[Dee]

I get that there are a lot of apps available, but I am wondering if "real" software like OpenOffice can be installed on the Chromebook if I wanted to?

 

[russcasey]

No.some html5 web apps support local storage, but that is your lot.
If you *need* locally installed apps you can use a chromebook to remote desktop into another computer, which can go some way to working around this limitation.

For office apps, both Google and MS have decent online options.

 

[russcasey]

...and yes, you can download your documents from Google Docs in common formats

 

[Jason]

Also Microsoft has announced that Office Online will not require Silverlight and be fully HTML5 which means...Full office on the web for use Google Chrome guys! That is really exciting because that is one less reason to use Citrix for some users.

 

[Hottub]

I downloaded the trial of Office 365 today to see if it was a viable Google Docs alternative.
What a cluster F! Syncing and getting your coworkers to download this pig is an IT nightmare. Keeping Lynx running in the BG is annoying.

If this is Microsoft's solution to Google Docs, good luck to you Mr. Gates.
Stay out of our clouds and keep all of your apps local.

 

[Jason]

Office 365 really isn't that bad. It isn't the best..ThinkFree is..but not horrid and give people a familiar UI.

 

[Dee]

I guess I need to check out Google Docs and learn how to use it so I won't be blindsided when I get my Chromebook. I've been using OpenOffice for years now!