Chromebook takes this to the next level. It starts with the principle that most things can be done within a browser, so basically that's all it has. Instead of a relatively large, complicated and resource hungry operating system such as Windows or Mac OS X, it is based around a minimalist operating system that simply runs Chrome, the popular browser from Google. Because it is so minimalist, it easily fits into flash memory and boots up quickly - a matter of seconds. Everything is stored on the internet - the cloud - so there is no need for a local hard disc. And because it's all on the cloud, it is instantly available from any Chromebook. This really is impressive; suppose you've lost or broken your Chromebook, you simply obtain another one, login and there is your entire "world" waiting for you in a matter of seconds. There are other advantages, too. Chromebooks are immune to viruses, do not need updating, and do not slow down or deteriorate with age in the way that Windows PCs do.
Of course, there are some disadvantages with Chromebooks. Online applications such as Google Docs are not as sophisticated as offline equivalents such as Microsoft Office. Some activities - video editing for example, are not really practical. Plus you need to be permanently connected to the internet to use the Chromebook (in theory you don't but in practice you do). In many ways the jury is still out on the validity of this approach to computing, but it is a clear indication of the way things are headed.
As evidence of this HP - the world's largest computer company - have just introduced their first Chromebook and it is noteworthy on several fronts. To date, Chromebooks have been designed to be small and highly portable and most have 11.6" screens similar to the old netbooks (a good example is the popular Samsung Series 3 Chromebook). But the HP Chromebook is standard size; it looks like a regular HP laptop, has a 14" screen and a full-size keyboard. The innards are different from a regular laptop; it only has 16GB of SSD storage and a lowly 1.1 GHz Celeron-type processor, but this is all that a Chromebook needs. The significance of this is that to date Chromebooks have been perceived as secondary computers, intended for people who are travelling and moving about. However, the HP Chromebook (whilst still relatively small and light) gives the impression of being designed as a primary or only computer for some people. It will be interesting to see how successful it is.