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TheBenior
March 26th, 2014, 07:15 PM
Backstory: I have an aging Dell XPS 13 from 2009, the era when Dell XPS machines were gaming machines instead of their ultrabook line. I'd been thinking about whether to replace it with another gaming laptop, or to get a tablet for general putzing about on the web and finally get another gaming desktop, possibly a Steam Machine, because I like the sound of an HTPC that can adequately cool a gaming graphics card. I thought about the Nexus 7, but I'm not sure that I feel that the 7" tablet size is a big enough step up from the current crop of 4.7-5" flagship Android phones to justify spending $200+.

Last week, I saw that Amazon had factory refurbished 16GB Acer C720-2802 Chromebooks for $150, and the UPS man dropped it off today. When I saw how easy it was to replace the SSD (http://www.androidcentral.com/how-upgrade-ssd-your-acer-c720-chromebook), I ordered a 128GB SSD to replace the factory one (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EZ2E8NO/?tag=androidcentralb-20&m1k=d_ac).

C720-2802 key specs:
11.6" 1366x768 display
Celeron 2955U Dual Core CPU
1.2kg weight
2GB RAM
Intel HD 4000 integrated graphics
[now has] MyDigitalSSD SC2 Super Cache 2 42mm SATA III 6G M.2 NGFF M2 SSD
Claimed 8.5hr battery life general usage, has done 6.5 hours in reviewer digital playback benchmarks.

After opening the package, I fired up the C720 to make sure it works, and made a recovery disk on a flash drive. I then voided my 90 day warranty (non-refurbs get a 1 year warranty) by breaking a sticker and taking the bottom panel off, installed the new SSD, and half an hour later, I had a working Chromebook with newly octupled storage. I'm somewhat shocked that I did so without breaking any fragile plastic tabs. If I feel like expanding the local storage further, I can use the SD card slot for that.

So far, I'm getting used to the different keyboard layout and Chrome OS weirdness. The screen isn't amazing, but it's certainly good enough for my intended purposes of dicking around online and limited travel computing. The keyboard certainly isn't as good as my fiancee's Lenovo Y400, but it's better than some that I've used on laptops that cost 2-3 times what I paid. I'm still getting used to the clickable touchpad without buttons, but overall performance again seems better than some of the cheapie traditional laptops I've played with.

Yw-slayer
March 26th, 2014, 07:51 PM
I'm surprised Keith hasn't spooged all over this thread yet.

JoshInKC
March 27th, 2014, 04:18 AM
I'm still getting used to the clickable touchpad without buttons, but overall performance again seems better than some of the cheapie traditional laptops I've played with.
That is the specific thing that took me the longest to get used to when I bought my Acer 1.5 years ago. Still irritates me once in awhile. Seems like a good deal overall, though; I've heard those specific chromebooks are really nice.

TheBenior
March 27th, 2014, 05:21 AM
It seems that the C720 line is regarded by many as offering the best value in the Chromebook world. The general consensus is that the HP Chromebook 11 has a better display and keyboard, but it had better offer something nicer for the extra $75 (new vs new on Amazon anyway), particularly in light its slower, more power hungry Exynos 5250.

Kchrpm
March 27th, 2014, 05:50 AM
I'm surprised Keith hasn't spooged all over this thread yet.
I'm not a Chrome OS evangelist, I wouldn't be comfortable using one as my main computer and I have no reason to be confident in its ability to reliably access my networked storage as a secondary device, and web storage has its own issues (that I'm actually currently dealing with as I load up my new Google Drive storage).

But it sounds like Ross will just be using it as a web machine, so it should be fine for that use.

