I still don't get the point of Chromebooks. You need the exact same hardware as a real laptop, you don't get to save on anything, in fact it's worse, since browsers are usually heavier than real apps.
But you get less functionality, and have to hack into it even if you can to make it your own.
They're even worse for browsing, as you can only install addons and adblockers allowed by Google, which are deliberately gimped.
At least we get to enjoy freedom on our PCs - the smartphone-ification of computers is a worrying trend (this applies to games consoles too).
Yeah pretty much this. Google had a pretty successful effort to sell these devices as part of a managed solution: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/13/technology/google-education-chromebooks-schools.html" rel="nofollow">https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/13/technology/google-educati...
Im guessing it was pretty easy for teachers (who they reached out to bypassing school procurement officers) or IT to manage.
Honestly, I used use a cheap chromebook throughout college since it was a fantastic linux device. Cheap (bought secondhand), Very little compute power, but fantastic keyboard, battery life, durable, light, and it ran coreboot. Super easy to unlock too for the early devices. You just had to remove the read protect screw. Obviously thats very niche though
Did you ever use GalliumOS? I remember catching a sale on an Acer Chromebook and then flashing that Ubuntu based distro onto. Uses that laptop for 5ish years before I turned it into a home server.
bryanlarsen · · focus · HN ↗
While there won't be many there definitely will be some; I know of an ~8 year old Chromebook currently in active use.
torginus · · focus · HN ↗
But you get less functionality, and have to hack into it even if you can to make it your own.
They're even worse for browsing, as you can only install addons and adblockers allowed by Google, which are deliberately gimped.
At least we get to enjoy freedom on our PCs - the smartphone-ification of computers is a worrying trend (this applies to games consoles too).
KetoManx64 · · focus · HN ↗
For schools it can be locked down with group policies, for boomers it's just a machine to use a web browser
rrego · · focus · HN ↗
Honestly, I used use a cheap chromebook throughout college since it was a fantastic linux device. Cheap (bought secondhand), Very little compute power, but fantastic keyboard, battery life, durable, light, and it ran coreboot. Super easy to unlock too for the early devices. You just had to remove the read protect screw. Obviously thats very niche though
KetoManx64 · · focus · HN ↗