Chromebook - how do you like it? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Rick Law
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 20, 2015, 10:27:26 pm
content: Any user of Google Chromebook here? What do you think about the UI (Manufacturer doesn't matter) and general friendliness as a web browser, youtube player, listening to audio and watching video on line?While I do not particularly care for Google, I think they are rather intrusive. I am however thinking about it as an XP laptop replacement for my wife.I rather see the opinion of folks here than reading a review done by someone unknown.Thanks for your input!Rick

author: smjcuk
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 20, 2015, 10:32:09 pm
content: Got one here. Acer C720. It's horrid.Inflexible, unreliable and basically a large brick if you have to go offline for any period of time. Constant tab crashes, youtube hangs, noisy audio output and it's really badly made; you can bend it when it's closed easily.I'm only keeping it because our product has a web interface and the font metrics are different to Chrome on windows and OSX so we need to test our stuff on it separately.Sure there are better ones out there than the C720 but the software is cripplingly bad.

author: chad
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 20, 2015, 11:03:43 pm
content: I have an acer c720p and I really like it. I have fast other devices tabs,pc and It isn't them but for~200 usd it a great little "web appliance" If you don't go in thinking you are getting a macbook pro then you will be fine. I bought it on a whim just to play with and I find myself using it quite a bit. I have had a couple of youtube crashes in general haven't found a major bugs. Smjcuk would disagree, but I have been happy with mine.So there you go, one person hates it, one person likes it. 50/50 Flip a coinchad

author: MapleLeaf
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2015, 12:30:03 am
content: I also have an Acer 720. I really like it. I use it about two times a day. Boots in seconds so i can surf the web. It has never crashed, plays videos just fine. I also play videos off the web out the hdmi port to my big screen TV. Nice. The battery lasts about 6 hours. It is not a laptop PC. It will not run PC apps. But that is not what i needed.

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2015, 01:02:38 am
content: I am also reading and writing this on an Acer C720. I really like it for web browsing, youtube watching and the fact it turns on instantly.It gets some time to get used to a few missing keys such as Del (Alt-Backspace), End (Ctrl-Alt Down Arrow) and Home (Ctrl-Alt Up Arrow), while others are very handy (which replace the Fn keys on the top of the keyboard).All in all, it is not a PC for apps but it is great for entertainment.

author: ivan747
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2015, 01:50:29 am
content: Why does everybody has the same model?Not much that I can contribute with except mentioning I never liked Acer's built quality. They'rr very cheap and unnecessarily heavy and bulky, so keep an eye on those flaws when looking for Acers.

author: all_repair
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2015, 01:59:03 am
content: I did consider ChromeBook but end up going with refurbised netbook, Asus X200CA (win8). The last laptop few year back was also a netbook from gigabyte, it was a XP machine. They have been very good value for money.My luck and my friends' luck with Acer was not good, from laptop to DVD drive, all broke down way too fast.

author: ivan747
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2015, 02:05:10 am
content: At this sort of money, isn't it good to consider a tablet with a keyboard? Even Android is more useful than Chrome OS.Like so:http://www.amazon.com/Vivotab-ME400C-C2-BK-10-1-Inch-Tablet-Office/dp/B00CY9Q8AQ/ref=sr_1_6?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1432173972&sr=1-6&keywords=android+tabletInfinately more useful. OK, it's not an Intel architecture but it's still miles ahead of Chrome OS. Also it should run Office.

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2015, 02:21:18 am
content: Quote from: ivan747 on May 21, 2015, 02:05:10 amYour analysis makes sense, but I was very lucky and got mine as a gift...(edit) BTW, I have two other Acers and the quality of this model tops the others by a long mile.

author: gdewitte
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 21, 2015, 02:30:41 am
content: I have one of the original Cr-48s and like it. I've been using it for the last 4+ years without problems. True it's not an Intel/Windows box with thousands of programs, but for reading emails, checking websites, and doing the occasional Google doc, it's great.

author: ivan747
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2015, 03:20:19 am
content: Quote from: rsjsouza on May 21, 2015, 02:21:18 amAnd now I noticed that even these sub-200 dollar tables have Intel processors. Amazing. I kinda want one nowBut I got no money for it right nowI hope that category of product doesn't fade away in the next years.