Blerpa
April 10th, 2014, 02:34 PM
New Dell Chromebook 11 looks like a winner...

http://www.theverge.com/2014/4/9/5597748/dell-chromebook-11-review

Blerpa
April 10th, 2014, 02:36 PM
New Dell Chromebook 11 looks like a winner...

http://www.theverge.com/2014/4/9/5597748/dell-chromebook-11-review

Kchrpm
August 11th, 2014, 05:05 AM
Acer is updating its line of Chromebooks, and included in that is a new Chromebook 13 with a new i3 and relatively high-powered graphics card, the Nvidia K1.

http://gizmodo.com/acer-chromebook-13-hands-on-gaming-guts-in-a-chromeboo-1619231489

Rather than simply juicing up the graphics, though (you only really have access to WebGL games via ChromeOS anyways, it seems), it kicks the battery life up to 13 hours. And it's still less inexpensive, starting at $270 for the 1366x768, 16/2 GB. Kick it up to 1920x1080 (the only Chromebook I've seen with that resolution) and 32/4 GB for $370.

Random
August 12th, 2014, 10:46 AM
f-bombs in the very first comment. Seriously, people? :|

Kchrpm
August 12th, 2014, 10:52 AM
There's a lot of anger and hatred out there for Chrome OS.

Random
August 12th, 2014, 11:10 AM
Well, Chrome OS did just run over Kevin Ward at a dirt track, so I can see why.

thesameguy
August 12th, 2014, 12:32 PM
I don't get ChromeOS at all - the point or the value - but I certainly wouldn't get my panties in a twist over it. Unless maybe someone brought one into the office and said, "I need you to install Word on this." Actually, I think that would make me laugh. A bitter, sarcastic laugh, but a laugh nonetheless.

TheBenior
August 12th, 2014, 06:25 PM
It works fine for small, cheap, portable laptops for recreational/home use.

My Asus C720 cost me $150 as a factory refurb, cheaper than any halfway decent tablet with the same sized screen, and I like having a physical keyboard. My thinking was also that I'd get a small PC for gaming (or Steam Machine if they ever come out) and things that Chrome OS can't do, but that's been delayed due to home expenses, and my fiancee has her Lenovo Y400 that I can borrow anyway.

The only issue I've run into (besides a website or two not working properly with the Chrome web browser) is the inability to be able to connect to printers via USB, but that could've been avoided if I'd had the foresight to buy a printer with wireless networking.

Would I buy a Chromebook Pixel even if it was in my budget? Certainly not.

Do I think that a $150-300 Chromebook is a good alternative to cheap tablets? I certainly do. I have a phone with a 5" screen, so sub 8" tablets don't interest me in the slightest.

Kchrpm
August 13th, 2014, 04:51 AM
That's where I am at the moment, too, I'm considering a Chromebook simply as a lightweight travel device.

thesameguy
August 13th, 2014, 08:58 AM
Yeah, I just can't quite swallow the notion of a cloud client yet. Losing capability because I have no internet connection would really get in my way.

Kchrpm
August 13th, 2014, 09:10 AM
With what I actually do on my computer, especially while travelling, I feel like that's already the situation I'm in.

TheBenior
August 13th, 2014, 01:48 PM
I don't do any 'real work' with a home laptop anyway, though I get 3.5GB of Hotspot data with my T-Mobile unlimited data plan.

Kchrpm
March 11th, 2015, 11:06 AM
Chromebook Pixel has been updated, with better internals and a lower starting price point ($1000).

http://gizmodo.com/googles-new-chromebook-pixel-dangerously-close-to-buya-1690797754

Conveniently announced the day after the new Macbook, it has USB-C charging ports on both sides, in addition to traditional USB ports and an SD card slot.

The general consensus is still likely to go something like this, at best:

Should You Buy It

No. But I mean like, maaaaaaaaaaaybe? Nah. But then again…

But it was never intended to sell well, and Google has been clear about that. You get a Pixel if you want to have a powerful, capable Chromebook for a specific task and can write it off/charge it to someone else. There is no other reason.

Well, other than lots of both curiosity and expendable income, but that works for anything.

PS there's also a $1300 model which Google described to Gizmodo as (their paraphrasing) "the more-than-you-could-ever-possibly-need version."

thesameguy
March 11th, 2015, 11:41 AM
I feel like this is like the I'm Rich app, but in physical form.

