The best part of the study will be the opportunity to make recommendations on how to improve the usability of Chrome OS laptops and, with a bit of luck and effort on my part, the opportunity to connect with people on the Google Chrome OS team and OS app developers.
The study will also be a worthwhile experience if it highlights Chrome OS tips and tricks which I don't already use. There are significant challenges to using the Cr-48 for everything without being quite a bit less efficient than when using my Acer Timeline Windows 7 laptop. A few of the problems are hardware related, like the frustrating touchpad operation and my apparently-dead battery in the Cr-48, but there are also software / app issues for which I have not yet figured out good solutions, such as the 'paste special' function which is used extensively in daily work with EAA AeroInnovations and NEW NET technology news item aggregation. There are likely either straightforward or workaround solutions to a few of these issues, but others would best be resolved by either the Google team making changes to Chrome OS or by app developers adding or revising features.
Google required people in the diary study to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), so I won't be able to share any confidential info regarding Chrome OS or the study. That seems quite reasonable, although it's probably a bit of overkill for this study. It's unlikely there will be too much in the way of interesting confidential information at this stage in the Chrome OS saga, although I'd happily keep quiet about any Chrome OS innovations in exchange for the chance to participate in that innovation process. :)
Looking forward to participating in the study -- laissez les bon temps roulez!
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