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The Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition

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Re: The Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition

#421

Post by reacharavindh »

askvictor wrote: post #328
kelnos wrote: post #322

I hesitated posting this, because I don't want to be too negative, but: ugh. ChromeOS is just more Google adware/tracking-ware, locking people into the Google ecosystem, and (by default, at least) creating a more locked-down environment than a general-purpose OS would have (not quite iOS or even Android, but still not with the flexibility of a "mainstream" OS). I feel like Framework could be spending their time doing…

While I share your concerns, the user experience and security of ChromeOS is so much nicer than Windows, or Linux (haven't used a Mac for ages so can't compare), for most tasks for most people. It's what I'd recommend to my grandparents. Also, completely disagree with your point about locking people into Google ecosystem - this is an OS that just runs a web browser. You need a Google account to log in, sure (actually…

You disagree about the lock-in with Google and then go on to acknowledge that one would need a Google account to login? I’m struggling to understand your logic.

I would love a streamlined Linux desktop that is as technically sound as what ChromeOS does - isolations, integral updates etc. The fact that it comes with a forced leaky pipe to Google mothership to feed their ad monster is a non-starter. We at HN should stop calling it secure*(except you know Google tracking you).

PS. I feel the same way about Windows. So, may be I’m just a grey beard yelling at the sky.

Re: The Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition

#422

Post by PlqnK »

_nalply wrote: post #420
Self-Perfection wrote: post #387

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you have an example what might go wrong? I cannot imagine how can one mess up desktop Linux system without root privileges. Totally fill up the storage maybe?

They go to a shady website telling them to open a terminal and entering `sudo rm -fr /`, and you got unlucky that they entered the same password they used when logging in. But! It's your fault! They shouldn't be able to sudo! But that's the point. If they couldn't sudo, they could do something else as disastrous. It is difficult to secure a Linux system if the user is allowed to log in. If I needed to give someone ac…

Without sudo privileges the worst they can do is nuke their own home directory, nothing else because that's the only path where they have write access.

Re: The Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition

#423

Post by askvictor »

reacharavindh wrote: post #421
askvictor wrote: post #328

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While I share your concerns, the user experience and security of ChromeOS is so much nicer than Windows, or Linux (haven't used a Mac for ages so can't compare), for most tasks for most people. It's what I'd recommend to my grandparents. Also, completely disagree with your point about locking people into Google ecosystem - this is an OS that just runs a web browser. You need a Google account to log in, sure (actually…

You disagree about the lock-in with Google and then go on to acknowledge that one would need a Google account to login? I’m struggling to understand your logic. I would love a streamlined Linux desktop that is as technically sound as what ChromeOS does - isolations, integral updates etc. The fact that it comes with a forced leaky pipe to Google mothership to feed their ad monster is a non-starter. We at HN should sto…

Lock-in is when you can't (or it's too difficult/expensive to) change to another platform. Requiring a Google login to access a Chromebook ain't that. You don't need to like or agree with it (it would be nice to have the option of a local-only login), but it's different to lock-in (just like privacy is different to security)

Re: The Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition

#424

Post by enriquto »

askvictor wrote: post #328
kelnos wrote: post #322

I hesitated posting this, because I don't want to be too negative, but: ugh. ChromeOS is just more Google adware/tracking-ware, locking people into the Google ecosystem, and (by default, at least) creating a more locked-down environment than a general-purpose OS would have (not quite iOS or even Android, but still not with the flexibility of a "mainstream" OS). I feel like Framework could be spending their time doing…

While I share your concerns, the user experience and security of ChromeOS is so much nicer than Windows, or Linux (haven't used a Mac for ages so can't compare), for most tasks for most people. It's what I'd recommend to my grandparents. Also, completely disagree with your point about locking people into Google ecosystem - this is an OS that just runs a web browser. You need a Google account to log in, sure (actually…

> this is an OS that just runs a web browser

> You need a Google account to log in

These two sentences are contradictory, aren't they? You do not need a google account to run a web browser.

