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Moving To a Chromebook (avc.com)
VC Fred Wilson writes: I've been thinking about moving from a Mac to a Chromebook as my primary computing device. I have not used desktop software for probably a decade now. The browser is how I do all of my desktop computing. Paying up for a full blown computer when all I need is a browser seems like a waste. And there are some security things that appeal to me about a Chromebook. I like the ability to do two factor authentication on signing into the device, for example. I am curious what advice those of you who use Chromebooks have for me. In the comments section, Kevin C Tofel, a long time journalist and an ex-Googler writes: I'm all on in Chromebooks, currently using a Pixelbook. Base model is fine for my needs, which sound very similar. I am taking some CompSci classes but even from a programming standpoint, the addition of Linux running in containers -- available in Dev and Beta channels now, coming to Stable v. 69 in the coming weeks -- fills that need easily and securely. I don't do a bunch of video editing but I can do audio edits in Audacity for Linux once audio support arrives for Linux on Chrome OS.
I actually use Google for my password management. It's built in to Chrome / Chrome OS and syncs to all devices. Plus, you can always log in and look up passwords at passwords.google.com. Sure if Google is hacked, someone has my passwords, but same can be said for any cloud-based password manager or (if you run 1Password, etc... locally) if someone gains access to your device. I use Google's 2FA to log in to my Google account and even to log in to my Pixelbook - can be done with an authenticator app, SMS or -- my preferred method -- a Yubikey. I'l be buying a Google Titan Security key to replace my Yubikey once they go on sale.
I actually use Google for my password management. It's built in to Chrome / Chrome OS and syncs to all devices. Plus, you can always log in and look up passwords at passwords.google.com. Sure if Google is hacked, someone has my passwords, but same can be said for any cloud-based password manager or (if you run 1Password, etc... locally) if someone gains access to your device. I use Google's 2FA to log in to my Google account and even to log in to my Pixelbook - can be done with an authenticator app, SMS or -- my preferred method -- a Yubikey. I'l be buying a Google Titan Security key to replace my Yubikey once they go on sale.
The summary begins with the words 'well respected' but the river of garbage immediately below leads me to believe that they're only respected by Google's sales department, and that's only the kind of fawning service a whale receives rather than respect.
It never made any sense to me why you would pay for hardware just to loose your privacy. I do all my computing on my local machine. I'd gladly pay extra to control my data. Now if Google were to pay people to use the Chromebooks, that would be another thing. Then you would go into it with open eyes and as a somewhat equal business partner.
My windows desktop has 2FA. So does my linux server.
They're nothing alike. Chromebooks will only replace a Mac or PC in the same way that you might be able to replace them with an iPad. It means you never really need a full fledged operating system, a real CPU/GPU or hard drive and can make do with a mobile device. This may apply to lots of people who only want to do the web and email. I've rarely use my Chromebook unless the power goes out or am traveling. It's way too limiting for my tastes. There are lots of better options among Windows 2-in-1 PCs and older Macs unless you're seeking a dead-simple device or you've got a history of downloading malware.
Either you're right, or BeauHD/MissMash spend their afternoons in the loo whiffing inverted rattle cans.
If you want to use a data collection tool as your main computer then be my guest.
My views on Chomebooks have changed recently. My oldest kid starts middle school this Septermber, and the school recommends that every student gets a Chromebook. They have a deal where you can get a Chromebook and a comprehensive warranty for a good deal, so we got one. I'm a software developer, and I'm pretty impressed with how well it runs. 4GB of RAM and 32 GB of storage plus room for an SD card makes it a reasonably capable machine for most computing tasks.Add to this the news that you'll be able to run full Linux applications on the Chromebook, and I can see this being a very enticing offer for many people. I'm strongly considering getting one when my tablet finally bites the dust. I don' have a laptop, because I still prefer an actual desktop for development and other heavy computing tasks. I think I could meet all my computing needs with just a desktop and a chromebook. I'd never give up a desktop with a real keyboard and large screen, but getting stuff done on the small screen of a laptop, even if it's 17 inches feels like there is never enough space. So I might as well use my desktop for anything that's programming or requires a large screen and then just use a Chromebook with a 11 or 13 inch screen for the basic web browsing and media consumption.
