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$149 Chromebooks

chrome.blogspot.com

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Re: $149 Chromebooks

#21

Post by mcintyre1994 »

na85 wrote: post #11

I'd definitely consider using a Chromebook if the offline functionality works. My understanding from people I know working at Google is that the offline Docs and Gmail experience is pretty sub-par at the moment. I guess if you pop out their SSD for a larger one it'd make a decent BSD netbook. Bitrig[0] is slowly but surely getting better. [0] https://www.bitrig.org/

I haven't actually used a Chromebook but I'm surprised they're struggling with offline functionality. Android does just fine on spotty connections - at least Google's apps do - I wonder why they don't have a few mobile experienced engineers help out revamping so their apps just assume a crap connection and deal with it the same way they would on mobile.

Re: $149 Chromebooks

#22

Post by josefresco »

dpcan wrote: post #6

Where is the $149 Windows-Based laptop with SSD, 2-4GB RAM, and moderate graphics, that can run your usual Office to Minecraft software? The Chromebook-killer from Microsoft should be here, but all I hear about are the Surfaces. Honestly, the only reason my kids don't have Chromebooks is because they don't easily run Minecraft or downloadable games. Sure they can do their school work on them, but they also like to pl…

$149 is ridiculously cheap and I don't think Microsoft wants, or should want to operate in that market.

At the $200-$300 price range there are many Windows choices - most with significantly better hardware and features.

Microsoft: Leave the sub $200 market to others and leverage your online services to sell to those consumers.

Re: $149 Chromebooks

#23

Post by discardorama »

Zikes wrote: post #18
discardorama wrote: post #14

Can one wipe out a Chromebook and install Linux?

Or dual-boot, even. http://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-run-both-chrome-os-and-ubu...

From that link: "you must download a tool known as Crouton, which will allow Ubuntu to run on top of Chrome OS"

No, I don't want to run Ubuntu on top of of Chrome OS; I want to completely wipe out Chrome.

Re: $149 Chromebooks

#24

Post by not-much-io »

I own a Acer c720p Chromebook and I have to say it is a wonderful machine. I now only use my main PC for programming, and I even do that sometimes by SSH from my chromebook.

Main point: * Great battery life * Lightning fast * Small/Thin

For me it is a perfect cheap laptop to use as a goto for all my less resource intensive activities. (reading, youtube, chat etc.) I might get a bigger 15 inch one so I am happy to see Chromebooks developing. I am having a hard time figuring out who would use a chromebit though..

Re: $149 Chromebooks

#25

Post by smackfu »

dpcan wrote: post #6

Where is the $149 Windows-Based laptop with SSD, 2-4GB RAM, and moderate graphics, that can run your usual Office to Minecraft software? The Chromebook-killer from Microsoft should be here, but all I hear about are the Surfaces. Honestly, the only reason my kids don't have Chromebooks is because they don't easily run Minecraft or downloadable games. Sure they can do their school work on them, but they also like to pl…

This is running an ARM chip, not an x86 one.

Re: $149 Chromebooks

#26

Post by georgemcbay »

dpcan wrote: post #9
alexsop2 wrote: post #3

I think the bigger news here is the Chromebit. A $100 device that turns any monitor into a computer? Fascinating.

I thought this was interesting too... but are you also carrying around a keyboard and mouse?

Not necessarily.

I do virtually all my work split between my home office and an actual workplace office. Currently I drag a laptop back and forth between the two, but having a monitor/keyboard/mouse at both (which I already do and dock the laptop into) and just bringing a small stick literally in my pocket that I can plug in to either place and get my full, familiar, always-up-to-date development environment is very appealing.

Obviously YMMV depending upon use case, for me a full laptop (even a small one) is overkill for what I need for a work machine, since I never really use it anyplace other than work or home and in both places I plug it into "full-sized" keyboard/mouse/monitors anyway.

Since I do Android development, ChromeOS isn't the ideal platform for this, but I suspect these sticks will run crouton like other ChromeOS devices...

Re: $149 Chromebooks

#29

Post by yellowapple »

mintplant wrote: post #4

So there are two models available at $149: Haier - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00V3DYVLM Hisense - http://www.walmart.com/ip/44389793#about Which looks better?

I personally like the Haier's appearance more than the Hisense's. I dig the whole carbon-fiber aesthetic.

Re: $149 Chromebooks

#30

Post by vially »

philip1209 wrote: post #17
alexsop2 wrote: post #3

I think the bigger news here is the Chromebit. A $100 device that turns any monitor into a computer? Fascinating.

It seems like a good alternative to raspberry pis. We use these types of small computers to power dashboards, and frankly the Pis are a pain to set up for this purpose. I hope the Chromebit works well for just loading a website.

That's exactly why I was considering buying a raspberry pi for. Have you also considered the chromecast for this (maybe by creating a custom app/plugin for your dashboard)?
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