The World's Simplest "Computer"

Will Chromebooks eventually achieve meaningful market share? I really hope so.

Personally I'm tired of listening to people talk about computers not working. Cutting Windows from the equation greatly simplifies the process of consuming technology services.

Windows 1.0 was released in 1985 - you'd think that would be enough reason for us all to be kicking it to the curb. Certainly a lot of people are, Apple continues to post record Mac sales quarter after quarter. PC sales are only down if that PC runs Windows.

For the better part of 10 years I would give people tips, tricks and general guidance to help them efficiently manage their Windows powered PC. I've given up on that route - it's useless. Umzuzu CEO, Tony Sheets, compares it to building sand castles - you can build it perfectly but it's coming crashing down regardless.

The model is inherently flawed. The universe is far too hostile. How many people have spent a full work day or, much worse a personal day, "fixing" a computer? Time is unquestionably our scarcest resource. 1 hour spent messing with Windows is 1 hour too many.

"What's wrong with your computer? It's running Windows." Simple as that.

For several years the, "why not just buy an Apple" suggestion has been countered with, "they're too expensive." Chromebooks are not expensive, starting at $350.

Chromebooks have tons of potential:

• They're SIMPLE and that's the best part
• The sand castle is gone - the OS starts from a fresh copy every time
• An always fresh and automatically updated device becomes faster rather than slower over time
• They're safer as data is stored else where - like an ATM card for our data - it's annoying to loose an ATM card but much worse to lose your money
• All day battery
• Fast, fast, fast 

Our perception of a "computer"  is horribly outdated - like 1985 outdated. Saying a Chromebook is "just a browser" misses the whole point. When's the last time you heard someone say a "browser is just a browser" - the Internet is already the center of our computing experience. Web apps completely dominate everything we do in our personal lives and are increasingly playing a role in our business lives.

Real work occurs between people and other people, not people and their desktop. People are on the Web. The Internet is the most disruptive innovation in human history and increasingly Windows is just in the way.