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2015 Chromebook Pixel

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581–590 of 657 posts

Re: 2015 Chromebook Pixel

#582

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Where did you see this? I tried adding it to my cart and I don't see the option. And I don't see it in their 'configuration' description.

The mystery of Dell's website. Go back to Google and search again. Dell gives you different options (and prices) depending on how you enter and navigate the web site. It's a maze of wonderful discovery! Usability at its finest!

Dell uses targeted discount links. People post on 'deal' forums. The lower prices available on Google search results are special offers that people posted. They won't be accessible through the standard menu.

It's Dells model: coupons, discounts, offers, combo offers and all.

Re: 2015 Chromebook Pixel

#583
post #491

Owner of a last-gen Pixel here. I don't see myself upgrading any time soon, but as far as refreshes go, this one seems to address most of my complaints, namely: - More RAM - Better battery life / charge time - USB-C ports Here's what I'm not sure if it will fix: - Overheating (original Pixel gets HOT on the top-left corner where I'm guessing the CPU resides) - OpenVPN support (ChromeOS does not support simply loading…

No UBS-C port was one of your complaints? I didn't even know it existed until two days ago!

USB-C has been "a standard" since August last year [1]. The new MacBook and, now this Chromebook, are amongst the first devices to support it. This is actually pretty quick adoption of a new port standard. I think the industry is really going to get behind USB-C as it has almost all of the advantages of the competition, and is a compatible upgrade path for older peripherals. Thus we only need one port to support the new devices, as well as the old.

[1]: http://www.usb.org/developers/docs/

Re: 2015 Chromebook Pixel

#584
I could see myself installing Windows on it. I mean why not? The touchscreen screams for a Windows version >=8.

Disclaimer: I currently own two Macbooks (15"retina, 11" air). I use Windows usually in a VM and Linux in the data center.

Re: 2015 Chromebook Pixel

#585

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Where did you see this? I tried adding it to my cart and I don't see the option. And I don't see it in their 'configuration' description.

Don't buy from Dell. Buy it from the Microsoft Store: http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/pdp/Dell-XPS... Benefits of MS Store: 1) It's signature edition PC which means it's a pure copy of Windows 8.1. No trialware, no bloat, or any other crap. Even if you end up dual-booting into Ubuntu or Elementary OS, it's nice to have a clean copy of Windows. 2) You can take it into a local Microsoft Store if you hav…

That's an absolutely terrible idea if you intend to run Linux on it. If you select the Ubuntu version and it's preloaded with Ubuntu at factory then Dell knows that it's worth working (and paying for) Linux support. If you take a Windows version and load Linux later then Dell things you are a Windows user and won't care about Linux support.

This is one of the biggest issues with Lenovo even though lots of Linux people run them.

Re: 2015 Chromebook Pixel

#586

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What most people have missed is that USB allows charging and data over the same port. So you can easily get a power adapter that has a charging tip which has on the same cord another USB-C port (socket) which you can plug into your display chain, or port replicator or what not. In Apple's case I fully expect they will make it so that when you plug your Apple display into your laptop it also charges it since the charg…

What about when you're not using the power adapter? Even two USB ports on my MacBook "Pro" is too limited for my daily use case. I use a USB yubikey for multifactor auth with LastPass and it takes up one USB slot permanently. I prefer wired mice, so my mouse takes up the second USB port. If I want to charge my phone, Fitbit or in the past Google Glass with the USB port, I have to unplug my mouse. I would not buy the…

Say it had three ports, you would really buy an underpowered thinner Pro for the same amount of money? I didn't think so...

Re: 2015 Chromebook Pixel

#587
post #554

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But why wouldn't you get the Dell XPS 13 instead? (Linux edition coming out soon.) The Pixel is heavier than the MBA, while the XPS is lighter/slimmer and has a real harddrive. There are minor trade-offs here and there but it's the limitation of ChromeOS that really makes this a strange option. I myself am debating both options, but I've ordered a Pixel specifically because I'm hoping the keyboard is a bit better tha…

As someone who runs Linux and ChromeOS on my personal laptops, was looking at the XPS, and just ordered a Pixel, I can answer that: 1. Chromebook is zero-hassle. It's great that Dell is putting native Ubuntu on their laptops, but fundamentally those are still machines that were designed for Windows first and awkwardly adapted to Linux. They'll always have a few niggling issues that a designed-for-ChromeOS machine won…

Your point (1) is incorrect, actually the reverse of the truth. Dell specifically deserves credit for sourcing and designing the XPS hardware to natively support Ubuntu. There are no "niggling issues" because hardware components and all elements of the supply chain are required to work with Canonical to ensure that Ubuntu is a full experience.

So sorry but the XPS range is a "Linux-first laptop" in the sense that you mean - Dell deserves credit for that work.

Both Dell and Google basically work to define a spec requirement, then put it out to tender to ODM's to respond. In both cases part of the design requirements will have been certification for the OS. For Google it would be ChromeOS, for the XPS from Dell it was Ubuntu and Windows - Window will work anyway for obvious reasons, but it means additional work for the ODM and Dell to ensure that Ubuntu works.

Re: 2015 Chromebook Pixel

#588
post #338

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I always recommend getting a warranty through your insurance company. My wife got a surface pro, and in her hands I give it a 2 year half-life. We got a personal articles policy on it that is about 45$ a year, and it covers any situation except terrorism or government/cdc seizure. Those policies are a good read. Squaretrade was over 100$ a year and did not cover theft etc. Oh and no deductible. She broke the 60$ char…

Or you live in Europe and 2 years of warranty on new electronics is the law, not the premium.

Yes, except that it's not really the case(not always). Personally, I come from a EU country where it is the law(Poland) so everything has to come with 2 years warranty, but living in the UK, it's really hard to exercise the 2 year warranty given by the EU law. Basically it protects you from manufacturing defects within those 2 years, if you buy a laptop with a 1-year warranty and a hard drive dies after 1.5 years it's still up to you to prove that it died because of manufacturing defect, which in all likelihood you won't be able to do.

Re: 2015 Chromebook Pixel

#590

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> Except that this display does not exist. Yet. Neither does the laptop, by the way. By the time it launches, I expect it'll be surrounded by a fairly decent line of accessories.

Just like Thunderbolt? I'm not holding my breath, but I do think USB has a better chance of a successful accessory ecosystem.

Because if anyone has ever thought that Thunderbolt would be used for all accessories they were very, very, very wrong. You wouldn't plug in a printer, or a flash drive, directly to a Pciexpress bus, would you? There's simply no need. And yet, this is pretty much exactly what Thunderbolt is. It's fantastic for things which need this kind of connector - external graphics cards, 10Gb optical network cards, RAID controllers - but not pendrives.
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