Kchrpm
March 11th, 2015, 11:42 AM
I think that's what the $10,000+ Apple Watch is.

thesameguy
March 11th, 2015, 11:59 AM
Yeah, that too. :p

My laptop is the equivalent of the Pandora app.

Kchrpm
March 31st, 2015, 10:09 AM
New Chrome OS hardware announced today, based on ARM chips by Rockwell. Cheap mobile hardware, basically. I'm interested in the HDMI stick to just plug into my TV to replace my Logitech Revue, or the convertible notebook, to use as I used to use my tablet. Except that it's too big for that use.

Chromebit HDMI Stick - $100

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xjwVtzuuy4Y/VRrStiawY_I/AAAAAAAAAiE/zeby8R6xU3g/s1600/Group_Asus_Chromestick_V1%2B(1)_1000.png


This summer, ASUS will launch a new type of Chrome device: the Chromebit. Smaller than a candy bar, the Chromebit is a full computer that will be available for less than $100. By simply plugging this device into any display, you can turn it into a computer. It’s the perfect upgrade for an existing desktop and will be really useful for schools and businesses.

ASUS Chromebook Flip 11" Convertible Notebook - $250

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sDxv07rj8kw/VRrQdpN-6pI/AAAAAAAAAh4/BKVJdkLacjc/s1600/Open_AsusChromebook10_Silver_1000.png


A premium, all-metal convertible, it’s ultra-portable—just 15mm thin and weighing less than two pounds. The Chromebook Flip has a great keyboard and a touch screen for immersive experiences like gaming and educational apps.

El cheapo Chromebooks from Haier and Hisense - $150

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mj9wBbqY58U/VRrSWKK5F0I/AAAAAAAAEyQ/S2Uysi09DAY/s1600/Chromebook-Blog.png


Today we're introducing two new devices that meet both criteria: the Haier Chromebook 11 (available at Amazon) and the Hisense Chromebook (available at Walmart). These new Chromebooks are fast, lightweight, have all-day battery life

thesameguy
March 31st, 2015, 10:32 AM
What makes Chromebit different from Android-on-a-stick devices that have been out for a while?

Blerpa
March 31st, 2015, 11:37 AM
What makes Chromebit different from Android-on-a-stick devices that have been out for a while?

The fact that it is not a media streaming device but a full-blown (albeit probably very limited) computer?

EDIT: http://www.androidcentral.com/google-chromebit-packs-entire-chrome-os-computer-hdmi-stick ChromeOS computer. 2GB Ram, 16GB onboard storage.

thesameguy
March 31st, 2015, 12:24 PM
I am not talking about streaming sticks, I'm talking about computers. Like a MK808II (1gb RAM, 8gb storage, dual core Cortex A9) or a UG007B (2gb RAM, 16gb storage, quad core A9). Both have been less than $60 since 2013 and come running Android 4.x, have Bluetooth, wireless, etc.

SportWagon
March 31st, 2015, 01:22 PM
Will most mouses work when plugged into a Chromebook? I nearly always use a mouse instead of a touchpad on my c. 2010 10.1" netbook. (HDD). But then I use it as essentially an underpowered general-purpose computer. Ubuntu 10.04 didn't put a lot of demands on hardware. But some things are somewhat impractical. E.g. Android SDK and Wine. Although they do work.
(So [most] Chromebooks aren't touchscreen?)

And then again, the other day, I wondered why the screen on that netbook wasn't responding to my touches...

It would be nice if you could stick an ethernet cable into the Chromebit. Otherwise you have to keep WiFi signals working, and not obscured by the TV itself. [Raspberry Pi]

Kchrpm
March 31st, 2015, 07:14 PM
What makes Chromebit different from Android-on-a-stick devices that have been out for a while?

It runs Chrome OS, not Android. There's a Windows 8.1 on-a-stick device out there, too, FWIU, it's not a new segment.

thesameguy
March 31st, 2015, 10:59 PM
I get that... so the answer is nothing, it just comes with ChromeOS rather than you having to load it. I wondered if the hardware was special in some way. Sounds like no.

