The hardware
The Samsung Chromebook will have a 12.1-inch screen, start up in less than 10 seconds, resume instantly from sleep mode and provide up to 8.5 hours of battery life. An Intel Atom dual-core processor, HD webcam, digital microphone, track pad, two USB ports, and support for SD cards round out the main features. It will be sold by Best Buy and Amazon for $429 for Wi-Fi-only or $499 for a 3G model, plus 100MB of free data a month. A similar laptop from Acer will start at just $349 but offer a smaller screen and only 6.5 hours of battery life.