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Ask HN: Do you use a Chromebook or Pixelbook as your primary machine?

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Re: Ask HN: Do you use a Chromebook or Pixelbook as your primary machine?

#21

Post by andrewchambers »

jcun4128 wrote: post #10

From my experience try to get one that has a non-arm chip (intel) with regard to being able to install everything. I almost could install everything (crouton) but like VS Code wasn't supported. I have this "fear" that my laptop will be stolen so I try to run everything off a USB (attached to my keys) so laptop is pretty much disposable assuming ~$100 in cost (used). The ram/storage is a concern and I'm talking the ju…

your usb key might get stolen. Full disk encryption and regular backups probably buy better assurance.

Re: Ask HN: Do you use a Chromebook or Pixelbook as your primary machine?

#22

Post by jholman »

Typing this from a first-gen Chromebook Pixel, which is my primary machine for hobby programming (I don't currently code professionally, and I have a beast of a Wintel desktop for gaming).

It's lightweight, build quality is good, screen is terrific. I got it for a great price, too. I think the original retail price of the version I bought was a bit high, but that new version you just linked looks like a good price/performance.

I really only want a shell plus a browser anyway. Though I've had X11/XFCE working in the past.

All in all I'm quite happy with it for this purpose. Though if price was no object, I'd probably reconsider.

Re: Ask HN: Do you use a Chromebook or Pixelbook as your primary machine?

#23

Post by bergie »

jcun4128 wrote: post #19
bergie wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

VS Code should work fine with crouton. I've seen people running it on some older Chromebooks. And if the container support lands soon, it might be possible to run developer tools like that without flipping the developer mode switch.

Really? I think if I remember right I bought this ARM version of a chromebook ("octacore" processor) and I wasn't able to install it so I had to use alternatives like Geany.

Ah, yes. ARM might be a problem, as there might not be VS Code builds available. There are tons of x86 Chromebooks out there, though.

Re: Ask HN: Do you use a Chromebook or Pixelbook as your primary machine?

#24

Post by Lerc »

jcun4128 wrote: post #19
bergie wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

VS Code should work fine with crouton. I've seen people running it on some older Chromebooks. And if the container support lands soon, it might be possible to run developer tools like that without flipping the developer mode switch.

Really? I think if I remember right I bought this ARM version of a chromebook ("octacore" processor) and I wasn't able to install it so I had to use alternatives like Geany.

I use vs-code on arm crouton so it is doable.

I use the headmelted build. looke like it has an actual website now https://code.headmelted.com/

Re: Ask HN: Do you use a Chromebook or Pixelbook as your primary machine?

#25

Post by leephillips »

They're fine machines once you install real Linux on them. The hardware is excellent and they make great laptops for doing real work. Here are some notes about installing Xubuntu on the 2013 model. I hope some of this transfers to newer models: https://lee-phillips.org/pxsetup/

Re: Ask HN: Do you use a Chromebook or Pixelbook as your primary machine?

#26

Post by jcun4128 »

andrewchambers wrote: post #21
jcun4128 wrote: post #10

From my experience try to get one that has a non-arm chip (intel) with regard to being able to install everything. I almost could install everything (crouton) but like VS Code wasn't supported. I have this "fear" that my laptop will be stolen so I try to run everything off a USB (attached to my keys) so laptop is pretty much disposable assuming ~$100 in cost (used). The ram/storage is a concern and I'm talking the ju…

your usb key might get stolen. Full disk encryption and regular backups probably buy better assurance.

Yeah I was thinking about that. If you do the "encrypt home folder" and did everything from home folder is that safer?

I'm not sure if I should try to use something like veracrypt to encrypt the OS.

Isn't the flashdrive protected by the OS password if you try to mount it as a drive and read the contents? Or no?(answer to this is no) I think I had that experience when trying to mount an OS hard drive and read contents.

I suppose if my keys/usb drive were stolen that would be a pretty bad day.

Now I'm concerned. My plan with the regular Windows OS, always run browsers in incognito mode.

Don't store credentials on computer, possibly pull code to work on it, push then delete but that might be nuts. Looks like full encryption may not be necessary but read about swap being potentially unsecure. Aye... I don't know.

Well since this computer is garbage I'll try the encrypted home folder method. Not sure about the swap aspect. And I don't think I'll be running any webserver stacks on this because of RAM so can try to just operate from my home directory.

Re: Ask HN: Do you use a Chromebook or Pixelbook as your primary machine?

#27

Post by keenerd »

jcun4128 wrote: post #10

From my experience try to get one that has a non-arm chip (intel) with regard to being able to install everything. I almost could install everything (crouton) but like VS Code wasn't supported. I have this "fear" that my laptop will be stolen so I try to run everything off a USB (attached to my keys) so laptop is pretty much disposable assuming ~$100 in cost (used). The ram/storage is a concern and I'm talking the ju…

> I know not really able to do much on a 11.6"

Sir, have you heard the gospel of the Tiling Window Manager?

Really though, they are fantastic. You get ten times as much screen real estate at the tips of your fingers. My laptop has a 10" screen, it is fine. And let us not forget that Steve Jobs selected a 9" monitor for the Macintosh. How much more do you need :-)

So far the only software I miss is Darktable. They use a bunch of x86 assembly with no support for Arm.

Re: Ask HN: Do you use a Chromebook or Pixelbook as your primary machine?

#28

Post by jholman »

keenerd wrote: post #20
ralmidani wrote: post #7

I used a Samsung ChromeBook 2 (ARM) for about 3 years. You can load a full GNU/Linux environment such as Debian or Ubuntu with Crouton, but you have to enable developer mode. This involves an annoying beep every time you turn your machine on (or otherwise hitting ctrl-d at the right time), and you run the risk of disabling developer mode--thereby reformatting your drive--if you accidentally hit Spacebar. Unless they'…

If you are worried about that, just don't use Crouton. Completely remove all of the Chrome OS partitions and run linux natively. I typically get several months of uptime. Suspend/resume has been flawless too. Pressing one button combo a couple times a year hasn't been a show shopper.

Several months of uptime with native linux, or with Crouton?

My crouton-using Pixel shuts itself down if I don't use it for 24h, even without low battery. So I press that button combo about once a week. It's definitely a mild pain in the butt, losing all the state in my dozen terminals.

Re: Ask HN: Do you use a Chromebook or Pixelbook as your primary machine?

#29

Post by jcun4128 »

Lerc wrote: post #24
jcun4128 wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Really? I think if I remember right I bought this ARM version of a chromebook ("octacore" processor) and I wasn't able to install it so I had to use alternatives like Geany.

I use vs-code on arm crouton so it is doable. I use the headmelted build. looke like it has an actual website now https://code.headmelted.com/

Oh I was not aware of that cool!

Re: Ask HN: Do you use a Chromebook or Pixelbook as your primary machine?

#30

Post by jcun4128 »

bergie wrote: post #23
jcun4128 wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Really? I think if I remember right I bought this ARM version of a chromebook ("octacore" processor) and I wasn't able to install it so I had to use alternatives like Geany.

Ah, yes. ARM might be a problem, as there might not be VS Code builds available. There are tons of x86 Chromebooks out there, though.

Yeah I got unlucky I didn't even notice/think about it at the time.
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