Anthropic principle: We see the universe the way it is because if it were different we would not be here to see it.
Personally almost all I use is Chromebook. Occasionally I need to tweak a graphic or Word document which I can do via tVNC on my old desktop.
For work I use Citrix to get into my desktop. My storage is 95% in Google Docs. When the Linux windows come out I'll be set there.
The only things I really want beyond quality desktop office and graphic apps that don't have a huge monthly cost (I'm looking at you Microsoft and Adobe) is better Android support. There's a few apps and games I really wish ran better on my system. Maybe a better gamepad interface. But that's more on the game producers.
You say things that offend me and I can deal with it. Can you?
This seems like an ad for Google. But in reality Chromebooks, if you dont install linux on it, and tablets are pretty much the same, but tablets are more portable
I did it 4 years ago when my macbook air died and I didn't really have the money to buy a new one. So I switched to a chromebook, and an android phone.
If you remember that Apple builds computers/phones/systems to profit from and Google builds computers/phones/systems to run more of their ads to profit from, you won't be too shocked by how rough google tech is.
I lasted 3 years on an android phone before going back to an iphone, I am not sure I want to spend the money on a new macbook, so I will probably get a cheap linux laptop when my chromebook dies and keep everything in the cloud (probably MS with MS office, which is still 10 times better than google apps).
There is nothing that a Chromebook does better than a mac, it is just a lot cheaper.
If you don't want to accidentally powerwash your Arch Linux installation off your Chromebook, you'll need to install replacement firmware that lacks the "Press Space then Enter to powerwash" prompt on every boot. This requires, among other things, opening the case and turning a screw. Does firmware replacement void the warranty on the screen, keyboard, power jack, and other parts in the Chromebook?
I won't touch these things for a second.
My passwords are in an encrypted container, only synced to other computer through a nextcloud that is running on my own server.
I don't trust google. I don't trust Microsoft. I somewhat trust Apple, but not enough for them to have all my data.
If you want 2factor-auth, you can implement that in any Windows/macOS/Linux Box, for example with GoogleAuth or many others.
Other than that, our workloads may be to different, I rely heavily on desktop applikations that are not available as web versions but are vital to my work.
So, any web only device feels like a castrated version leaving me unable to do most of my work.
phewww
"I haven't used desktop software in a decade". Doesn't sound suspicious at all.
A Chromebook is perfect for allowing Google to spy on everything you do and sell your data to their corporate and government partners. The software is included with the machine and is updated regularly. You only need to pay around $900 to get this spyware. Definitely a bargain.
Wait two months to see what the "low cost MacBook Air replacement" rumours are about.
Isn't "low cost macbook" an oxymoron?
Low cost and value are overlapping on a Venn diagram but are not the same thing. Macbooks are valuable to many people but it's hard to argue they are low cost unless you are merely talking relative cost to their even higher priced offerings. Conversely just because something is low cost doesn't mean it is valuable. Chromebooks are obviously inexpensive but since they don't solve any problems I currently have they aren't valuable to me.
This requires, among other things, opening the case and turning a screw. Does firmware replacement void the warranty on the screen, keyboard, power jack, and other parts in the Chromebook?
If you are the sort of person who is comfortable swapping hardware on your devices I doubt voiding warranties is high on your list of concerns.
I think I'll keep all my data locally
Mainly because time and again, companies/people in them can't be trusted not to go snooping, whatever 'encryption' scheme (which is controlled not by you) is in use.
And because of the repeated "omg all my data gone/hostage because of asshat at company policy / hacker / take your pick.
And just wait until there's a war / major disagreement involving countries hosting your data. You think there'll be an online still?
This is all a big pile of shit waiting to hit the fan.
Cloud computing has been proven to not be trustable(cite: yahoo scanning your emails earlier this morning) yet people are still trying to peddle that turd and 'webapps'.
Just kidding, it was actually a really piss poor advertisement and only really advertises you as a fucking idiot who doesn't belong on a tech site.
I picked up a Asus Chromebook a couple of years ago, and it's been a solid champ up until last month, when the screen started flickering.
If all you need is a browser in a box, the chromebook is the way to go. For programming tasks I still use my windows and linux desktops. But with Linux coming to Chromebook more fully soon, this need may disappear too.
