the Chromebook Pixel.

Intel may be preparing to launch their own Chromebook’s for the next generation – providing more power and longer battery life. We are not sure if Intel will reveal a line of Chromebook’s built by other partners or show their own, either way, they will be the first to run on Intel chips.

Intel Haswell chips are all about saving battery life and graphical performance, with Chromebook’s typically not stepping over the 8 hour threshold, this could be a big attempt to make an all day laptop running Chrome OS.

Prices are variable but we usually see Chromebook’s on sale for about $250 to 450, excluding the Pixel, currently being sold at $1200. We believe Intel Chromebook’s will cost a little more than the average and may come with better internals.

The Chromebook’s are expected to be launched at Intel Developer Forum this week. The company is set to also make some new announcements about next generation processors and Windows 8.

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