Regardless on what its based on, the OS makes any machine an expensive doorstop when not connected to the internet. Total rubbish and lousy software.
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Regardless on what its based on, the OS makes any machine an expensive doorstop when not connected to the internet. Total rubbish and lousy software.
Software Updates can only go so far when the OS itself is based on poor ideas.
Sounds like you didn't explore your Chromebook's full potential.
You can use chroot to install Ubuntu on Chromebooks and then run Linux programs such as Skype, GIMP, LibreOffice and so on. YOu can actually switch between Chrome OS and Ubuntu without rebooting.
Did that and it worked out fine until Google assumingly swung their "no" hammer and I woke one day to find ChromeOS had gone and taken over again. Shrugged it off and tried Xubuntu again, only to find that a few weeks later it did it again.
That's when I sold it. Without a doubt the worst computer I've ever had.
I've haven't heard anyone speak of a "no" hammer before...
But, did you remember to run your Chromebook in "developer mode"? If not, then it will seem like Ubuntu has disappeared.
Can I ask what was your expectation going in? I have never used a Chromebook - I imagine the same can be said for some of the posters lobbing grenades in this thread - so my impressions will be limited the responses here and what I see (from a distance) at my church. The after care program has 50 Chromebooks and they love them. A lot of the kids using them are experiencing their first true hands-on exposure to technology. Again, I don't know what they are using them for but I do know they are enjoying themselves. For what it's worth we looked into iPads, but with multiple outreach programs, we couldn't justify a large portion of the budget being spent in one area.
I got way off topic.
Were you looking to do casual PC stuff or were you looking to do more advanced computing? I ask because you've actually used a Chromebook. A lot of the other opinions seem to be more of the Apple vs Google crap that has no value.Had it developer mode since day one.
I was looking for something small and simple to just write on while in random places. Would have been acceptable if ChromeOS functioned offline and had real apps.Can I ask what was your expectation going in?
I got way off topic.
I often use Google Docs offline on various laptops. It works well.
There are a plethora of offline apps available for the Chrome brower/Chrome OS.
Barely. The damn thing rarely functioned when offline and often gave me just a white useless window. And regretfully I need something a little more powerful than the notes app which weirdly enough seemed to be one of the few apps that had no trouble running offline.
As I said, terrible software. My opinion still stands.
Chromebooks aren't for everyone. No device can please every individual out there. Saying that, the Chromebooks are great devices for a lot of people. They're a cheap(er) alternative to have a device to sit on the couch to surf the web and check email. Are they going to replace regular desktop/laptops for most? Probably not due to some of the inherent shortcomings, but that doesn't mean the device is bad.
I love my MacBook Pro to death. My whole life is on the thing; from important documents to decade old pictures to music to whatever else. However, the majority of the time the only thing it gets used for is surfing the internet...something a ~$300 Chromebook can do just as well.
I love my MacBook Pro to death. My whole life is on the thing; from important documents to decade old pictures to music to whatever else. However, the majority of the time the only thing it gets used for is surfing the internet...something a ~$300 Chromebook can do just as well.
It's a real shame, I guess, that most people don't agree with you. You know, the actual people who would be using them that instead take that ~300$ and buy a cheap Windows laptop instead.
It is a shame. Their money though so we can't force people to buy anything...unless it is health insurance.
Actually, they're a good bit less than the least expensive Windows machines. Chromebooks start at $200 with Haswell CPU. For $279, you can get one with a nice IPS screen. $300 gets you one with a touchscreen. Refurbished and last year's models currently go for under $200.
The #1 and #2 top-selling laptops at Amazon, currently, are Chromebooks.
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And few people buy laptops from Amazon.
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It's based on their number one and number two laptops having no market share. If people were buying Chrome OS devices in droves, it'd have a market share.
My main laptop is an Acer C720 chromebook, and I'm more than happy with it. I see people bashing Chromebooks on this thread, and I'd just like to say that Chrome OS is the fastest, most reliable operating system I've ever used. I have a mac also, but I prefer the chromebook for online tasks. It's great with Ubuntu also.
Nonsense. Chromebooks market share of Internet traffic shows steady growth from last year and commercial channel sales are up.
Wow, one tenth of one percent.
Really?
You're bragging about one tenth of one percent? It is roughly 4x RT, something that everyone calls a flop or the same amount higher than Windows 2000.
We have a winner here.
Bragging? If stating stating facts rather relying on personal opinion is "bragging" then I suppose I'm guilty of that sin.
Yes, I get it and for whatever reason, you like to bash Chromebooks because you feel they're not something you'd like. That great but why do you care if others find them useful?
Myself, I use OS X, Windows, and Linux and so I don't have a dog in this race.
While Google might be marketing these as web browsing systems, it would seem that a number of the users are kids, both for education and entertainment, and the sites and web apps kids use aren't going to tend to show up in ad-based web usage stats. My two kids and the majority of their friends have Chromebooks. They use Google Docs and the like for homework. They're told specific sites to go to for research, none of which serve ads. They play on sites like Club Penguin, where, again, no ads are served. Just because someone is trying to claim that ads are accurate representations of web usage doesn't mean it is true. I see lots of them in use around here but not typically by the coffee shop crowd. You don't tend to see preteens out with laptops, which would like explain why you don't see them much in the wild. But that doesn't mean they aren't out there.
So do I. I've tried Google Now on my phone, it is useless to me, it would be even more useless in a browser. It's just added bloat and Google's answer to Clippy, though not quite as irritating.wish we could use it on safari
yes I use safari.