I have wished from time to time that my Chromebook had a free Windows Remote Desktop client, a decent free editor, and a few other things. But on the other hand, never worrying about losing your data (it's mostly stored in the cloud), makes it worry-free to take it along with you where ever you go.
- The Kessel run is for nerf herders. I can circumnavigate the entire Central Finite Curve in a lot less than 12 parse
at that point, why would you buy a chromebook and not just an off lease business machine?
One reason is physical size. After manufacturers stopped making 10" netbooks, and the third battery for my own netbook stopped holding a charge, I bought a ThinkPad X61 tablet on eBay for $101 shipped and tried carrying it as a replacement. Debian installed and ran fine, but it was physically much larger than the 10" Dell, meaning I needed to carry a bulkier bag. I later ended up buying a 11.6" Dell that fit in a reasonably sized bag.
My wife's computing needs are simple, and she really doesn't have any interest in technology. She seemed like an ideal candidate for Chrome.
The first problem was that her work email is Exchange-based. Nothing I can do about that. Chrome doesn't like modal popups, and she had to keep switching back and forth between light and full mode logins to download attachments, use the Global Address Book, and some other things. She was annoyed with me.
Then there was an online training program she was required to take. The site decideded that she did not have Flash installed. Full stop.
I gave up. Installed Linux Mint with Enlightenment for her work email. She's now happy.
we can all afford multiple devices and cloud services.
To which "we [...] all" do you refer, especially prior to tax-funded basic income? I still see people in various chat rooms complaining that they can't do this or that in an application's mobile version and have no way to afford "a computer" to work around it. Granted, many of them are still in high school or college.
Comment removed based on user account deletion
I use a Chromebook. It is a HP. I run Debian on it using Crouton
That way I can easily find things I want and know, like terminals and bash and what not.
As an added bonus I can run it on an encrypted file and if somebody asks to look at my PC and I log in, there will be not much for them to see, unless they know to do CTRL-SHIFT-T, then shell (or pgdwn) and then "sudo startxfce4". And there I can use any browser that I desire with anything that I desire.
e.g. I use LastPass for logins, but not on the one on Chromebook. That user is not even the same as my 'normal' user that I use. I use Chromium and not Chrome on Linux.
The device is fast enough for browsing and the price is low enough to make it interesting. More here on various ones
If I would buy one now, I probably would go for the Acer. That said, I use it as a secondary PC and I absolutely need ssh to servers.
Don't fight for your country, if your country does not fight for you.
Whats wrong with the Yubikey? As far as I can tell its more functional than the google one. The yubikey also does PIV so you can use it for logon to AD or Linux directly.
Occasionally I need to tweak a graphic or Word document which I can do via tVNC on my old desktop.
For work I use Citrix to get into my desktop.
But can you work through these remote access methods on your bus/train commute, where you don't have Wi-Fi? If not, then you'd have to include a mobile broadband subscription in the total cost of owning a Chromebook. Furthermore, if all home ISPs in your area use carrier-grade NAT, as Bert64 mentioned is the case in Myanmar, you'll also have to subscribe to a VPN tunnel so your desktop can receive VNC connections while you're away from home.
I've been trying for a solid year to go full chromebook and I've failed for the following reasons. In theory - if I put Linux on it, it should be easier, that's on my todo. It also may be because I went super cheap [$250] for my replacement but here are my issues:
- GoPro video editing - always go to my Mac for this
- Managing files on an NFS: I have a NAS running at home and being able to drag and drop files quickly is easy on my Mac - a slow pain in the butt on the chromebook. The NFS and SFTP options are barely supported and cludgy
- Stability of Apps - VLC crashes on the chromebook, some of them just feel like the lack polish. A lot of the apps I end up using are android apps scalled. Fine for a $250 throw around airplane laptop, but I think I am going to keep the mac as a power user.
I become more comfortable swapping hardware once the warranty has actually expired.
Do you really care on a cheap Chromebook? If it's a several thousand dollar piece of kit and/or you are on a tight budget I get it but if you break a Chromebook, so what? That's the entire beauty of the hardware is that it's cheap and that you don't have to care so much of you break it.