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2015, 10:59:39 am
content: Quote from: ivan747 on May 21, 2015, 03:20:19 amUnless it is a heavy money loss operation for Google, I don't think it will go into oblivion as it holds a captive market for computer iliterate folks that want/need to be on the web for whatever reason.Also, an advantage over "pure" tablets is that it has a keyboard while keeping the same instant on capability and a long battery life.

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2015, 01:59:34 pm
content: Quote from: gdewitte on May 21, 2015, 02:30:41 amYou can turn one into a regular PC netbook by reflashing the BIOS.

author: bingo600
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2015, 05:25:43 pm
content: I had a Toshiba C30 Chromebook for about 10minutes.That was the ime it took to reflash the bios , and install Linux Mint/Bingo

author: Rick Law
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2015, 07:21:45 pm
content: Quote from: amyk on May 21, 2015, 01:59:34 pmQuote from: bingo600 on May 21, 2015, 05:25:43 pmAh, I didn't think of that... I knew folks here will have excellent comments.This re-BIOSing the machine could be an option. Before I go the route of Chrome book, I have to research to make sure that particular model can be reflashed!Thanks!!!Quote from: ivan747 on May 21, 2015, 02:05:10 amThat reminded me my daughter's the tablet like Samsung Notes, every little app has to be purchased.I amassumingthe Chrome book can do something like Youtube,play DVD (disk or net share ISO files), play audio (net shared mp3)without additional app purchase.This could be a wrong assumption... Anyone know for sure?ThanksRick

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2015, 11:39:01 pm
content: Quote from: Rick Law on May 20, 2015, 10:27:26 pmGet her a Mac Air Book and she will love you for eternity.It's a great mobile machine that is loved by newbies and hackers alike.My 2c.

author: all_repair
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2015, 12:02:17 am
content: Quote from: amyk on May 21, 2015, 01:59:34 pmI did not choose that because I found that the ram, harddisk, etc had to upgraded and that chrome models I seen did not allow easy upgrading, and an upgraded chrome model shall cost more to a netbook.

author: ivan747
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2015, 02:54:13 am
content: Quote from: ivan747 on May 21, 2015, 03:20:19 amLol, turns out I DO have money for one of theseIt's $80, delivered. Brand-name. Quite capable, apart from the 1GB of RAM. Reportedly you're left with 13GB of usable space.http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/pdp/HP-Stream-7-Signature-Edition-Tablet/productID.308781500That should help me a LOT when carrying stuff around campus. I often get muscle pains and even headaches that turn into migraines from a heavy backpack and this should do the trick 90% of the time.I don't know if this is the sort of thing your wife (I think?) would like though.

author: ivan747
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2015, 03:07:21 am
content: Quote from: Rick Law on May 21, 2015, 07:21:45 pmThe DVD part... not so sure. DVDs are getting obsolete, believe it or not. I highly doubt it will handle ISO files. You need Windows for that, in my humble opinion. The rest of it, I expect it to do that, but I don't have experience with that.Update:the answer seems to be a pretty big no:https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!topic/chromebook-central/W_biaOHUBD4If you went the Windows route, it's your familiar x86, 32 bit Windows 8.1, if you choose an Atom processor.Again, in my honest opinion, Android on tablets sucks. Unlike Apple, which has a huge control over their products, there's no line between phone and tables in the Android world, so you get a very sub-par experience in lager devices, when apps often have to suit the least common denominator. I had that experience with a Kindle Fire, which is Android in the end.Someone suggested Apple. I'd agree, but only if you have that sort of money to spend on a computer. She will be happy with it, though. The OS makes sense and justworks, and more so if you use and like their services.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2015, 03:47:27 pm
content: Quote from: ivan747 on May 22, 2015, 03:07:21 amIt depends on the chrombook. The Pixel for example costs $1000 and you can get a macbook air for $900.BTW, a friend shown me the other day an android app that he was running on a chrome browser running on a mac air 11" using at tool called Arc Welder. He is also runs multiple linux instances on the same machine and uses Vagrant to manage the configurations. I was impressed.Operating systems become more and more interchangeable but the Mac book is the best mobile hardware IMO.

