Really depends on the student's level. Here, they would be expected to use reference software, true Office or LibreOffice suite, Exchange support, non-Google online storage, as well as Juniper-based VPN and installation of library printer drivers. They also expect their machine to keep 20 tabs open at any one time without slowing down to a crawl like an under-equipped MBA, let alone Chromebook.
There's a fundamental speed difference when using an Internet application vs. a local one, as pointed below:
Adobe Creative C…? Most Adobe software are gigs-heavy, enough to bring a lower-end Chromebook to its knees. Remember there's only 16GB of storage.
My point was never about power. In fact, it is widely recognised Chromebooks usually feature a very strong CPU that's unfortunately crippled by software and, depending on the model, by next to no local storage.
That's part of the answer. How are they targeting ads?
Not meant to say anything. Just needed a refresh as I learnt about Gmail several years ago, including how it spies on people's emails, and never wanted to subscribe.
Yet it doesn't. Most useful add-ons are note available on Chrome. Chrome relies on the system proxy and doesn't come with its own implementation. System-wide implementation is discouraged because it loads the server uselessly, and slows it down for everyone.
False, again. Privacy is important for each and every person. We usually steer students away from anything Google, Dropbox, or any provider with shady or non-existent privacy policies.
Granted, the mailbox we have here is ridiculously small. In fact, there's still a tearing choice to make between normal Exchange/IMAP online management of emails with local copy, POP3, or third-party provider. None of these choices are ideal. But my comment wasn't about the mailbox size. The world doesn't revolve around the mailbox, nor it does around the browser.
Insufficient. How do you expect a student to hold all of his documents, including from professors, over years, as well as his personal stuff, music and movies, in such a small space? 100GB isn't even enough for a proper backup. 10GB for movies is laughable. Don't even think about getting movies under 1000GB of storage space.
Could be large datasets. Media-heavy PPTs. Backups. Movies.
Well 320GB is not a common SSD size, and I don't consider SD card storage to qualify as SSD. You imply that documents are uploaded in the background, and that's fine. But what about flaky internet connections such as in coffee shops, where a lot of students go to work? And working with such a laptop seems to imply that you need a Google account to work in Google docs, the only available suite for Chrome OS (Is MS Office available for it?). I couldn't work on a team paper because the other members went straight to Google Docs and it couldn't be protected with a password, but Google wanted me to create an account, which I refused to do. Since my contribution was needed, I found another collaborative suite that would respect everyone's privacy. (Bragging level: +5)
Choice is always good to have, at least as a way to know we absolutely don't want something.
I trust the IT team to make proper tests. Maybe I shouldn't, seeing how they implemented Oracle's PeopleSoft. An absolute nightmare they had to dedicate a full-time team to solve user's problems.
Should I understand it's more finished than Android? A friend at the IT desk doesn't help with Android-powered devices if students have anything else on hand (including Win8.1 RT). We do help the clueless one who bought a Chromebook because we're kind helpers, but the "take-home message" is still "get a real computer as soon as you can". Luckily most of these students do have a desktop at home, unlike their peers who bought regular laptops.
That's a very recent update, let's read that.
"Set up offline access so that the next time you don’t have Internet access, you'll still be able to view your files" That's already a usability problem. If it's meant to be easy to use, why would such a vital feature be disabled by default? Even with all the problems Yosemite comes with, Apple did this one right.
"Mine is bigger than yours!"
Adobe Creative C ? Most Adobe software are gigs-heavy, enough to bring a lower-end Chromebook to its knees. Remember there's only 16GB of storage.
My point was never about power. In fact, it is widely recognised Chromebooks usually feature a very strong CPU that's unfortunately crippled by software and, depending on the model, by next to no local storage.
That's part of the answer. How are they targeting ads?
Not meant to say anything. Just needed a refresh as I learnt about Gmail several years ago, including how it spies on people's emails, and never wanted to subscribe.
Yet it doesn't. Most useful add-ons are note available on Chrome. Chrome relies on the system proxy and doesn't come with its own implementation. System-wide implementation is discouraged because it loads the server uselessly, and slows it down for everyone.