Does anyone actually offer a 2 year warranty on a Chromebook? Given the price of them that would seem foolish of them since most PCs don't carry that long of a warranty. (honest question - I've never really looked)
Seriously, how much do these slashvertizements cost? Id like to run a couple.
Let us know how Google Cloud print works for you, it's the only way to print from a Chrome Book. To be clear, your printing just is uploaded to Google that formats it and then downloads it to your printer. So, you have the advantages of it being slow, and letting Google scan all your print jobs along the way. Definitely a win-win.
...but after about 2 weeks of dealing with the limitations of vanilla ChromeOS, and then another 2 weeks working around the limitations of ChromeOS + crouton, I wanted a real OS again. So my advice is to pick a Chromebook with the biggest SSD and best hardware support in the mainline kernel you can, that way when living 100% in the cloud doesn't really work you can put a full GNU/Linux distro on it.
0 1 - just my two bits
Chromebooks are great if all you want to do is browse the web. Just don't spend a lot of money on it.
Simply put, stay away from the Pixelbook unless you enjoy lighting money on fire. It's over $1000 and you'll get 5 years tops out of it guaranteed, even with the crazy specs it has. If you're going to spend that much you might as well stick with a Mac. At least you'll get at minimum 7-10 year use out of it. After the Pixel EOL, The only way I would even consider a Pixelbook right now is if Google flat out announces a commitment to a 7-10 year software support strategy for it.
The HP Chromebook X2 or the Samsung Chromebook Pro would be the highest I would pay for one and only if I was going to use it daily. There are also cheaper alternatives out there. Personally, I wouldn't spend more than $200 for one.
Printer wise, you need a cloud print enabled printer. Epson's are cheap, are very easy to setup, and their scanners can scan directly to Google Drive out of the box, but it is an inkjet so if you don't print often it will dry up and then it's toss the printer time, so buy an Epson XP-440 all in one for $50 and only if you really need to print. HP and Canon's also have printers that are cloud print capable, but tend to be harder to setup and can be more expensive.
In Soviet Russia, Trojan exploits YOU!
There are off lease business machines that are the same size as Chromebook though.
as to let their sock puppets post slashvertisements.
They must be desperate.
Do you really care on a cheap Chromebook? If it's a several thousand dollar piece of kit and/or you are on a tight budget I get it
If, say, the power jack breaks two weeks in, then I've paid $200 for a computer that lasted two weeks. How can I prevent its $200 replacement from having, say, a keyboard problem two weeks later? In the limiting case, that is an annualized price of $5,200 per year to own a computer. Does that qualify as "several thousand dollar piece of kit"?
Does anyone actually offer a 2 year warranty on a Chromebook?
I don't know whether that's offered for Chromebooks in third quarter 2018. I was referring to the 2-year Dell extended warranty that I bought in March 2010 along with a non-Chromebook netbook. I ended up getting its power jack fixed under warranty.
All it costs you is your privacy and society's future!
STOP buying EVIL google's bullshit.
So afraid.
So pwnd.
So, you're a content consumer. You shuffle electronic documents for a living and produce literally nothing of value to the world. Fine. Use a Chromebook, or whatever you want.
Producers, people that create and manufacture things including the electronic content that you consume require local applications and processing power in order to create. They'll be less likely to choose or be able to use a Chromebook.
Use whatever tool best suits your needs and stop trying to convince everyone to shift to your preferred platform.
P.S. Good on you for getting paid to shuffle electronic documents while literally producing nothing of value. I'm not skilled enough to convince people to pay me for that. I still have to make and move physical things in order to get paid. It sucks.
If, say, the power jack breaks two weeks in, then I've paid $200 for a computer that lasted two weeks.
Right but if your goal is to do something different than what the manufacturer provides what do you gain by keeping it stock? You're basically buying something and not using it the way you want just in case of the (hopefully) unlikely chance a cheap piece of kit breaks. You're comparing apples to oranges. It sounds like you are not the sort of guy who would modify their hardware and that's fine but the economic case for that isn't relevant to someone who wants/needs to modify the gear. For them they simply accept the loss of warranty repairs as part of the deal and get on with it.
In the limiting case, that is an annualized price of $5,200 per year to own a computer. Does that qualify as "several thousand dollar piece of kit"?