Kchrpm
April 1st, 2015, 04:50 AM
The hardware is using the new Rockwell ARM chips, so no.

Kchrpm
April 1st, 2015, 12:09 PM
And now for something completely different, an Nvidia K1-powered all-in-one.

http://www.androidcentral.com/acer-announces-first-touchscreen-all-one-chromebase

http://www.androidcentral.com/sites/androidcentral.com/files/styles/larger/public/article_images/2015/04/Acer%20Chromebase%20DC221HQ.jpg

Random
April 1st, 2015, 12:15 PM
And now for something completely different, an Nvidia K1-powered all-in-one.

http://www.androidcentral.com/acer-announces-first-touchscreen-all-one-chromebase


That looks pretty neat. :up:

thesameguy
April 1st, 2015, 12:42 PM
Nice! I keep almost picking up one of the cheap HP Slates ($200!) but it's not quite enough. If the K1 version doesn't have too much of a price premium I might do it. I think these types of devices could be awesome for a lot of people - especially with O365 and onedrive for Android. That's a pretty killer, dirt cheap computer.

Kchrpm
April 7th, 2015, 09:45 AM
My backup laptop died on me shortly after this cheap Chrome OS convertible is announced. Coincidence?

Kchrpm
June 26th, 2015, 10:57 AM
And now my main laptop is dead. So I went out and bought a Toshiba Chromebook 2, along with a 128 GB SD card, because I'm not on board with online-only storage.

TheBenior
June 26th, 2015, 03:38 PM
I immediately replaced the 16GB SSD in my Acer C720 with a 128GB SSD. However, it was a refurb C720, so I was only voiding 90 days worth of warranty anyway.

Jason
June 26th, 2015, 04:21 PM
I'm not a Chrome OS evangelist, I wouldn't be comfortable using one as my main computer and I have no reason to be confident in its ability to reliably access my networked storage as a secondary device, and web storage has its own issues (that I'm actually currently dealing with as I load up my new Google Drive storage).

But it sounds like Ross will just be using it as a web machine, so it should be fine for that use.


And now my main laptop is dead. So I went out and bought a Toshiba Chromebook 2, along with a 128 GB SD card, because I'm not on board with online-only storage.

*dramatic music*

Kchrpm
June 26th, 2015, 04:22 PM
Oh, I was under the impression that you couldn't swap the drives on Chromebooks because they were not traditionally attached.

TheBenior
June 26th, 2015, 09:22 PM
You can't just go slapping in any random SSD, but if it's got the right form factor and the original isn't glued in, you're good to go.

Same thing applied to aftermarket SSDs in thinner laptops like Macbook Airs.

Kchrpm
June 27th, 2015, 03:57 AM
Interesting. I'm guessing this 128 gig SD card will do the job, we'll see.

Kchrpm
September 4th, 2015, 06:39 AM
I got a couple of large zip files sent to me on Drop Box. Chromebook downloaded them just fine, but refused to expand them. Found a couple of different third-party methods, both of which could not expand all files without error.

Tried downloading directly onto my phone, but the files were too large and the downloads failed. So I copied the files over USB from the Chromebook to the phone, and they unzipped without error on phone, so I transferred the results back over.

It was one of the few times I really wished I had a Windows computer in the last few months.

Kchrpm
February 29th, 2016, 09:21 AM
Now that there is at least one company out there offering conversion of any old Intel (or x86?) computer to Chromium, the discussion has come up on The Verge of what old laptop would be the coolest to give a second life with Chrome OS.

http://www.theverge.com/2016/2/19/11075148/the-dopest-old-laptop-to-install-chrome-os

