The Google Cr-48 notebook with Chrome OS has a built-in Gobi wireless chip which is normally able to connect to networks using a number of different mobile broadband protocols. But out of the box, the Cr-48 only supports Verizon Wireless. Now it looks like Google has rolled out a software update for Chrome that makes it possible to enable GSM support and use the notebook with AT&T’s network in the US.
Hexxeh has posted step by step instructions. You’ll need to put the laptop in developer mode, which is always a little risky if you don’t know what you’re doing. But if you don’t know what you’re doing, how exactly did you get in on the Cr-48 beta test anyway?
The instructions look pretty simple though. Basically you just have to switch to developer mode, enter a command in a terminal, and make sure you’ve got a GSM SIM card inserted into the laptop.
Support is still pretty rough around the edges at the moment. But you can always switch back to Verizon if you run into trouble.
People who “don’t know what they are doing” are very important to the testing of the new OS. It is not just another difficult Linux for experts, it’s supposed to be as simple as possible for anyone.