If it really was an OS that "just" ran a web browser, you would be able to run said browser without being forced to use a google account that spies on your web browsing behavior.

Re: The Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition

#425

Post by neogodless »

gotbeans wrote: post #347
askvictor wrote: post #328

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While I share your concerns, the user experience and security of ChromeOS is so much nicer than Windows, or Linux (haven't used a Mac for ages so can't compare), for most tasks for most people. It's what I'd recommend to my grandparents. Also, completely disagree with your point about locking people into Google ecosystem - this is an OS that just runs a web browser. You need a Google account to log in, sure (actually…

It all boils down to if what you want is an OS or a browser. If an OS is good enough feature and security wise though, there's no reason to just want the browser for the same price. > You need a Google account to log in This is absolutely blatany lock in, let's not sugarcoat or pretend it is not at least.

How is that lock-in? Lock-in to what?

Could you not access your Google account on a Linux, macOS or Windows computer?

Could you also simply not use that Google account while using those other systems?

Re: The Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition

#426

Post by arein3 »

warent wrote: post #47
nrp wrote: post #2

I'm happy to answer questions anyone has on this product!

Hey there, just wanted to share my experience with you. I've used Macbooks for the past like 6 years for programming, after several jobs in Silicon Valley required it. Apple has been pretty much okay except for some key issues around memory consumption and overheating. After they hit a supply line issue earlier this year, I decided to try getting a Framework instead. Been using my Framework laptop for a month or so n…

And then everybody clapped

Re: The Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition

#427

Post by RunSet »

Halan wrote: post #257

The words chromebook and privacy in the same marketing material for a product that clearly targets power users is an audacious choice

An operating system developed by the world's largest advertising corporation and the privacy of hardware camera and microphone switches:

Nuts and gum, together at last.

Re: The Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition

#428

Post by dkarl »

PascLeRasc wrote: post #57
nrp wrote: post #2

I'm happy to answer questions anyone has on this product!

Thank you so much for making a keyboard without a Windows key and for selling it separately as well. The product page says it’s only compatible with the Chromebook edition though, does this just mean the function keys won’t be mapped or that it won’t work at all?

Does it have another key in its place? The Windows key is one of my favorite things about Linux in a desktop/laptop machine: a key that isn't used by any applications, which I can dedicate entirely towards window management, without worrying that it will conflict with any application key bindings.

Re: The Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition

#429

Post by isr »

aussiesnack wrote: post #388
isr wrote: post #382

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Actually, I don't believe this is accurate. There is a single "desktop" user on chrome os - 'chronos'. Even when you login with different accounts, everything is still running as chronos (id 1000). What happens is that there are separate loopback filesystems, 1 per each "google account", all stored under /mnt/stateful_partition. These filesystems are encrypted (ecryptfs). When you login, the relevant filesystem is de…

Interesting, thanks. That's something then - I don't know much about ChromeOS. I've considered it for parents, but in the end have opted for something modest running one Linux or another. A true laptop-appliance with an immutable-ish OS, decent security and fast/easy updates is actually a quite compelling notion. I'd be pretty uncomfortable with it not being local-first for user data though.

Actually, in many ways, what you're asking for in your 2nd paragraph is pretty much what chrome os is.

BTW, chrome os is actually gentoo linux under the hood (with the portage pkg manager stripped out at the end). At one time, there was even a shell script doing the rounds which put portage back on it.

Your larger point re: Google reliance is still a valid one, but one which holds true even if you run chrome on another linux distro. If you really look at it, I'm not sure if a chromebook is less private than that.

Re: The Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition

#430

Post by snvzz »

freedomben wrote: post #105
asdfk-12 wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Would an ARM-based mainboard variant be a possibility down the line?

I'd also love to see a RISC-V variant at some point when it makes sense.

I'd rather wait for a RISC-V variant than waste any of my time with ARM.
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