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Moving To a Chromebook (avc.com)

Posted by msmash on from the how-about-that dept.

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.

7 of 235 comments (clear)

  1. "Well respected" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    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.

    1. Re:"Well respected" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      On Facebook's censorship of conservative views which Slashdot will not cover because it was purchased by the same big group of political interests.

      Or it's not covered because it's not interesting, not news for nerds, and not stuff that matters.

      If you don't like it you're free to take your business elsewhere.

      There are no articles on non-liberal shadowbanning here and never will be.

      No articles on pixie dust here. Sometimes we talk about unicorns though, so you got us there.

      ZIP

    2. Re: "Well respected" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Fox News is the largest news outlet yet you are far more likely to see CNN content on Google.

      You idiots are sleepwalking into Nazism.

    3. Re:"Well respected" by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Actually, if you think there were more than two viable candidates ...

      You refuse to vote for them because they are not viable, yet they are not viable because people like you refuse to vote for them. Ergo, you are the problem.

      It is silly to vote for what you don't want, and then complain when you get it.

  2. Spyware by default by johnsie · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If you want to use a data collection tool as your main computer then be my guest.

  3. Re:My views have changed recently by Bongo · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The PC era (one personal computer) is over and we can all afford multiple devices and cloud services. These questions around, “is device X a real computer” died like all the arguments about whether iPads were or weren’t for real serious work, also died.

    Every device is potentially useful and it is just a question of one’s life and work habits. For example, I have no interest in wearables. But I do love my little projects in high-end-ish 3D modelling software (and these days a decent desktop with large screen is fine for my small projects). I also sit on the sofa a lot and the desktop is in another room, so a tablet is essential, but I never take it out of the house as, essentially, I do not commute on trains, but if I did, I would take it out a lot. And all work is on a laptop, again, because various reasons.

    IOW, lots of little lifestyle quirks. Every device has potential, and we are way past the day when a computer has to do everything in order to succeed in the market.

  4. Re:Why pay to loose your privacy by SisterFister · · Score: 3, Insightful

    There is a big difference between those three.

    Microsoft and Apple sell a lot of shit, information is not their primary source of income.
    Googles primary source of income is your information.

    They are not all doing the same thing, not even close. Try requesting the information they have collected about you from those 3, the one from Google will be substantially longer and more detailed than the other 2 combined.