False, again. Privacy is important for each and every person. We usually steer students away from anything Google, Dropbox, or any provider with shady or non-existent privacy policies.
Granted, the mailbox we have here is ridiculously small. In fact, there's still a tearing choice to make between normal Exchange/IMAP online management of emails with local copy, POP3, or third-party provider. None of these choices are ideal. But my comment wasn't about the mailbox size. The world doesn't revolve around the mailbox, nor it does around the browser.
Insufficient. How do you expect a student to hold all of his documents, including from professors, over years, as well as his personal stuff, music and movies, in such a small space? 100GB isn't even enough for a proper backup. 10GB for movies is laughable. Don't even think about getting movies under 1000GB of storage space.
Oh wait. Probably Chromebooks are made to be disposable computers. At least they come with USB ports.
Just curious, what are you using as a space for your work? Genuinely curious there. A USB key for 4years+ of work, as I once saw a PhD student do?
Could be large datasets. Media-heavy PPTs. Backups. Movies.
Well 320GB is not a common SSD size, and I don't consider SD card storage to qualify as SSD. You imply that documents are uploaded in the background, and that's fine. But what about flaky internet connections such as in coffee shops, where a lot of students go to work? And working with such a laptop seems to imply that you need a Google account to work in Google docs, the only available suite for Chrome OS (Is MS Office available for it?). I couldn't work on a team paper because the other members went straight to Google Docs and it couldn't be protected with a password, but Google wanted me to create an account, which I refused to do. Since my contribution was needed, I found another collaborative suite that would respect everyone's privacy. (Bragging level: +5)
Choice is always good to have, at least as a way to know we absolutely don't want something.
To students looking for general advice on a new machine, it comes in that order: MacBook, any model, including used machines, it's the general purpose computer that comes with the most support from its manufacturer and the quickest support at the help desk, because everything is standardised, mandatory in the pharmaco department. Non-Mac PCs over $1k, no brand preference, Win 7 strongly advised, especially for engineering students. Microsoft Surface series, though Win 8.1RT is known to cause insoluble issues with network connectivity. iPad, with keyboard. As a side note, I did strongly discourage a master's student to start her program with her 2yr old Acer that was already causing her trouble. Given the general requirements of a grad program, a student can't afford to have an unreliable machine without a backup strategy.
I trust the IT team to make proper tests. Maybe I shouldn't, seeing how they implemented Oracle's PeopleSoft. An absolute nightmare they had to dedicate a full-time team to solve user's problems.
Should I understand it's more finished than Android? A friend at the IT desk doesn't help with Android-powered devices if students have anything else on hand (including Win8.1 RT). We do help the clueless one who bought a Chromebook because we're kind helpers, but the "take-home message" is still "get a real computer as soon as you can". Luckily most of these students do have a desktop at home, unlike their peers who bought regular laptops.
That's a very recent update, let's read that.
"and as long as you can get by without Microsoft Office or other local software, they have what you need." The problem is students DO need these. Well, probably not in primary or secondary school.
" it is missing many of the options such as the ability to create a task or event or Filter on messages like these." Another deal-breaker for anyone heavy on email.
"Theres no way to create or edit calendar entries, or even view tasks"
"and theres no way to access Google Contacts"
Hurts.
"If you are one of the many people who use macros, Excel is still the only choice" Bummer. But not as much as you'd expect. Most students don't use macros.
"many of the file management features such as the ability to share, move, delete or preview files, are also disabled" Come on, this is ridiculous.
"built-in media apps are very basic." Means these machines just aren't fit to play movies anyway. Is VLC available on this platform?
"Set up offline access so that the next time you dont have Internet access, you'll still be able to view your files" That's already a usability problem. If it's meant to be easy to use, why would such a vital feature be disabled by default? Even with all the problems Yosemite comes with, Apple did this one right.
"Offline access is not available in other browsers" Lie.
Overall, it seems they are very vulnerable when the machine get so "sick" (as in patient) they can't connect to the network and yet the user can't do a proper, local backup. Increases risk of losing important documents.
