I own the rmb base gold, a 2014 mba base. But recently picked up a chromebook -- the ASus Flip 4gb (hybrid laptop/tablet.) I was wondering whether any of you have a Chromebook along with your Apple gear, and what your take is on the Chromebook. I'm not asking for a comparison of the rmb to a CB, there is no comparison. But interested in your take on chromebooks generally..
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RMB AND CHROMEBOOK
- Thread starter Nychot
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I bought a Chromebook because it was cheap. Asus C720.
After one hour with Chrome OS I was ready to scream and throw objects so I removed it and installed Linux in its place. It took me a long time to get it to work properly. Something would constantly pop up and be a problem. So I'd fix it and a day later I'd bump into another problem. Finally I got everything to work and look PERFECT and then I dropped the Chromebook from a table to the floor.
Luckily I had it repaired without any costs to me but... they re-set it to original Chrome OS state. So I had to install Linux again. I couldn't remember how I fixed some things. Then keyboard would start to lag, I'd be typing "keyboard" and it would somehow become "kyebroad". So I installed a different flavour of Linux which came with a different set of problems. I couldn't right-click with the trackpad. "It works here" was the main info I got off other bewildered C720 owners. But finally, after weeks of work, I got it to be 100% perfect. Then I left it too long without charging, it discharged completely and lost the ability to boot into Linux. Which I could only regain by reinstalling Chrome OS only to type three commands in the Terminal and reinstall Linux again.
At some point I realised I have a cheap, light computer with speedy SSD which I use 70% of the time to fix errors on the aforementioned cheap, light computer. So I resolved to buy a Macbook when I have money. Thanks to MF and a visit in Apple Store I settled on an Air and every day I praise the Gods for giving me a laptop where PgUp and PgDn and Polish diacritical characters and sound and YouTube JUST WORK without me having to spend hours fixing one of them so that another can break.
TL;DR: Buy a Chromebook for your worst enemy.
After one hour with Chrome OS I was ready to scream and throw objects so I removed it and installed Linux in its place. It took me a long time to get it to work properly. Something would constantly pop up and be a problem. So I'd fix it and a day later I'd bump into another problem. Finally I got everything to work and look PERFECT and then I dropped the Chromebook from a table to the floor.
Luckily I had it repaired without any costs to me but... they re-set it to original Chrome OS state. So I had to install Linux again. I couldn't remember how I fixed some things. Then keyboard would start to lag, I'd be typing "keyboard" and it would somehow become "kyebroad". So I installed a different flavour of Linux which came with a different set of problems. I couldn't right-click with the trackpad. "It works here" was the main info I got off other bewildered C720 owners. But finally, after weeks of work, I got it to be 100% perfect. Then I left it too long without charging, it discharged completely and lost the ability to boot into Linux. Which I could only regain by reinstalling Chrome OS only to type three commands in the Terminal and reinstall Linux again.
At some point I realised I have a cheap, light computer with speedy SSD which I use 70% of the time to fix errors on the aforementioned cheap, light computer. So I resolved to buy a Macbook when I have money. Thanks to MF and a visit in Apple Store I settled on an Air and every day I praise the Gods for giving me a laptop where PgUp and PgDn and Polish diacritical characters and sound and YouTube JUST WORK without me having to spend hours fixing one of them so that another can break.
TL;DR: Buy a Chromebook for your worst enemy.
I think the rMB has so much more ability, power and speed, that there's no reason to own a Chromebook. I think the OS is too restrictive and not really a great computer other then being very budget friendly
My kids use them in school, and they don't like them, they much rather use my MBP (or iMac)
I have a rMB that I got over Thanksgiving and I just sold my 2015 Chrombook Pixel 2 LS. The Pixel was an incredible piece of hardware and I loved the simplicity of ChromeOS. However, not being able to run 1 key program for me on the Pixel was the deciding factor.
I've got a Pixel i5 version running both ChromeOS and Linux, as well as an rMB. Love both for different reasons. ChromeOS is fine for many home users and the schools love them because they are very secure, easily and quickly recoverable, and cheap to buy.
I had been using a Toshiba Chromebook 4 gig ram 1080p IPS as my couch lappy for a year and was constantly frustrated buy the limited functionality and lagginess of it. When I saw the sale on the low end Macbook I was tempted but when a local semi-bigbox local store will price match AND I had a coupon AND I had a credit with them, I took the plunge.
Much better experience with the Macbook. Now I have messages, phone calls, Mail, iTunes, Airplay all functioning and it is great.
Chrome book is going on Craigs List.
Much better experience with the Macbook. Now I have messages, phone calls, Mail, iTunes, Airplay all functioning and it is great.
Chrome book is going on Craigs List.
Well, my Chromebook was 250 euro and had a SSD (16 GB!!! Can you imagine all that space!!!) so I went for it... big mistake, huge.
I have to say I'm VERY impressed with my Asus Chromebook Flip. I had read all the reviews which, by the way, are very very positive, listing it usually as the best. It's very fast, the keyboard is fine, the buid quality has been compared to that of a mba and even a rmb. It does have an aluminum siver body, not plastic. The screen is bright and clear. I'm actually typing and sending on it now, with my rmb sitting beside. If anyone's interested checkout this review. I mean i paid $180 for it brand new on ebay, 16gb ssd, 4 gb ram. I think amazon is now selling it for $229. It does everything most people need -- emaii, web browsing, etc etc. Of course, it's no a rmb. But for $1000 (give or take) less, it does pretty well.
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2488836,00.asp
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2488836,00.asp
I'm not sure one has to cope with Chrome if you deal with the realities of Chrome. I'm not using this little gem to write the great american novel. But for general use -- email, surfing, streaming movies and TV, research, all one usually does with an Ipad or an android tablet -- its closer to android -- this does the job and with a fine keyboard attached, and can be folded in different positions, used as both a laptop and a tablet, it can't be beat. It's not replacing my rmb or mba or desktop mac, but I do see it as more of a adjunct. the price cant be beat. don't knock it until you try it.