Some thoughts from the writer and the comments:
https://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/unqKHeBNqn6Svb4ws7owF6bbbZ8=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/6072189/16_VGN-P70H.1391682298.0.jpg

https://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/APZGD8qK2VghP81bMFJw5DaRVSc=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/6072199/vaio73.0.jpg

http://www.pocketables.com/images/old/6a00d83451c9ec69e201287622c888970c-pi.jpg

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/61/HP_TouchPad.jpg

http://www.tabletpcreview.com/assets/7529.jpg

http://www.notebookcheck.net/uploads/tx_nbc2/fujitsu-u810.jpg

http://img1.lesnumeriques.com/produits/16/16548/51b1e2a5f2c4e.jpg

http://media.engadget.com/img/product/11/8p0/oqo-model-02--i3t.jpg

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2007/03/htc-shift.jpg

thesameguy
February 29th, 2016, 09:38 AM
I wonder how one addresses reasonable network connectivity on those old machines...

Kchrpm
February 29th, 2016, 09:50 AM
Don't you bring reality to my dreams of a dual screen Libretto that runs smoothly and lasts several hours!

thesameguy
February 29th, 2016, 10:36 AM
As I guy who hacked plenty of OSs into places they weren't supposed to be, I feel the need to share that feeling of ultimate uselessness that results. Sure, it's a cool accomplishment but WTF do you do with it when you're done? BTDT, so many times.

Kchrpm
February 29th, 2016, 11:11 AM
tsg, expert dream squasher.

thesameguy
February 29th, 2016, 11:22 AM
You should do what you're good at?

Weekend before last I got XBMC installed on this weird c2000 DVD player artifact than runs on x86 hardware. Now I have a XBMC machine that cost mountains of hours and is no more useful than a $40 Amazon Fire. Blah. Old shit is old.

Kchrpm
February 29th, 2016, 11:31 AM
You sound like the perfect person to get Chromium onto a sweet old piece of hardware for me! :D

thesameguy
February 29th, 2016, 11:52 AM
I'd not be opposed to giving it a go. Just because the destination sucks doesn't mean the journey is a waste. :D

Kchrpm
February 29th, 2016, 11:58 AM
:D TO EBAY!

Edit: One Toshiba Libretto W100 in America for $250 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/121904510907)...OH THE TEMPTATION!

http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/YcoAAOSwa-dWsoGp/s-l1600.jpg

thesameguy
February 29th, 2016, 12:21 PM
I wonder how the touchscreen does with Chronium? That hasn't been a strong suit of Google's OSs.

Kchrpm
February 29th, 2016, 12:27 PM
The best I can do is go by the anecdotal comments from this article: http://www.theverge.com/2016/2/1/10884918/i-bought-my-mom-a-chromebook-pixel-the-divergence


And she uses the touchscreen constantly. It is her primary input method; she hates trackpads. When I was still planning to buy her a MacBook, she insisted that I buy her a mouse as well. I might still buy her one for the Pixel, because there's a lot of clicking to be done on her work system, but the touchscreen is letting her get around the web extraordinarily well. It has completely changed my opinion about the value of touchscreens on laptops.

I'd also be worried about getting both screens to work correctly and talk to each other.

thesameguy
February 29th, 2016, 02:10 PM
I know someone got it going with Windows 10, but that's obviously a little easier given the Windows legacy...

Kchrpm
May 19th, 2016, 12:16 PM
Native Android app support, delivered through the Play Store, coming this year: http://www.theverge.com/2016/5/19/11712140/android-apps-native-chromebook-video

Kchrpm
April 27th, 2020, 07:09 PM
An epic bump just to say that my second Chromebook should be delivered tomorrow: a Pixelbook Go with an 8th Core i5, 16 GB of RAM, and a 128 GB SSD. Is it a rational choice for most humans? No, but I think it will keep me happy for 5+ years.

dodint
April 29th, 2020, 05:15 AM
So how is it?

Kchrpm
April 29th, 2020, 09:19 AM
It's great.

The hardware is excellent. Nice screen, keyboard feels good, whole device is a good size and weight. Everything is much faster, even just GMail, so it improves my every day workflow. No SD card slot means I need to be smarter about what I keep locally on the 128 GB SSD, but I should have been doing that anyway. Everything I kept on the SD card was backed up anyway, so it's a bit redundant.

