The Chromebook that started it all was the Cr-48, Google’s unbranded Chrome OS pilot notebook announced in December 2010. It was test hardware, not a retail Chromebook: Google distributed it to gather feedback before partner-made models arrived. The first partner Chromebooks, from Samsung and Acer, were announced on May 11, 2011.
What was the Cr-48?
The Cr-48 was Google’s trial run for Chrome OS, an operating system Google described as built and optimized for the web, with the browser at its center. Google said in its December 2010 announcement that Chrome OS was not ready for pre-beta computers to be sold. Instead, it would distribute test notebooks to qualified users, developers, schools, and businesses and use their feedback to shape the product.
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The notebooks were deliberately black and unbranded. The name Cr-48 refers to an isotope of chromium, as Google’s Chrome Testing Blog explained. That pilot identity matters: the Cr-48 was not simply an early retail model with a Google logo removed; it was hardware for testing the operating system and its use in real settings.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsWhat did Google say the Cr-48 included?
Google’s launch announcement specified a 12.1-inch screen, full-sized keyboard, touchpad, and integrated Verizon 3G. It also stated eight hours of battery life and eight days of standby; those are Google’s announced specifications, not independent test results.
#1 Best Overall
- Product Type: Replacement AC Adapter
- Input: 100-240V 50/60Hz Output: 19.5V
- Certification: ETL Listed, with FCC,CE,ROHS certified
- Compatibility: Google Chromebook CR-48 Notebook Power Supply Cord Charger
- Protection: OVP / OCP / SCP
The announcement does not provide a complete specification sheet. Processor, memory, storage, weight, and ports are therefore not established by the cited launch information.
Why did Google make a pilot Chromebook?
Google needed to put its browser-centered operating system in people’s hands and collect feedback before a public-facing product line launched. In a 2020 retrospective, Google Cloud said 16,000 original Cr-48 Chromebooks were sent to schools and businesses. That figure is Google’s retrospective account, not an independently verified count.
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- Advanced Design, High Portability Brand New!
- Safe standard: FCC，CE, RoSH
- Replacement only, not original, but 100% compatible
- Tested Units. In Great Working Condition.
At the time, Google’s wider Chromebook pitch emphasized quick startup, automatic updates, access to a user’s content online, optional 3G, and built-in security. Those were Google’s launch claims about the product concept, not independent performance findings.
Was the Cr-48 the first Chromebook?
It depends on what “first” means. The Cr-48 was Google’s original Chrome OS pilot notebook. The first partner Chromebooks—the products announced for the public-facing line—came from Samsung and Acer. In a May 11, 2011 announcement, Google executives Linus Upson and Sundar Pichai wrote, “Today, we’re announcing the first Chromebooks from our partners, Samsung and Acer.”
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| Device group | Role | Timing | Maker or partner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cr-48 | Unbranded Chrome OS pilot hardware for feedback | Announced December 2010 | |
| First partner Chromebooks | First partner products announced for the Chromebook line | Announced May 11, 2011 | Samsung and Acer |
Google’s later history of Chromebooks likewise places the Chrome OS and first Chromebook launch in 2011. The distinction is between a pilot machine used to test an idea and partner products announced as the line’s first Chromebooks.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Advanced Design, High Portability Brand New!
- Safe standard: FCC，CE, RoSH
- Replacement only, not original, but 100% compatible
- Tested Units. In Great Working Condition.
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