"Mine is bigger than yours!"
Google doesnt "spy" on you, you do seem a bit paranoid about them.
Seeing that you dont use google (even if they pretty clear privacy policies) I wonder how you know? I can tell you I havent seen to issue you have and probably I use google software a lot more .
As anyone with half a brain I only used backed up disk space for anything important. So I dont care my dell has a 500GB HDD thats just used to have the windows and install some programs all the rest is either on server disk space or localy backed up disk space .
Backups you dont need , large datasets arent the entended use, PPT even heavy (100/200MB) work fine . Movies as I already said most chromebook screens are 1366*768 , a 600MB/1GB rip looks great and even on the smaller you can hav several . Or just watch/stream them online or offline from google itself .
As I already said you seem to have little or no experience with google or a chromebook.
Perhaps for you but I have very other experience they usualy go for windows laptops first , apple still is quite a niche in most places and spurned as it has serious issues with compatibility and general working in a windows centric network .
Office can be worked around, but yes if you actually need office then it has to be a windows PC, and primary and secondary (and large parts of most of the other students) then you have the vast mayority of students.
I may have been penalized, but the other members as well. Turns out they chose Google out of ignorance, just as they chose Gmail because it's the current fashion, not because of a clear advantage over other providers. Yes, I completely assume my ideological bias against Google.Translation: I wouldn't work on a team paper because other members went straight to Google Docs and it couldn't be protected with a password, but Google wanted me to create an account, which I refused to do because of ideological reasons and biases. Since I personally would have been penalised if I failed to contribute, I forced all the other members of my group to adopt my solution.
Amazing what one can do just by changing a few words and skewing meaning.. isn't it?
I stand my ground: Google sells information user turn in (willingly or not) for personal profit:
(http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052748704901104575423294099527212)
Android never works the same way from one peripheral to the other. This comes from first-hand experience. Neighbour's tablet: couldn't find a way to transfer pictures to the µSD card. Other neighbour's: function was in plain sight. Personal testing on the Banana Pi: buggy Android, inexplicably slow at times, parameters all different. At school: some Android phones can access the Exchange account by itself, some others just can't, inexplicably. Still no decent sync software for either Windows or Mac OS X. This is what I call unfinished. Inconsistent behaviour from one device to the other.
Google is essentially a privatised NSA. "When Google Met Wikileaks" (book)
Staying away from Google is impossible. At some point you'll have to send an email to someone using Gmail, or go on a website where their trackers lurk.
You are right, I never used one and knowing the company's ethos, wouldn't. The only Android I would trust is one that would have been completely stripped of its Google trackers. I think this is called CyanogenMod. And I hope some version of Chrome OS could be modified in the same way before I trust a Chrome OS-running device.
But having a backup doesn't prevent you from storing it locally, does it? Or are you just purging the machine of its content once the document is closed, knowing it's also on the server?
You aren't going to make them pay millions they don't have when you can make billions acquiring their habits online and build detailed profiles on them.
Backups are needed for everyone. Not having any is a catastrophe waiting to happen, whatever you trade is. Streaming is generally a poor experience. Pixellation, buffering, everything that can frustrate the user is condensed in streaming.
Yes, but only after you create an account with them. And that is the problem.
Ghostery + Adblock + GlimmerBlocker. But you're right in the fact nobody can evade Google's grip.
Apple devices are about half of the student-bought machines here. Even in our Windows-centric network, they only represent about 10% of help desk calls, usually solved in less than 10 minutes. Windows machines are statistically bought by clueless people, judging by the common very bad shape they are in when their owner requests help. This doesn't mean Mac buyers aren't clueless, but far less likely to come with a machine so infected or broken it can't boot.
Can't disagree with you on Apple there. They have been on a downward slope since Lion.
I believe in science and facts. Scientists are taught to infer hypotheses from facts.
So why would they care to buy a networked thermostat business? Or try to launch a payment platform? Or set up an online documents editing suite? What does it have to do with ad space?
To better serve targeted adds? Really, it is not difficult to understand, but one must have the desire to do it