author: Rick Law
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2015, 04:17:58 pm
content: Quote from: zapta on May 21, 2015, 11:39:01 pmQuote from: zapta on May 23, 2015, 03:47:27 pmApple is definitely not in the mix. My wife doesn't really care for Apple machines - too much of a "kid's toy" in her view.Quote from: ivan747 on May 22, 2015, 03:07:21 amI was stupid. I just assumed it would. After using it for so long, it seem so much just "part of what a PC should do." - The inability of playing DVD-ISO from server is a big draw back - likely a show stopper.I have all our family video tapes on DVD-ISO on a windows server. I don't want to remake > 10 years of home videos. And then there is the purchased DVD movies. I still have a library of old DVD movies. I sure am not going to re-purchase another set of "Jurassic Park", "Star Wars" or 007. BlueRay may be an improvement, but not even close to being able to justify the extra expense of replacing old movies. That is the reason thus far I have not purchased any BlueRay stuff.I think I was lamenting about this very sentiment in one of my replies in "love old technology" thread. I am just tired these upgrade treadmill. Some of my purchased DVD movie (not fake, not copies but original) are less than 4GB and look like VHS transers. They are not using the full capability of the 8GB DVD. And now they hope I would upgrade to a >20GB-capability machine to watch a VHS transfer...

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2015, 04:28:25 pm
content: IthinkVLC can play those, and that'll be platform-independent. You might have to find a way to mount the ISO - Mac and Linux can do that natively, Windows has extensions you can install.

author: ivan747
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2015, 08:29:35 pm
content: Quote from: c4757p on May 23, 2015, 04:28:25 pmWindows 8 mounts ISOs natively. MICROSOFT FINALLY GOT SOMETHING RIGHT, OUT OF THE BOX.Now it just needs real PDF support (the way Preview does it... I can't even crop a PDF document and save it on another PDF file without buying freaking Acrobat), photo sorting, PDF previews, better compressed file support and a screenshot utility. Mac need paint. Linux needs consistency.Call me conspiratorial but I think Microsoft doesn't include any of that 'cause it's being lobbied by Adobe and the likes.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2015, 08:39:16 pm
content: Quote from: Rick Law on May 23, 2015, 04:17:58 pmI don't see how Chromebook is considered an 'adult's toy' but what do I know.

author: ivan747
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2015, 08:49:22 pm
content: Quote from: Rick Law on May 23, 2015, 04:17:58 pmSeems like you're gonna go the Windows route. Please allow me to suggest some stuff from the Windows Store. We had a good experience with them when we went to a store in Puerto Rico. The devices come with no crapware preinstalled, many of these low end devices bundle Office for a year for free.This one's a bargain, at $200, the thing is, it comes in blue:http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/pdp/HP-Stream-11-Signature-Edition-Laptop/productID.309174400The same thing, but 2 inches larger. Screen resolution is the same, though, so no advantage there, in my opinion:http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/pdp/HP-Stream-13-c077nr-Signature-Edition-Laptop/productID.309174500I had a great experience with the first Asus EeeBook ever, so I get fuzzy feelings about this one:http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/pdp/ASUS-EeeBook-X205TA-US01-BL-Signature-Edition-Laptop/productID.311268400I havent looked into it, though. On the surface it seems very nice, and the battery capacity is very good, unlike the HP counterpart. The color scheme is more adult as well.This thing is very sweet as well:http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/pdp/ASUS-Transformer-Book-T100TAF-B1-MS-Signature-Edition-2-in-1-PC/productID.309074700Beats the hell out of an iPad if you ask me. And to me it's more useful than Android, but that's just me, the engineer.Just so that you get an idea of what's out there

author: Muxr
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2015, 05:22:40 pm
content: I am actually in the market for an ARM based Chromebook I can install Linux on. Preferably less than $200. I need a throwaway machine for when I go to conferences like DEF CON.

author: ivan747
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2015, 09:15:09 pm
content: Quote from: Muxr on May 25, 2015, 05:22:40 pmWhy ARM? And why would you be worried at a white hat hacker's convention?

author: Muxr
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 26, 2015, 04:45:23 am
content: Quote from: ivan747 on May 25, 2015, 09:15:09 pmBattery consumption mainly, but also less common of a platform. Def Con has all sorts of people attending, plus I don't trust even white hats won't decide to prank people. They do something silly every year.

author: ivan747
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2015, 10:52:45 pm
content: Interesting, you should ditch android, then. I'd go for an x86 machine and take it there with a very obscure OS installed. Or how about you switch off the WiFi?...Sent from my XT1063 using Tapatalk