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Unboxing a $100 Chromebook

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Re: Unboxing a $100 Chromebook

#171

Post by agraddy »

lloeki wrote: post #143
agraddy wrote: post #54

I do all my work on an under $200 Chromebook. I have a VPS where I do all the actual work. I use Mosh and TMUX for connecting and saving my different projects (I'm a freelance developer who is often juggling multiple clients). Basically, the Chromebook is just an SSH client and a web browser (I can also boot into Linux if needed - slightly different than described in the Tweets). I've been doing this for years. The b…

> I do all my work on an under $200 Chromebook. I have a VPS where I do all the actual work. Arguably you do all your work through (not on ) a $200 Chromebook then ;) Somehow the Chromebook acts as a glorified keyboard+display tied via a very long cable to a several thousands dollar machine that you rent! (I get that you can run Linux, and that this machine handles browsing as well, and I'm not judging the setup, it…

Just to clarify, I use a $5/mo DigitalOcean droplet plus an extra dollar or two for backup and then a rsync.net account (that I use for other backup purposes too). Off the top of my head, that is the extent of my expenses for this set up (it's possible I might be forgetting/missing something).

And you are correct, that I work through the Chromebook but when the other monthly expenses don't exceed the cost of lunch, I don't think there is too much missing subtext.

Re: Unboxing a $100 Chromebook

#172

Post by 1vuio0pswjnm7 »

robbintt wrote: post #103
yjftsjthsd-h wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Oh sure; x86 Chromebooks that support https://mrchromebox.tech firmware upgrades are actually some of the nicest Linux laptops on the market once they've been unlocked and flashed. I just want to call out that the author is precisely backwards and Crostini is a VM and a container and not bare Linux on hardware. Edit: There's also Crouton, for an intermediate option that does need developer mode.

I used mrchromebox with a 2018 pixelbook and compiling a kernel has been a serious pain, and I'm just copying others' hard work.

Did you start with Google's "approved" kernel config and then modify it.

Re: Unboxing a $100 Chromebook

#173

Post by farmin »

prox wrote: post #156
farmin wrote: post #153

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's cool. Didn't know Safari had dev tools on ipad. I did try blink. I wanted to get vscode running via SSH plugin from a vps but didn't have patience to figure it out. Then I realised I should just use my laptop.

You also have various dev tools as apps. What’s also nice is to use a VNC to get the power of my workstation when I am away. Another big selling point is the long battery life.

The vnc thing rocks. I've installed uis on cheap remote dedicated servers. I would do my satellite imagery exploratory work via VNC that way since up about 2018 internet was a big problem here. In server could download 10gb imagery at super speeds and play around qgis. Rented server generally faster than my laptop too and somehow only $49/month. Tight vnc is great at holding connection and low bandwidth.

I wonder though on vnc via ipad, how do you use mouse? I imagine touch support would be an issue in many desktop applications.

Re: Unboxing a $100 Chromebook

#174

Post by yjftsjthsd-h »

public_defender wrote: post #136
yjftsjthsd-h wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Oh sure; x86 Chromebooks that support https://mrchromebox.tech firmware upgrades are actually some of the nicest Linux laptops on the market once they've been unlocked and flashed. I just want to call out that the author is precisely backwards and Crostini is a VM and a container and not bare Linux on hardware. Edit: There's also Crouton, for an intermediate option that does need developer mode.

I didn't know about Mr. Chromebox. Very cool. You can also press CTRL+D at boot when you have dev mode enabled to boot an OS from external storage. This is viable on ARM architectures with, for example, Arch Linux ARM.

You can, but it's loud, freezes boot for 30s or until you hit the key combo, and if you hit the wrong key it wipes your device. Developer mode is a decent escape hatch but I wouldn't want to use it in "normal" use.

Re: Unboxing a $100 Chromebook

#175

Post by neurostimulant »

farmin wrote: post #173
prox wrote: post #156

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You also have various dev tools as apps. What’s also nice is to use a VNC to get the power of my workstation when I am away. Another big selling point is the long battery life.

The vnc thing rocks. I've installed uis on cheap remote dedicated servers. I would do my satellite imagery exploratory work via VNC that way since up about 2018 internet was a big problem here. In server could download 10gb imagery at super speeds and play around qgis. Rented server generally faster than my laptop too and somehow only $49/month. Tight vnc is great at holding connection and low bandwidth. I wonder tho…

Recent version of iPadOS supports bluetooth mouse now: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211008

Re: Unboxing a $100 Chromebook

#176

Post by public_defender »

yjftsjthsd-h wrote: post #174
public_defender wrote: post #136

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I didn't know about Mr. Chromebox. Very cool. You can also press CTRL+D at boot when you have dev mode enabled to boot an OS from external storage. This is viable on ARM architectures with, for example, Arch Linux ARM.

