Samsung Chromebook thin and light Chrome OS laptop computer

The Samsung Chromebook (model XE500C21), running Google's Chrome OS supposedly heralds a new direction for portable computers.

Chrome OS is an operating system designed to simplify users' experience, stripping out the non-essential features found on Windows or Mac computers, leaving only the tools that the user really needs.

It does everything in a web browser (it looks very similar to Google's Chrome browser on a standard computer). The model we're looking connects to wireless networks, and one that's £50 more expensive works with wireless networks and has a 3G connection to the mobile phone networks for data transfer when you're out and about. The latter comes with a 3GB data allowance which has to be used within three months, after which you'll need a data plan from any mobile networks.

The main flaw here is that if you are out of range of an internet connection the Chromebook becomes almost useless. But it is attractive, not least in the fact that it took less than 10 seconds from switching on to get to the login screen, at which point it needs your Google account details.

It's certainly light at 1.5kg and at just 2cm thick when closed it will easily slip into a bag. The keyboard was comfortable but we found the touchpad irritating because its sensitivity extended to the area occupied by the left- and right-click buttons, so we found ourselves moving the cursor in error just before clicking anything.

The function keys of most laptops are redundant here: they've been replaced with handy controls for browsing, switching applications and adjusting brightness and volume.

The battery will last up to eight hours, although the more you use the network, the faster it will deplete. There is 16GB of storage and you can plug a USB memory key into the single USB port or use the memory card reader slot. There's no CD or DVD drive.

There's no way to install programs - instead, the Chromebook exclusively uses online applications, often known as ‘cloud' computing. Google offers a range of useful web applications, or ‘apps' such as its Google Docs office suite, though this is quite limited compared to Microsoft Office or even the free Libre Office.

It worked OK for watching high-definition video and there are apps for maps and email and the Google photo-editor Picasa, which offers storage, editing and sharing of images.

For the many other tools that computer owners have become used to, there's an online store from which they can download free and paid-for apps along with extensions that add extra functions to the laptop. The range is growing but we found it underwhelming.

We tested the Chromebook by taking it on a business trip. While we appreciated the lightness and speedy startup, there were too many times we were out of range of a reliable network signal. Even when in range, it was frustrating to have to hunt down suitable apps or extensions to do a simple task.

The Samsung Chromebook might suit people who frequently need to use a computer while out and about and are confident they will have access to a decent wireless or mobile signal, but it feels unfinished and unpolished.

For the vast majority of home PC users, the money will be better spent on a cheap Windows 7 laptop.