Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Chromebooks outsold Macs for the first time in the US

theverge.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

51–60 of 256 posts

Re: Chromebooks outsold Macs for the first time in the US

#51

Post by jhulla »

SwellJoe wrote: post #16

That's hard to believe (I believe it, but it struck me as incredible at first). I don't know anyone with a Chromebook, and it's such a different way of computing that it's hard to believe it's taken off so much in such a short time. I think it is reflective of a new generation whose first computing experience was with phones and tablets. The idea that nothing of importance lives on the device is a huge paradigm shift…

Out of an abundance of concern for security, I use a Chromebook running without any browser extensions for all my banking and investing activities.

I take it as a given that my Chromebook will always be more secure than my Macs and Windows machines. Less likely to have invasive malware of all types.

I currently have a Toshiba Chromebook with a gorgeous screen and good battery life. It just works.

Re: Chromebooks outsold Macs for the first time in the US

#52

Post by grillvogel »

xyzzyz wrote: post #29
grillvogel wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Chrome OS is not open source.

Chromium OS is, though. https://www.chromium.org/chromium-os

yeah but how many of these K-12 educational chromebooks are going to get that installed on them? these just allow google to start tracking people even earlier in life than they may have otherwise been able to.

Re: Chromebooks outsold Macs for the first time in the US

#53

Post by rebeccaskinner »

I volunteer with a nonprofit running their internal IT and we use chromebooks for all volunteers who need an organization provided computer. We have a couple of windows laptops that were donated that get used for people who need to use Office for writing grant proposals. We're looking to expand into a physical building and will be providing a space with machines for community members to use for creating resumes/job applications/etc. and we'll almost certainly be using either chromebooks that can be checked out, or the chromeOS desktops systems.

All our infrastructure runs through google, the machines are really affordable for a small non-profit, and given that many of our volunteers and the people we serve are not very technologically literate they are far easier to manage and help people do what they need to do.

As an individual I don't know that I'd ever buy a chromebook- I have the advantage of being able to afford a regular laptop and I would rather throw money at a laptop than deal with the inconveniences of areas where web everything just doesn't work, but I can see them continuing to gain traction in institutional settings like nonprofits, schools, and even workplaces for people who don't need access to a lot of applications or local processing power.

Re: Chromebooks outsold Macs for the first time in the US

#54

Post by simonsarris »

SwellJoe wrote: post #16

That's hard to believe (I believe it, but it struck me as incredible at first). I don't know anyone with a Chromebook, and it's such a different way of computing that it's hard to believe it's taken off so much in such a short time. I think it is reflective of a new generation whose first computing experience was with phones and tablets. The idea that nothing of importance lives on the device is a huge paradigm shift…

> I don't know anyone with a Chromebook

Here in New Hampshire I've seen many, especially among older people who are way too overwhelmed by PCs and Macs. Things like viruses, installing programs, updating the OS, "my hard drive is full? How do I fix that?", etc, there's just so much they have to learn that technical people and younger people take for granted as simple. The Chromebook reduces the bar to maintaining your own machine among low-digital-literacy people.

Many just want a "laptop" to get and send email, look at their grandkids on Facebook, complain on the local facebook page group about xyz, look up weather and news, and buy things online.

This group also does not understand why some laptops are $600 and others are $1,400 and yet they appear to run the same programs and visually look the same. I don't blame them. A few of my friends have said, "My mom/dad (aged 40-60) needed a new computer and I convinced them to get a Chromebook, now I don't have to answer all their technical questions anymore."

They are fantastic machines for the technically less-literate and frugal-minded.

Re: Chromebooks outsold Macs for the first time in the US

#55

Post by yardie »

I'm curious, but is a Chromebook useful in offline mode? My family and I have been on sabbatical sailing half the planet so far. Internet has been a big headache as Iridium tops out at 2400bps. And data plans in developing countries and islands can be extremely expensive, up to $1/MB.

I've found our android tablets to be more crashy offline as apps that can't get an internet connection go braindead, blank, or just kick you out. Based on my Android experience I've been reluctant to get a chromebook even though I know they are popular in schools.

As a parent I'm also concerned about the privacy aspects. I believe schools get a special Chromebook that cuts back on the tracking, does this hold true for their retail models?

Re: Chromebooks outsold Macs for the first time in the US

#56

Post by _JamesA_ »

johansch wrote: post #21

Every current Mac laptop user: "Why the hell don't you release a retina macbook air? (A toy 'macbook' does not count.)

This current Mac laptop user bought a toy 'macbook' for portable development. It's replacing an aging MacBook Pro 17.

I am running IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate and Visual Studio 2015 Enterprise (in a Windows 10 Fusion VM) without any issues.

The lightweight portability and 12" retina screen are amazing.

Re: Chromebooks outsold Macs for the first time in the US

#58

Post by geofft »

grillvogel wrote: post #52
xyzzyz wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Chromium OS is, though. https://www.chromium.org/chromium-os

yeah but how many of these K-12 educational chromebooks are going to get that installed on them? these just allow google to start tracking people even earlier in life than they may have otherwise been able to.

Once again, in what manner are these Chromebooks tracking people more than alternatives would? And I take it from your comment that you're implying Chromium OS tracks people less?

Re: Chromebooks outsold Macs for the first time in the US

#59

Post by jauer »

Scarbutt wrote: post #19
arcticfox wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why? I've developed 100% on a cloud VM for years. All I need locally is a browser. Obviously wouldn't work for some things, but as a full stack developer: no problem.

How is the web ssh client experience, do you miss anything from a real terminal? I would imagine there would be some keybindings conflicts when using vim or emacs.

I haven't encountered any keybinding conflicts or unusual behavior with the standard SSH app (nassh), when using vim and tmux or anything else.
Post reply on HN