The forgotten Chromebook that started it all

<figure> <img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/10/VRG_VRH_Chromebook_Site.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">Google didn't even call the first Chromebook a "Chromebook." The Cr-48 had no interesting design and no bright logos - it wasn't even designed to be a product you could buy. Instead, it was a portal to a big new idea about computers. </p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">In this week's episode of <a href="https://pod.link/1840983742"><em>Version History,</em></a> <em>The Verge</em>'s Nilay Patel and MKBHD's Marques Brownlee join David Pierce to help explain the history of ChromeOS and Chromebooks, and discuss whether Google's approach to computer hardware was the right one.</p> <div class="megaphone-embed"><a href="https://playlist.megaphone.fm/?e=VMP5692627763" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">View Link</a></div> <p class="wp-block-paragraph"><br>This has been an exciting season of <em>Version History</em>, as we've been exploring the most iconic school tech. Last week's episode explored Nicholas Negroponte …</p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/podcast/1001215/the-forgotten-chromebook-that-started-it-all">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>