Free laptops

[Hard Core Rikki]

Something a few might find interesting, especially coders.

Google and RIM currently are offering free devices from theirs, for participants in a testing and marketplace pre-filling phase.

 

Google: a disposable CR-48 smartbook laptop using ChromeOS, a cloud-only operating system integrating fast, secure, quickbooting access to Google's services and the web. All you need to do is simply filling a form, and hope you get selected to receive one of those machines via postal service. I believe it's limited to US addresses currently.

 

RIM: more known for Blackberries, they've been looking to compete with Apple's iPad, with a "Playbook".

All you need to do is submit an app to their app store, and get it accepted. The SDK includes many mainstream languages and compilers, and licencing more liberal than Apple's. A few report its as straightforward as just recompiling apps with barely any modifications.

 

CR-48

Pilot program: http://www.google.com/chromeos/pilot-program-cr48.html

Apply for one: https://services.google.com/fb/forms/cr48advanced/

General news and infos on Chrome in general: http://www.chromestory.com/

 

Playbook

Source: http://www.neowin.net/news/rim-accepting-a...for-free-device

[Hard Core Rikki]

...noone here but but us chickens?

[Lucandrake]

After seeing the preview on Endgadget I'd figured there's no point in me trying one. Besides, I don't like the idea of having a web browser be my main HUD for an OS.

[ken_cinder]

Only available in the US...so duh, alot of users on here aren't from the US.

 

I think this place is probably the most diverse, at least in terms of active users, forum I've been on.

 

With users from Australia to Romania, and China to Canada.

[CJ Jackson]

If you got an old laptop, just recycle it by installing Google Chrome OS, not that I believe in recycling!