No. I understand how you arrive at that figure but there is an implicit incorrect assumption in your calculation that any replacement would also break in the same way and in the same amount of time which is unlikely to be true. In reality you are just out $200 plus $200 for a replacement. Not ideal of course but not that bad either. Furthermore if you did break equipment at that sort of pace the company might replace it a few times under warranty but not 26 times. I guarantee the warranty gives them an out long before that happens. Hell you would probably get fed up and buy something else long before you actually were out of pocket even close to that much.
Hi I'm a respected long time journalist and an ex-Acme Corporation employee, and I advise Acmebook plus AcmeWords to store all my passwords. Of course, Acme tracks everything and if AcmeWords is hacked, someone has my passwords, but same can be said for Google if someone gains access to your device. End of commercial.
Then it really, really doesn't matter what you use. You're not buying a device at this point; you're subscribing to an ideology and participating in voluntary tribalism. It's like sports teams but signifgicantly less entertaining.
so buy an Epson XP-440 all in one for $50 and only if you really need to print.
If you want to use 2-factor authentication without using a cell phone, you will "really need to print." Google won't let you use TOTP until you have two of the preferred 2FA methods (SMS, prompts through the Google Search app, FIDO U2F security key, and printed codes) set up, and only U2F and printed codes work without a phone.
I stopped reading when it talked about having your passwords exposed if someone got to your local copy of 1password. He clearly has no idea what he's talking about.
Having Google manage your passwords is like having a fox guard the henhouse. 1Password encrypts everything at rest, and you have to put in your master password to access your database. By default it auto-locks again after just a few minutes. The only way someone would be able to get into your 1Password vault would be if you set your master password the same as a previously hacked account. And if you did that, then you missed the entire point of having a password manager.
If a Chromebook servers the author's needs, then all the power to him. I just can't wait to see him melt down when his internet connection goes down.
(How the heck do you develop on the web anyway? Unless he works exclusively in Javascript I don't see how that would work)
The only other thing I would say about Chromebooks is that you can do more than browse the web, the basic word processor and spreadsheet apps are adequate for most home users.
We use them in our company and I've found that the more you spend on them, the less value you get. We've had a lot of luck with Acers that are less than $200 USD. When we've spent more to try out new features, we've been disappointed.
Mimetics Inc. Twitter
Google is the devil amongst us.
Everything you do on a chromebook unless you nuke it and install a bog standard Linux will be sent to Google.
Don't even use chrome if you install Linux.
Welcome to the Google feeding machine.
If, say, the power jack breaks two weeks in [...] How can I prevent its $200 replacement from having, say, a keyboard problem two weeks later?
there is an implicit incorrect assumption in your calculation that any replacement would also break in the same way and in the same amount of time which is unlikely to be true.
In this scenario, the replacement broke in the same amount of time but in a different way.
Hell you would probably get fed up and buy something else
Bingo. I'm trying to skip to that step by finding something other than a Chromebook that's warranted as fit for purpose the first time.
Chromebooks are great, but not for everyone.
If you earn less than $20K/month, forget any pixel-google-crap.
Most people should get the sub-$200 chromebook, see how they like it. Be certain to compare passmark benchmarks for the CPU. For $200, you should get at least 1500 passmarks. Anything less will make you sad, constantly, always, forever.
A $199 Acer C720 used a CPU with 1490 passmarks. It was nice, except all cheap chromebooks have not-so-great keyboards. Mine totally wore out after 18 months. I'm on a 2nd chromebook, with a dying keyboard after 24 months. 4 keys don't work at all anymore. My normal desktop has an IBM 101M keyboard, which could explain things. Replacing a keyboard on any chromebook is a $100+ cost due to the way they are made cheaply and that everything has to be removed, including the motherboard for the replacement. Beware.
ChromeOS provides great security but terrible privacy.
Crouton is ok, but expect to refresh it weekly or anytime google forces a new chromeOS update out. Google is a little better than MSFT with pushing patches, but not much.
I found crouton lacking, so after about a month, I broke the warranty, removed the hardware protection for the BIOS, flashed a new BIOS and loaded up Ubuntu Mate. The machine can never run ChromeOS again.
