The MoblAb is for people who carry Faraday bags. Use cases include:
Comparing the Google CR-48 Wyvern MobLab highlights two very different eras of the ChromeOS ecosystem: one a legendary consumer prototype and the other a specialized technical testing tool. Google CR-48 : The Consumer Pioneer
When looking at the history of Google’s hardware and developer infrastructure, two names stand out for very different reasons: the Google CR-48 Wyvern Moblab google cr48 vs wyvern moblab
The CR-48 was designed to be by conventional means (for its era). The Wyvern MobLab is designed to hack everything else – including, ironically, a CR-48 if one were to connect them.
Comparing the to the Wyvern MobLab is like comparing the Wright Flyer to a modern F-35 fighter jet. They are both flying machines, but one was a proof of concept that flew for 12 seconds, while the other is a weapon system designed to dominate the skies. The MoblAb is for people who carry Faraday bags
If you are a tech historian , buy the CR-48. Keep it stock. Show your friends the dinosaur with "No Network." Tell them about the 3G icon. It is a time capsule of when Google was whimsical.
| Criteria | Winner | Why | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Google CR-48 | It changed the laptop industry. | | Build Quality | Wyvern MobLab | It’s literally military-spec. | | Hackability | Wyvern MobLab | Serial port, easy bootloader unlock. | | Keyboard Feel | Tie | CR-48 (soft, quiet); MobLab (tactile, clicky). | | Still Usable Today | Wyvern MobLab | CR-48 requires flashing; MobLab just works with Linux. | | Collector Value | Google CR-48 | Brand recognition. | The Wyvern MobLab is designed to hack everything
In the pantheon of tech history, most devices live quiet lives. They are announced, sold, shipped, and eventually recycled. But every so often, a piece of hardware emerges not to conquer the market, but to test a philosophy. Two such anomalies are the and the Wyvern MobLab .