You can, but it's loud, freezes boot for 30s or until you hit the key combo, and if you hit the wrong key it wipes your device. Developer mode is a decent escape hatch but I wouldn't want to use it in "normal" use.

Yes, this is what I meant by "not the most frictionless experience."

However in my mind it was all paid back to me 100 fold when a customs officer at an international border tried to open my laptop and examine it, but was subjected to the sonic-boom beeping of dev mode boot timeout.

Re: Unboxing a $100 Chromebook

#177

Post by farmin »

neurostimulant wrote: post #175
farmin wrote: post #173

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The vnc thing rocks. I've installed uis on cheap remote dedicated servers. I would do my satellite imagery exploratory work via VNC that way since up about 2018 internet was a big problem here. In server could download 10gb imagery at super speeds and play around qgis. Rented server generally faster than my laptop too and somehow only $49/month. Tight vnc is great at holding connection and low bandwidth. I wonder tho…

Recent version of iPadOS supports bluetooth mouse now: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211008

Ok that changes things. I just saw too some keyboard/case combos have touch pads below the keyboard. Anyone have any recommendations?

Re: Unboxing a $100 Chromebook

#178

Post by robbintt »

1vuio0pswjnm7 wrote: post #172
robbintt wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I used mrchromebox with a 2018 pixelbook and compiling a kernel has been a serious pain, and I'm just copying others' hard work.

Did you start with Google's "approved" kernel config and then modify it.

No, do you have a link to that? I can track back to my other sources and maybe do a better job.

Re: Unboxing a $100 Chromebook

#179

Post by fauigerzigerk »

agraddy wrote: post #171
lloeki wrote: post #143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I do all my work on an under $200 Chromebook. I have a VPS where I do all the actual work. Arguably you do all your work through (not on ) a $200 Chromebook then ;) Somehow the Chromebook acts as a glorified keyboard+display tied via a very long cable to a several thousands dollar machine that you rent! (I get that you can run Linux, and that this machine handles browsing as well, and I'm not judging the setup, it…

Just to clarify, I use a $5/mo DigitalOcean droplet plus an extra dollar or two for backup and then a rsync.net account (that I use for other backup purposes too). Off the top of my head, that is the extent of my expenses for this set up (it's possible I might be forgetting/missing something). And you are correct, that I work through the Chromebook but when the other monthly expenses don't exceed the cost of lunch, I…

So you're spending ~$80 per year for DO plus $180 for the hardware. Over 5 years that's $580 (if that Chromebook really makes it to 5 years and DO's prices remain unchanged). This is about half of what you'd have to spend on a local dev setup with similar capabilities.

Not bad, but I think whether or not it makes sense depends entirely on the productivity difference between the two setups.

Re: Unboxing a $100 Chromebook

#180

Post by agraddy »

fauigerzigerk wrote: post #179
agraddy wrote: post #171

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just to clarify, I use a $5/mo DigitalOcean droplet plus an extra dollar or two for backup and then a rsync.net account (that I use for other backup purposes too). Off the top of my head, that is the extent of my expenses for this set up (it's possible I might be forgetting/missing something). And you are correct, that I work through the Chromebook but when the other monthly expenses don't exceed the cost of lunch, I…

So you're spending ~$80 per year for DO plus $180 for the hardware. Over 5 years that's $580 (if that Chromebook really makes it to 5 years and DO's prices remain unchanged). This is about half of what you'd have to spend on a local dev setup with similar capabilities. Not bad, but I think whether or not it makes sense depends entirely on the productivity difference between the two setups.

I started working like this in the summer of 2017 so I'm right at the 5 year mark with this setup (I actually need to get a new device and DO's prices have remained the same - I think they've actually gotten cheaper and I'm on a more expensive plan - $5 vs now they have a $4 option).

Due to my client work, I need an online test server so I'd be paying for a test VPS either way.

Being able to open my Chromebook and tmux into any project in about ~15 seconds provides enormous productivity gains for me. Not sure if I mentioned this previously, but I'm a freelance developer and sometimes juggling 6-8 clients at a time so being able to pull up any project at any time from any device with SSH access is very powerful for me.

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