My current chromebook has an i3 CPU with 3000+ passmark rating and 1080p screen. If it weren't for the failing keyboard, it would be the perfect laptop for my needs. I run multiple virtual machines using KVM + virt-manager. I swapped out the 16G SSD for a 120G SSD.
The battery pack has been expanding the last year, so it needs to be replaced.
Sadly, a replacement chromebook with similar capabilities is $450+ these days, so repairing this one is still more cost effective.
I don't use cloudy services much. I self-host most cloudy things and access them all through a VPN/ssh.
And don't get me started about the missing keys. I miss the DELETE, PgDn/Up, Home, End and F11/F12 keys greatly. F12 is how I switch VMs. It has been 5 yrs since I switched to chromebooks, but I still miss the DELETE key. About once a month, I till press it - which if the FUCKING power key on chromebooks. Fuckers.
I won't have a laptop without these things:
* 1500+ passmark CPU
* 1080p screen 13+inches - smaller than 15inch
* 4G of RAM, but 8G would be nice
* replaceable SSD, avoid eMMC.
* SDHC slot, USB3 ports (needed for camera data)
* sub-3 lbs
But for a first chromebook, go cheap. See how it works for you.
I could probably deal with a good quality Chromebook 90% of the time. But itâ(TM)s that other 10% where I have issues. Iâ(TM)ve tried Chomebooks and still find them not good enough.
You don't want to make gay cakes?
Facebook doesn't want to post content for NAZIs.
Same goddamned thing.
No shoes, no shirt, no service. Read it, learn it, live it.
This is just a poorly done slashdotvertisment for chrome books. And nobody I know wants to use them because of googles spying and how that would harm a companies competitive nature while also creating the risk of IP issues.
The last thing a software company of any kind wants is Google getting their internal documents or IP.
In this scenario, the replacement broke in the same amount of time but in a different way.
I understand but you aren't going to go through that 24 more times nor is the company that sold you the product. Your calculation was correct but based on a faulty premise about how all the parties involved would behave.
Bingo. I'm trying to skip to that step by finding something other than a Chromebook that's warranted as fit for purpose the first time.
Fair enough but that's a different issue altogether. Nobody is going to bust out the proverbial (or literal) soldering iron if they truly need the warranty protection. More importantly if you need the warranty more than the modification then you didn't really need the modification in the first place. Modifying equipment that you cannot afford to lose is generally a poor idea. The nice thing about Chromebooks is precisely the fact that they are inexpensive so tinker with so it keeps the opportunity cost of losing one relatively modest.
You can always use Crouton until Crostini is stable. It's my go to for CLI work and development.
My wife switched to a Chromebook when the first Samsung Chromebook came out, and she has been a happy Chromebook user since then. At the time, her then-current Linux laptop was very old, but when she made the decision about how to replace it, she realized that everything she did she did in a web browser. Email and Facebook were probably (and probably still are) most of her day-to-day usage. For home stuff (writing Christmas letters, etc) she had already moved to Google Docs. She doesn't do gaming on her laptop.
So the Chromebook made a lot of sense for her. And oh by the way, it was cheap. Like $250 for the first-gen Samsung Chromebook. She replaced that about a year or more ago with a new Samsung Chromebook for about $350.
Meanwhile, I do a lot of work using desktop apps. I live in LibreOffice and GIMP and Inkscape, and developer tools. So I run Linux. But I've been thinking about a Chromebook for travel.
Do Chromebooks have vi, emacs, and bash?
Do you really need a computer that signs you into a corporate social network every time you want to read the news or talk to friends? Do you really trust companies that keep getting caught for not enforcing the privacy that their Terms promise? Using a Chromebook as your main machine is like trusting your brother with your girlfriend; you might be okay and then again, you might never know what really happened.
I had a first-generation Chromebook for five years. Google did not honour its promise for "Fast Web" when it changed to the Aura desktop interface, which seemed to cut the performance in half. I've also been using a variety of Chromebooks at Best Buys, but mostly the Pixelbook, which is very overpriced for what you get. I know the typical laptop or desktop computer has its annoyances, especially with Windows updates or just a lot of extra stuff you might not think you need, and there are some obvious advantages with Chromebooks like quick updates, great security, and simplicity of the operating system... but you shouldn't trust Google with everything. Nor should you be stuck with the Chrome web browser as your central operating system. Just run Linux, run whatever browser you want, and stay in control of your own computer. You should be more concerned with privacy than you are with convenience. Chromebooks are okay, don't get me wrong. I just wouldn't want to use one as my primary computing device again. I'd rather get a cheap, used laptop, install Linux, and have it my way... NOT Google's.
