Okay Geek Farm
Could abuse be to blame for Google's Cr-48 15k cut off?
Aaron Zufall
While it seems that Google is still accepting applications for testers of the Cr-48 netbook, it seems that shipments of the device have stopped at 15,000, with only a few remaining in transit (according to the unofficial Cr-48 tracker). It’s been rumored that 60 thousand netbooks will ship, so what’s the holdup?
According to Google, the intent of the Cr-48 program is for users to try out the netbooks and send regular reports and feedback about the Chrome operating system, so that Google can improve the OS and ready it for launch to the public.
Unfortunately, there has been some abuse to the pilot program’s system. You may have seen our own Jason Tsay’s post about how the netbook has been hacked to run OS X and Windows 7. While this may seem cool at first, doing so defeats the purpose of the entire pilot program. Blogger Ron Schenone predicts that this may be the reason for the delays:
“I believe that Google was fully aware that their system would be exploited by some who received the freebie. One need not be a Rhodes scholar in order to install an alternative operating system on the Cr-48. But what is unfortunate is that these hacked machines are now useless in developing the Chrome operating system, since they provide no information to Google as to glitches and bugs that need fixing.”
You can read his full post here.
But along with the hacking, the netbooks have also been popping up on eBay, which is a direct violation of the program’s terms and conditions:
“I agree to not sell or transfer the device to anyone else, unless under written instruction from Google to do so.”
Clearly, Google needs to give its application process a makeover to help prevent the abuse of the devices to get the pilot program back on its feet. Is this the cause of the delay? No one can say for sure, except for Google.
