Unboxing a $100 Chromebook • Hacker News Board

Re: Unboxing a $100 Chromebook

#71

Post by ziml77 » Sat, Jul 23, 2022, 5:00 AM UTC

laurencerowe wrote: post #61

shrubble wrote: post #4

https://www.microcenter.com/product/649971/evolve-iii-maestr... On sale $59.99 ; regular price $79.99. Smallish keyboard however...

Sadly it appears to only have read only storage (64GB ROM.) Kinda cool in a retro way I guess.

They're definitely referring to the flash storage as ROM here. It's not entirely inaccurate since flash is a type of EEPROM (but still mostly inaccurate because that "electronically erasable, programmable" part is a seriously powerful modifier to the "read-only memory" part)

Re: Unboxing a $100 Chromebook

#72

Post by CameronNemo » Sat, Jul 23, 2022, 5:05 AM UTC

laurencerowe wrote: post #61

shrubble wrote: post #4

https://www.microcenter.com/product/649971/evolve-iii-maestr... On sale $59.99 ; regular price $79.99. Smallish keyboard however...

Sadly it appears to only have read only storage (64GB ROM.) Kinda cool in a retro way I guess.

Surely that has to be a mistake?

Re: Unboxing a $100 Chromebook

#73

Post by squarefoot » Sat, Jul 23, 2022, 5:09 AM UTC

prvc wrote: post #57

bitwize wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Assuming the machine still works, unscrew the bootloader screw, wipe and put regular Linux on.

Can this be done for all models? My impression was that this is no longer possible in many cases.

Just like Chromeboxes, some models require the removal of a screw or a jumper while others need a special USB cable (cheap and easy to diy). I don't know about other models preventing the unlock, but if they do exist I would avoid them at any cost.

You can find here if your model is supported: https://mrchromebox.tech/#devices

Re: Unboxing a $100 Chromebook

#74

Post by robgibbons » Sat, Jul 23, 2022, 5:28 AM UTC

thelastgallon wrote: post #42

Now we can do One Laptop Per Child. [1] [1] The project originally aimed for a price of 100 US dollars. In May 2006, Negroponte told the Red Hat's annual user summit: "It is a floating price. We are a nonprofit organization. We have a target of $100 by 2008, but probably it will be $135, maybe $140."[32] A BBC news article in April 2010 indicated the price still remained above $200: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_…

As it happens, there's one on eBay right now for $99.

Re: Unboxing a $100 Chromebook

#75

Post by imperialdrive » Sat, Jul 23, 2022, 5:35 AM UTC

jasoneckert wrote: post #15

While I have no use case for a Celeron-based Chromebook myself, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this tweet thread as it progresses beautifully while examining the cost-feature angle via multiple humorous analogies. In other words, it's a beautifully designed tweet thread that keeps the reader entertained.

It was a great read, I agree. It reminds me of using unboxing mine for first time and being equally blown away. Amazing machines. They were backordered for almost a YEAR due to schools/business/everyone sucking them up as fast as they could. Glad to hear they are readily available again.

Re: Unboxing a $100 Chromebook

#76

Post by ge96 » Sat, Jul 23, 2022, 5:40 AM UTC

thelastgallon wrote: post #42

Now we can do One Laptop Per Child. [1] [1] The project originally aimed for a price of 100 US dollars. In May 2006, Negroponte told the Red Hat's annual user summit: "It is a floating price. We are a nonprofit organization. We have a target of $100 by 2008, but probably it will be $135, maybe $140."[32] A BBC news article in April 2010 indicated the price still remained above $200: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_…

Was reading a book on this "The Charisma Machine" about the precocious child heh. Ideals vs. reality.

Re: Unboxing a $100 Chromebook

#77

Post by buildbot » Sat, Jul 23, 2022, 5:42 AM UTC

Mandatum wrote: post #11

saagarjha wrote: post #5

> It even has USB-C ports on BOTH sides of the device, which seems to be a Pro-level feature for Apple. Not trying to nitpick or anything but Apple used to offer USB ports on both sides of their non-Pro laptops, but in the new ones they offer Thunderbolt ports rather than USB C. My understanding is that they only offer ports on one side to let them only need to use one Thunderbolt controller. (The Pro machines with 3…

I’m pretty sure they did this for thermals. It’s a really common issue to resolve thermal throttling by changing your power cable from left to the right side so the power from energy draw doesn’t cause heat to dissipate internally.

I think that was specifically an Intel Mac only problem, because the thunderbolt controllers were separate (and decently high power, 5w?) chips.

Re: Unboxing a $100 Chromebook

#78

Post by edent » Sat, Jul 23, 2022, 5:47 AM UTC

I guess the real question is - why is Flutter so resource heavy and slow?

We live in an age of algorithmic optimisation. Surely it should be unremarkable that a cheap computer can run modern services?

Re: Unboxing a $100 Chromebook

#79

Post by modeless » Sat, Jul 23, 2022, 5:50 AM UTC

I wish there was a cheapish Chromebook with a 120 Hz display. I'd use it mostly as a dumb terminal but I really don't want to buy 60 Hz screens anymore.

Re: Unboxing a $100 Chromebook

#80

Post by throwaway2056 » Sat, Jul 23, 2022, 5:52 AM UTC

pleb_nz wrote: post #55

I wonder what landfill alot of these things will end up on in a few years. Be good to see more framework style stuff with a focus on long term usage.

Everything is dependent on the user. It has updates until June 2027. Assuming the author keeps it will last 5 years.

Sure there some thinkpad stalewarts or desktop (using 500W power) that are running from decades. But these devices have puny chargers, less electricity - just works.

May be less local power is OK.