Having a MacBook Pro is better than having savings because you can always hock it on Craigslist for a month's rent or a mortgage payment.
The thing about iOS is it won't download a pem file from AWS using Chrome or Safari... that would make sessions possible.
Crouton? Sure, I guess for all of those times you need a real linter, just want to run VIM, or want to write some Ansible playbooks.
As much as I love the cloud, there are those times when I want to use Vagrant to spin up a VirtualBox.
As an AirBNB Host & an Uber Driver, I am tired of being rubbed by The Sharing Economy & that includes my desktop / I can not wait until I can afford to buy a new MBP (hey, it's a savings account too!)
Hi...
I have all six devices:
1. iPhone
2. iPad
3. Yoga Laptop Running Win10
4. MacBook Pro
5. Chromebook
6. Multibook Desktop WIndows or OS/X
Out of all the devices, the Chromebook is the most useless device. It reminds me of the modern dumb terminal that needs to connect back to the mainframe to get any work done. I seldom use it.
If you are just a consumer user: surf the web, use web services, and have a good WIFI connection, the Chromebook could be the device for you. If you are planning to create, possibly make a video, music, program, or do anything CPU intensive, it is a lost cause. Working as a school consultant, the #1 request I get every year is how do to shoot and edit video on a Chromebook, short answer is, you don't.
Ranking my computing devices in order of usefulness:
1. Desktop
2. MacBook Pro (love the retina display and trackpad, best, period, not in love with the keyboard)
3. Yoga (Whoever designed this keyboard should never be allowed to design again, trackpad ok, lacking useful ports, touchscreen and tablet mode are mostly useless)
4. iPad (I can use it as a computer in a pinch, it is just harder)
5. iPhone (Like an iPad only smaller)
6. Chromebook (In your right hand you have nothing, in your left hand you have a Chromebook, the Chromebook is slightly better than nothing)
The only time I ever use the Chromebook is when I have to train others how to use a Chromebook. Usually the limitations of the device surface quickly.
I cannot imagine ever needing to move to a Chromebook. Or really, even a laptop. Sure, I use one at work, but it's docked most of the time and I have 3 monitors hooked up to it. When I do need it in a meeting I hate using one tiny screen and I feel so inefficient using it. At least I take my mouse with me, I can't stand watching people in meetings fumble around with their trackpads. (I hate them so much) Even at home I have 2 monitors for my linux desktop.
There is a now a Chromebook in our house now, my daughter has one issued to her at school. They are expected to do all of their work from it, and it integrates right in with her school account.
I will say that Google is much smarter and smoother at their sleaziness than Microsoft EVER was. They put real engineering effort behind their software/hardware offerings to make them desirable and usable for their products. (us)
My beliefs do not require that you agree with them.
That being said, the new version of Windows really sucks; I'm putting off upgrading as long as possible. If you're ok with Mac's foibles, I recommend just sticking with that.
Stopped reading at "I have not used desktop software for probably a decade now. "
Get an iPad.
I have ( and love) a Mac, but use my work iPad primarily due to speed of use. Itâ(TM)s faster to get to what I need to do.
"Sure if Google is hacked, someone has my passwords, but same can be said for any cloud-based password manager"
Actually, that's not true. I use Dashlane and (according to them), they don't store the master password remotely:
"Dashlane does not store your Master Password anywhere on our servers, and it is never transmitted over the internet. That means the key to your castle cannot be taken from you and your scrambled data stored on our servers is useless to hackers."
I'm sure the same is true of other password managers aswell.
The "ex-Googler" not only promoted the Chromebook, but marketed Google's password keeper, too!
How about an iPad Pro? I've basically switched to an iPad Pro. The battery life is insane, the portability and weight are insane, and believe it or not, the speed is insane as well. It's much faster than my 10x as expensive desktop workstation at Lightroom and Photoshop, for example. I'm frankly flabbergasted by its performance every single day. Never going back to traditional computers.
