Chromebook Experiment

I've been interested in the Chromebooks ever since they were first announced. At first, I thought the price was too high, but now that it's coming down some, I'm getting interested again. I can see how connectivity might be a problem, but I'm pretty much always on a Wi-Fi network, both at home and at work. I already use an Android phone, Chrome is my default browser on every desktop I use, my personal mail is Gmail, my weblog is Blogger, and I use Google Docs. I suspect that Chrome OS can handle everything I need to do in my personal life, and possibly 90% of what I need to do in my professional life. So I'm going to try an experiment.

I understand that the Chrome browser and the Chrome OS are not the same. Still, they seem to be sufficiently similar that I can use the browser to see whether or not the OS will work for me. So, from now to the end of the year, I'm going to try doing all my personal things (and as much professional as possible) in the cloud and the Chrome browser. Here's what I'll be looking at:

• email - I don't think I'll have any problem with this at all;
• blogging - again, I don't expect any problems;
• documents - my problem here is going to be remembering to use Google Docs, since I tend to default to Microsoft Office, which sometimes causes problems since I don't always have access to my local drive;
• web and graphic design - this is where I expect to have the most problems. I've started looking at design apps, and I'm not looking to replace what I already use (Adobe CS, Visual Studio). What I need is something that will let me do quick updates and adjustments on the road.

So, by the end of the year, I should know whether or not a Chromebook will be sufficient for my needs. Now, I just wish I could get some hands-on time with one. The reviews I've seen say performance is pretty good, but I'd still like to see for myself.