Slashdot Mirror
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.
As he says in the article, there are security aspects that appeal to him. You get tired after a while of hearing about all the Microsoft and Linux vulns.
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.
I thought you could install Arch Linux on a Chromebook. Which could indeed be a replacement for a MacBook or WIndows Laptop.
sudo rm -r -f --no-preserve-root /
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?
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.
But the guy is already on a freakin' Mac, thus he should be using macOS - why are you bringing up Windows and Linux?
#DeleteFacebook
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?
Rent to lose your privacy... Remember that after 5 years it is EOL, and boot locked so you can not change it. https://www.reddit.com/r/chrom...
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.
It never made any sense to me why you would pay for hardware just to loose your privacy.
If you choose the Chromebook c201, it can increase your privacy since it can run libreboot to replace the Intel ME. The firmware is protected by a physical screw so it can be software flashed. Then it can run Debian, Devuan, Parabola etc.
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.
It's not $900 at all, the vast majority of them are $200-$300. Yes, Google makes Pixelbooks that range up to $1700 even, but those are flagship/tech demo models not really intended as the primary market. Besides Pixelbooks there's a handful (5) in the 400-600 range but that's it.
The tracking/selling data part is valid enough, but you undermine your validity with the inaccurate criticism of price.
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.
Data on my laptop on the other hand hasn't been compromised pretty much ever. That you know about.
You are always one bad URL click, one malicious email, one zero day vulnerability to a compromise. Even if you are using OS X, Linux, even Open BSD.
If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
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)
Chromebooks actually remind me a bit of Macbooks. You have an "app store" but not a proper official repository which is the primary reason I always seem to be overwriting osx and installing Linux. I could just be biased against osx but to me in a lot of ways... Mac is to Unix as Chromebooks are to Linux.
...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!
Seems realistic to me. Assuming "desktop software" are things like Word and Photoshop and etc, I haven't used much in the way of "desktop software" for most of the last two decades. I need a terminal and a browser and I'm golden. Sure, I use a lot of dev tools and software from the terminal but almost nothing else that belongs in the desktop category (current job uses zoom, which I find unimpressive). As a Linux desktop and laptop user since the 90s, this seems completely normal to me. I've considered a Chromebook for some personal stuff because they're dirt cheap and have the two things I really need. Dumb terminals are smart again.
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.
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.
As he says in the article, there are security aspects that appeal to him. You get tired after a while of hearing about all the Microsoft and Linux vulns.
My kids all got Chromebooks as their first laptop for that very reason; I don't want them getting spyware and viruses, and whereas that is still possible with a chromebook, it is less likely.
"That's the way to do it" - Punch
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.
But the guy is already on a freakin' Mac, thus he should be using macOS - why are you bringing up Windows and Linux?
There's about a $1000 difference between a good Mac and a good Chromebook laptop. He would certainly be more familiar with macOS having a Max; and a Mac could certainly do a lot more things. But $1000 is a lot of overhead if you don't need to do those extra things.
Chromebooks are not for everyone; they can't do everything; but I suspect they do enough for 90% of the population.
"That's the way to do it" - Punch
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
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.
Microsoft- logs all sorts of information about you and invades your privacy.
Google- logs all sorts of information about you and invades your privacy.
Apple- logs all sorts of information about you and invades your privacy.
They're all doing it; pick who you trust raping your privacy the most, or acknowledge there isn't really a safe choice between those three and use some other factor to decide your laptop.
"That's the way to do it" - Punch
I don't want them getting spyware
So, you bought them a computer which comes with spyware preinstalled.
The truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted. James Madison
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.
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.
I bit of misinformation here. The boot loader is locked if you want ChromeOS and Verified Boot. I don't know of any Chrome OS device where you can't re-flash the firmware. After that, you are free to load any OS your heart desires.
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.
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.
Data on my laptop on the other hand hasn't been compromised pretty much ever. That you know about.
You are always one bad URL click, one malicious email, one zero day vulnerability to a compromise. Even if you are using OS X, Linux, even Open BSD.
I have mod points but I can't let this comment go. This is a comment that I expect from a Twitter, Facebook user. When you have control of your operating system you can take precautions that allow you to navigate to the most hostile environments without a worry that it can compromise your data. This isn't Voodoo or magic. It's called education.
DRM? No thanks, I'll just get it somewhere else...
But the guy is already on a freakin' Mac, thus he should be using macOS - why are you bringing up Windows and Linux?
He also is stating one of the reasons he is considering a Chromebook (shudder) is 2FA.
macOS has supported Two Factor Authentication for some time now (since at least macOS El Capitan, now almost THREE major OS versions ago!) :
https://support.apple.com/kb/P...
I don't want them getting spyware
So, you bought them a computer which comes with spyware preinstalled.
Exactly!
You can be safe, but you need to always be vigilant. However unless you have full understanding of every part of technology that is running, there is a risk. Did you review every line of code in Firefox?
If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
Microsoft- logs all sorts of information about you and invades your privacy.
Google- logs all sorts of information about you and invades your privacy.
Apple- logs all sorts of information about you and invades your privacy.
But there's a BIG difference:
Microsoft: Does ALL sorts of trickery to keep you from "opting out" of Privacy-Stealing and "Telemetry".
Google: Logs your entire life, EVEN WHEN YOU TELL IT NOT TO!
Apple: Only DISSEMINATES Differentially-Anonymized Data, states CLEARLY what Data they collect, and ALLOWS YOU TO OPT-OUT.
https://www.apple.com/legal/pr...
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.
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.
Exactly.
Chromebooks actually remind me a bit of Macbooks. You have an "app store" but not a proper official repository which is the primary reason I always seem to be overwriting osx and installing Linux. I could just be biased against osx but to me in a lot of ways... Mac is to Unix as Chromebooks are to Linux.
Macs have the Mac App Store; but you are in NO way limited to installing Applications from that source.
macOS is a Certified Unix. Something that NO Linux will EVER be.
As for Chrome, it is nothing more than a data-collection app DISGUISED as a weak-ass "OS".
I don't want them getting spyware
So, you bought them a computer which comes with spyware preinstalled.
You mean, as opposed to Microsoft and Apple which also track everything you do? I'm not getting my kids a friggin' Linux- they need to learn real world skills. Once there out at University if they want to dabble with Linux that's fine.
"That's the way to do it" - Punch
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.
That's because Google does more that is valuable for advertisers to track. Microsoft and Apple will track you just the same if there is incentive. The fact that Google has the #1 search engine, mapping software, e-mail, etc means that they collect more information from more people and have more data. Microsoft and Apple will violate your privacy as much as it is monetarily useful too. Microsoft and Apple also have advertising arms, it's not just Google.
"That's the way to do it" - Punch
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.
I remember when Microsoft's CEO laughed at Chromebooks and asked "Who would want one of those". 2 Years later when they discovered Chromebooks were selling like hot cakes and had replaced Windows in most school computer labs they freaked out. Turns out people did want a simple computer that was secure by default and that scared MS to death. They actually started selling a few laptops heavily subsidized by Microsoft to try to compete.
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. "
Do Chromebooks have vi, emacs, and bash?
Yes, as mentioned in the summary.
Note to ACs: I usually delete AC replies without reading them. If you want to talk to me, log in.
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.
With Apple, you are the consumer. With Google, you are the product. With Microsoft, you are the consumer and the product, since Windows 10.
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.
For once, I agree with you.
He's telling the truth.
Thank you. Seriously.
Why not print to a PDF and store the PDF safely ?
Bingo Dictionary - Pragmatist, n. A myopic idealist.
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.