Apps, games, limited storage, RAM, development all stink, I mean if you like Fisher-Price stuff, then a Chromebook is perfect for you. Look a the top model for 1k, it's still a pos in comparison to other kinds of notebooks in its class. If you prefer remote-desktop style work flows then i suppose it's a good fit, but when I need power:
1) vbox
2) docker
3) k8
4) games
5) 4k pr0n vids
6) multi-monitor support (without lag)
I dont see CB as a contender or even close to replacing my MBP, I might revisit once they stuff them w/ A12 processors.
What I do is buy a 150$ refurbished Chromebook online, and side-install Debian or Ubuntu on them via crouton. Highly recommended!
For web browsing and other stuff done in Chrome, ChromeOS is great. But if I need something more specialized, I can have a full-fledged (if admittedly a bit, but not too, slow) Linux system running in seconds.
Why not print to a PDF and store the PDF safely ?
Bingo Dictionary - Pragmatist, n. A myopic idealist.
type 1: Serious users who need a real computer and are careful with their personal data and the data of others. They need a full PC (or Mac) with full capabilities and without built-in software that is constantly spying on them and phoning home.
type 2: Casual users who don't care about their personal privacy/security and are even less concerned with the privacy and security of others. They are happy to use a Chromebook and do everything "in the cloud". They'll' happily let Google see and use all their personal info and all the personal info of anybody else that they happen to get access to. They don't see a problem with the idea of letting Google manage all their passwords and watch them login to their bank, their employer's systems, and anything else (like their homes, their email accounts, their medical records, etc).
If your computing requirements boil down to watching YouTubes, playing some casual games, and using Twitter/Facebook/Instagram then a Chromebook will probably simplify your life (as long as you do not care about your privacy - which you probably don't if you use Facebook) but anybody else should think very seriously before entering The Matrix, no matter how good the juicy steaks smell.
Say you shave 10 minutes a day by using a Mac. That's .17 hours at $38.27 per hour, or $6.38 per day. Taking that 49 weeks and assuming 5 days per week that's 245 work days... which totals up to $1563 a year saved. That should pretty much pay for the Mac by itself, especially if you consider a 3-5 year replacement cycle ($4689-$7816).
Full disclosure: I'm a certified accountant so I'm the guy you'd have to justify this to. I actually agree with you but I'm telling you what the counter argument will be.
The problem with your argument is that costs don't actually work like that in the real world. Minor savings tend to matter little because they are step functions from the company's perspective. Let me explain. Let's say for argument's sake buying a macbook will indeed shave the 10 minutes you propose. That isn't a cost savings to the company UNLESS it actually results in either additional billable revenue or a reduction in headcount. Either an increase in revenue or a decrease in costs. Reductions in head count are step functions because you cannot typically hire just 10 minutes of labor. You have to save the better part of 40 hours of labor per pay period for it to start to matter. 10 minutes "saved" for one employee doesn't change the bottom line of the company meaningfully. (not to say it isn't worth doing but we're trying to justify purchasing hardware here to bean counters) You have to have to have enough minutes saved to affect head count and that means you need to at minimum save tens of hours. Furthermore then the value of the productivity savings has to outweigh the extra cost of the hardware on top of the labor cost. So you would need dozens if not hundreds of macbooks under your scenario to actually result in a measurable change to the bottom line. Remember that the company can just ask you to work 10 minutes longer at the end of the day and if you are salaried there is no marginal cost to the company.
Alternatively you have to have some means of increasing billable revenue from the 10 minutes saved which simply isn't the case in most jobs. Will that 10 minutes saved result in extra sales? Maybe, but for most jobs you're going to have a REALLY hard time proving a causal relationship. And if you bill by the hour it actually could hurt the bottom line in the short run. You might be able to show how it will prevent you from missing a deadline or how it will keep staff from getting pissed off and leaving for greener pastures. For example my workstation at my desk has three monitors. Strictly speaking I'd have a hard time quantifying the productivity improvement but it keeps me from getting frustrated and I can show that I can get jobs done at least marginally quicker so the purchase got approved because if I'm slow in my particular job so is our cash flow.