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$149 Chromebooks
31–40 of 425 posts
Re: $149 Chromebooks
#32Earlier quoted context omitted.
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.
Yeah, you can. Usually you unscrew the laptop, remove a screw on the motherboard and you get SeaBIOS and you can install any distro you want.
Re: $149 Chromebooks
#33Earlier quoted context omitted.
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.
Think of it as using the ChromeOS kernel (which suits the hardware configuration perfectly) and then running the Ubuntu userspace (which co-exists with the Chrome OS userspace).
Even if you don't use the Chrome OS userspace much, removing it won't save you enough to make it worth it.
Re: $149 Chromebooks
#34Where 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…
Microsoft isn't as good at collecting and reselling all of your personal information, so have to charge the actual cost of the hardware.
Re: $149 Chromebooks
#35So 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?
If the tech specs are to be believed, Haier is significantly underclocking the same SoC, presumably to extend battery life.
Re: $149 Chromebooks
#36Where 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…
Microsoft isn't as good at collecting and reselling all of your personal information, so have to charge the actual cost of the hardware.
> Microsoft isn't as good at collecting and reselling all of your personal information, so have to charge the actual cost of the hardware.
Google does not sell your personal information in any way. They use it for their own advertising purposes, but they don't sell it to anyone, in any form.
Re: $149 Chromebooks
#37I think the bigger news here is the Chromebit. A $100 device that turns any monitor into a computer? Fascinating.
More details on Cnet - http://www.cnet.com/uk/products/asus-chromebit/ Bluetooth 4.0, WiFi 802.11AC, USB 2.0 for accessories, 2GB of RAM and 16GB SSD
Wow. AC wireless in a $100 device. Now I'm interested.
What does it do for power? Through the USB port like most other similar devices I'm assuming?
Re: $149 Chromebooks
#38I'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 bought a Chromebook Pixel 2015. The first thing it asks, when you turn it on, is for an Internet connection. You cannot go past the first-boot panel until you give it internet access, then agree to Google's ToS which says you'll let them auto-install updates at anytime, and then let it try to download updates from Google. Then you must log in to a Google account.
I didn't bother with ChromeOS enough to see how well offline apps work. The laptop does not have any screws, and I'm told the SSD is soldered on even if I knew how to take the laptop apart without breaking it.
That being said, there are magical keystrokes you can use to bypass even the intro "first boot" panels to switch the laptop into "developer mode" which you can use to wipe ChromeOS and install a real Linux. Much of the hardware isn't supported by mainline kernels, but Google has a lot of that sourcecode online, so I'm trying to compile my own module to get the touchpad to work in Debian.
That's all experirence with a different product than what we're talking about here, but my anecdotal observations are that ChromeOS fundamentally expects internet access, and it might not be possible to upgrade the hardware and get a comfortable setup with a real Linux or BSD.
Re: $149 Chromebooks
#39Earlier quoted context omitted.
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.
Yes, there are plenty of howtos on how to do this. The only downside is you have to enable developer mode, so you lose trusted boot.
Re: $149 Chromebooks
#40Earlier quoted context omitted.
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.
It depends a bit on the model, but in general yes you can. I haven't done it on a Chromebook, but I've completely wiped out ChromeOS and ran Arch on an Asus Chromebox (using instructions meant for the very similar C300 Chromebook). Worked perfectly, great little machine. Only hiccup was I had to flash a custom bios.