Live data from Hacker News

Chrome OS has stalled out

androidpolice.com

191–200 of 205 posts

Re: Chrome OS has stalled out

#191
post #8
post #6

Since 2013 the main computer I used was the Acer C720. i3, 4 gig of RAM chromebook. Never had an issue with it. Runs as fast now as it did then. It quit receiving updates in June of 2019. Never understood the thought process behind this as supporting the machine is probably negligible given the platform. I looked at other chromebook solutions, but unless I wanted to spend close to $1000 there was nothing close perfor…

The Acer C720 used a 3.8 Linux kernel, as documented at [1]. Updating to a new kernel would have required a full QA of the hardware to make sure that the device drivers in a newer kernel still worked correctly with that hardware. [1] https://www.chromium.org/chromium-os/developer-information-f... Support costs aren't too bad so long as you don't have to update the kernel and requal everything. But newer userspace sta…

That is exactly what I do not like about systems such a Chrome OS and Windows. I want the choice about upgrading the kernel. The Linux kernel is quite good about not breaking user-space applications.

I have an Acer C720 that have been running Linux for 5 years. Now it has Debian with a 5.4.0 kernel and it works just fine.

In the beginning it was running Ubuntu which also worked fine. I got it because the SSD died a year ago, but I run Linux from an SD-card.

Re: Chrome OS has stalled out

#192
post #184

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can still switch between accounts on ChromeOS. I do this on my Google issued Pixelbook daily. Once you're signed into the other account, you can switch quite easily with + ,

Sorry, to be clear, it switches all of your windows like a separate desktop. I like having both windows available simultaneously. I realize this is a nit picky complaint, and I am in the minority.

You can run the embedded Linux and then run Firefox there. Also, with multiple workspaces now supported I'm funded less reason to grab the mac (bettertouchtool being one thing). I even have vscode running full screen in another orksoace and can easily swap over.

Re: Chrome OS has stalled out

#193

I use Chrome OS daily to do my job and I think it is fantastic. IMO it is the ultimate work machine for your average knowledge worker. At my company, all the software that we use is web-based (SaaS), with the exception of software engineers, who are using local tools to develop web based applications. For non-engineers, the OS provides an extremely simple client to use to do their job. The OS is a slightly better web…

I have to respectfully disagree on the "well-functioning" adjective attached to their linux container system. Comparing Windows 10 WSL Ubuntu (default), Termux on a Pixel phone, and Debian (default) on a Pixel Slate... the slate is the worst. It renders text worse than the pixel phone and has about as much runtime capability as Termux on Android. Windows 10 WSL2 is going to be even better.

Every OS can be treated like cattle now. Games are in the cloud (Steam), package managers exist for every OS (homebrew, linuxbrew, chocolate) and installed-software manifests can be backed up to GitHub. It took Google years to add basic backup to its Linux system, and if you've customized the text settings for the console then ChromeOS is still not like cattle and you will have more setup to do.

(Termux is a phenomenal project. So glad it exists.)

Re: Chrome OS has stalled out

#194

I use Chrome OS daily to do my job and I think it is fantastic. IMO it is the ultimate work machine for your average knowledge worker. At my company, all the software that we use is web-based (SaaS), with the exception of software engineers, who are using local tools to develop web based applications. For non-engineers, the OS provides an extremely simple client to use to do their job. The OS is a slightly better web…

I don't think relying on a third party and especially one that is as fickle as Google to do the most basic workload is a sound idea. I won't be surprised if Google kills Chrome OS in the near future, as they killed a lot of stuff already[0]. I don't trust Google anymore. [0]: https://killedbygoogle.com/

That's an issue for the web services, not Chrome OS, given that the appeal of Chrome OS is not installing apps or keeping data locally.

You can switch to 'anything' running Chrome as a replacement.

Re: Chrome OS has stalled out

#195

I use Chrome OS daily to do my job and I think it is fantastic. IMO it is the ultimate work machine for your average knowledge worker. At my company, all the software that we use is web-based (SaaS), with the exception of software engineers, who are using local tools to develop web based applications. For non-engineers, the OS provides an extremely simple client to use to do their job. The OS is a slightly better web…

I don't think relying on a third party and especially one that is as fickle as Google to do the most basic workload is a sound idea. I won't be surprised if Google kills Chrome OS in the near future, as they killed a lot of stuff already[0]. I don't trust Google anymore. [0]: https://killedbygoogle.com/

Considering how much the education sector uses Chromebook for their students (a big market they managed to capture early), I doubt they'd pull the plug on ChromeOS out of the blue without a long heads-up.

Re: Chrome OS has stalled out

#196
post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While Google hasn't been the best at supporting products (and support in general), I always find statements like this with sites like that distasteful, as they leave out a lot of context that mitigates how bad it is. Sure, Google is EOLing Hangouts, but they provide a replacement. Sure, they've turned down a lot of products (like reader), but many (possibly most of the very large number presented on that site) were b…

Here is the thing. Google has one primary source of revenue. Ad tech. If Ad tech fails, all their other sources of revenue won't be able to pay for their other services, so the fear they'll cut them is warranted. Disclaimer I use Google services, but I'm definitely looking for alternatives.

They do make a substantial amount of money with G Suite subscriptions, and they're bound to SLAs.

Re: Chrome OS has stalled out

#197
post #121

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Don't worry about supported by Neverware. Mine Mac Pro also isn't supported last time I checked. But it works flawlessly.

I just found it curious that they would officially support the 11" and not the 13"

That just means that Neverware tested CloudReady on 11" but not 13". Similarly, the Mac Pro isn't officially supported because Neverware decided, quite rightly, that few people are going to run Chrome OS on a high-end Apple desktop.

Re: Chrome OS has stalled out

#198
post #168

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Beta means prerelease testing, not EOL.

Beta means not meant for general use/production, and all that implies about people being upset about beta products being diacontinued. I was covering two distinct cases, one where Google discontinues a production product , and generally they have a different product to migrate to, and one where Google discontinues a beta peoduct , where it seems they usually don't care if you were reliant on it. Beta does mean prerel…

And non beta is no guarantee that a product won't be discontinued.

Re: Chrome OS has stalled out

#199
post #156

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There not much relying involved. It's not like Android, which is considerably less useful without the Googley bits. It's just a regular Linux desktop with Chrome pre-installed. Even if Google would kill all of Chrome in its entirety you could still run other software on it. You would lose secure boot but that's about it. It's more like a PC than an embedded system.

Exactly. I am running android with microg without any google software installed. I cope with it, I had to reverse and patch banking software as it was using "safety net" but it works perfectly with few smali gotos added. If you take chrome os you have installed spyware as an os. Sorry, maybe "I have nothing to hide as a person, but as a bussiness I have plenty to hide. Or just avoid Adobe scenario (I live in EU): htt…

What Enterprise spyware is in ChromeOS/GSuite?

Re: Chrome OS has stalled out

#200

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The enterprise support contracts state that the EOL date is the one listed publicly: https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/6220366?hl=en This means the Thinkpad X131e had under 3 years of support if you bought it brand new like many school districts did in 2015.

> This means the ThinkPad X131e had under 3 years of support if you bought it brand new like many school districts did in 2015. The ThinkPad X131e Chromebook was originally released in February 2013 [1] and has received five years of Chrome OS updates from Google. From March 2017 onwards, new Chrome OS devices receive 6.5 years of support [2] and in November 2019 many received a further year of support on top of that…

Due Diligence == Not buying ChromeOS.

My 2011 Windows desktop runs Win 10 and drivers just fine.

2012 Macs work fine with Catalina.

Post reply on HN