Current Events > Chromebooks -yay or nay?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Id rather have a proper laptop.

ChromeOS has most people covered on web browsing and basic office type work. It's easy as hell to pick up so for 95% of people it will be a Yay.

For the average gamer though, it's useless.

I own a Chromebook with ChromeOS intact, but it also runs Linux (Elementary OS) because I wanted to tinker with it. The battery life on it is actually stellar, at 10 hours for a 12.5" laptop, I don't think that's bad at all. I still take it with me on trips.

I got one and it's ok.

I thought I was getting a laptop when I got it though. I'm a dumbass when it comes to technology and didn't know.

I mostly just use it for browsing the internet or Youtube. It's fine for that.

Apparently you can't even swap out Chrome OS with a Linux distro on some of the newer ARM-based Chromebooks nowadays

hard nay from me

Nay. They have their uses, and they are few. Tablet + wifi keyboard is cheaper and will do the same thing.

They suit their purpose and for most people would suffice as their primary computer. The better option would be to get the cheapest iPad and keyboard case as you get more functionality and software options.

Kombucha posted...

I own a Chromebook with ChromeOS intact, but it also runs Linux (Elementary OS) because I wanted to tinker with it.

Elementary is one of the most underrated distros out there. I had it as a daily driver for a while back when support for Steam on Linux started to pick up.

FL81 posted...

Apparently you can't even swap out Chrome OS with a Linux distro on some of the newer ARM-based Chromebooks nowadays

hard nay from me

They have made it much harder with recent hardware to do this as well. Whereas before it was as simple as removing a screw, many current models make this impossible even if they have the right architecture.

CRON posted...

Elementary is one of the most underrated distros out there. I had it as a daily driver for a while back when support for Steam on Linux started to pick up.

Yeah I was/still am completely satisfied with it. Glad to encounter someone else that has enjoyed it.

They're perfect for schools where you can buy a whole cart full of them and it's not the end of the world if a kid ruins theirs.

Nay, I like gaming.

For somebody like my girlfriend, yes. Who honestly represents the vast majority of regular Americans when it comes to realistic computer needs.

For me, nope. Need a dedicated home office computer setup.

idc for it.

I bought one for my mom though who is definitely the target audience for the OS and she likes it. Makes more sense to invest in a tablet tho.

Kombucha posted...

They have made it much harder with recent hardware to do this as well. Whereas before it was as simple as removing a screw, many current models make this impossible even if they have the right architecture.

Hell, even with Apple's new M1 ARM laptops there's the Asahi Linux project with help from *wink wink nudge nudge totally not Apple developers* on it

a bit worried about new computers going forward with Microsoft Pluton too, took a while for me to figure out I had to disable Secure Boot to get my Linux distro of choice on my new laptop and this seems much more invasive