From purely a software standpoint, the ability to use Android apps isn't a panacea, but it allows for downloading music and movies from streaming services that wouldn't have worked otherwise. I still can't do my ideal version of hosting trivia via Zoom, because you need the Windows or Mac version of the Zoom app to include your computer's audio, but at least my video and audio should be ok.

dodint
April 29th, 2020, 10:08 AM
Awesome, glad it worked out.

Jason
April 29th, 2020, 01:31 PM
Can the Pixelbook run a virtual windows environment?

Kchrpm
April 30th, 2020, 03:07 PM
Through Linux, yes/maybe. I wouldn't expect the performance to be good.

https://www.howtogeek.com/173353/how-to-run-windows-software-on-a-chromebook/

Tom Servo
April 30th, 2020, 04:35 PM
On the plus side the Linux support is much better than when that article was written and no longer requires development mode. I have not attempted to run wine with it, though. I got Steam for Linux to start, but none of the games worked very well, though a fair bit of that may be that I have a way less powerful Chromebook.

SportWagon
May 1st, 2020, 05:18 PM
Development mode means root? Do you do Linux using the UserLand Android app?

Tom Servo
May 1st, 2020, 07:18 PM
Developer mode basically does mean root. I tried using it for a bit because I wanted to spoof my MAC while on the cruise ship, as they limit you to a certain number of devices at a time. It's also super annoying because it's constantly pestering you every time you start about how unsafe it is, and every time you switch in or out of it it wipes your machine.

You used to have to use developer mode to use Linux, but now they've got a VM that you can just enable in the settings. It works pretty well, I got a go compiler installed on it and then was using VSCode with a remote head to run the IDE in the browser, complete with interactive debugger. It's actually kinda an awesome little development machine if you're using a language like go or rust. Unfortunately, VSCode shit the bed about a year ago when it came to go support, and Goland doesn't run on the Chromebook since it's a massive Java app based on IntelliJ.

Tom Servo
May 1st, 2020, 07:23 PM
Ahh, of note, you cannot run other VMs from within the VM, so that rules out booting Windows into a VM on it. Still, not surprising, just like trying to run a docker container in a docker container is generally a bad idea.

SportWagon
May 4th, 2020, 05:33 PM
UserLAnd, like various other Android Linux implementations, is actually a chroot. In the case of UserLAnd, it is an unprivileged chroot which means file permissions sometimes get odd, and some things won't work, e.g. "ping".

But it's a lot lighter weight than a full VM (it runs on the same kernel). On some of my old Android tablets, I would run some of the earlier chroots rooted, and you got more complete abilities that way. I mostly use such an environment to allow me to rsync data out. Ideally, I manage to ssh in and run command windows on my workstation or laptop.

Yw-slayer
May 4th, 2020, 05:39 PM
Cruise ships, heh, no-one's going to be on one of those for a while.

Tom Servo
May 4th, 2020, 06:30 PM
UserLAnd, like various other Android Linux implementations, is actually a chroot. In the case of UserLAnd, it is an unprivileged chroot which means file permissions sometimes get odd, and some things won't work, e.g. "ping".

But it's a lot lighter weight than a full VM (it runs on the same kernel). On some of my old Android tablets, I would run some of the earlier chroots rooted, and you got more complete abilities that way. I mostly use such an environment to allow me to rsync data out. Ideally, I manage to ssh in and run command windows on my workstation or laptop.

It sounds like the previous version of this, "Crouton" was a chroot. "Crostini" that runs on all the modern ones is a full-fledged VM.

Tom Servo
May 4th, 2020, 06:30 PM
Cruise ships, heh, no-one's going to be on one of those for a while.

Man, I can't believe how close we cut it to when ports started denying cruise ships. I'm so happy I'm not stuck on one of those floating petri dishes right now.

Jason
May 5th, 2020, 06:39 PM
Man, this is what I get for asking a question in a forum of NERDS

Tom Servo
May 5th, 2020, 08:55 PM
I resent that accusation. Me and my anime pillow are going home.