"Why Chromebook Pundits Are Out of Touch"

[Graham]

I should add that setting up a new Chromebook is also a joy, particularly if you're already using Google's services. Open the box, take out the Chromebook, plug it in, enter your WiFi password, enter your Google password.

That's it. You can be editing that document you were working on, with your full software, file and desktop environment available, within a couple of minutes.

Compare that to switching from one Windows machine to another.

Graham

[frahse]

Originally Posted by Graham

I should add that setting up a new Chromebook is also a joy, particularly if you're already using Google's services. Open the box, take out the Chromebook, plug it in, enter your WiFi password, enter your Google password.

That's it. You can be editing that document you were working on, with your full software, file and desktop environment available, within a couple of minutes.

Compare that to switching from one Windows machine to another.

Graham

From reading the last few pages of comments, we find:

pluses-
1. Chromebook is cheap.
2. Doesn't require other or costly software.
3. Especially doesn't require the cost or time for Virus checkers or Firewalls or updates or new versions and such.
4. Interfaces seamlessly with the greatest Software Development of our time: Google.

minus's
1. Some people fear Google which gives us information, maps and Android, free storage, and "let me count the ways" it helps us.
2. Chrome isn't the old familiar Windows whom we love to hate with all its warts, but still it seems familiar though we never really understood it.
3. Mind you now, I still use Windows for the things that a Chromebook has not yet developed capability.
.
4, 5, 6, .... Finally, let us not underestimate the excitement that many of us feel at the chance Windows will give us soon for new adventure and excitement and money spent when Windows gives us the opportunity to update to Windows 10. Gee the thrill!

[ApK]

Originally Posted by frahse

4. Interfaces seamlessly with the greatest Software Development of our time: Google.

"...of our time!...."

[Kumabjorn]

Can you run multiple monitors on a Chromebook/Chromebox? I find that the most productivity enhancement the last few years comes from having a setup with several monitors to spread the desktop around. If Chrome handles that I'd consider switching.

[QuantumIguana]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

Can you run multiple monitors on a Chromebook/Chromebox? I find that the most productivity enhancement the last few years comes from having a setup with several monitors to spread the desktop around. If Chrome handles that I'd consider switching.

I think you can. I've never tried, exactly, but I have hooked my Chromebook to my TV set via the HDMI port. I had to drag a browser window from the Chromebook screen to the TV screen, so it would look like you could have multiple monitors.

[Dopedangel]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

Can you run multiple monitors on a Chromebook/Chromebox? I find that the most productivity enhancement the last few years comes from having a setup with several monitors to spread the desktop around. If Chrome handles that I'd consider switching.

Yes you can
https://support.google.com/chromeboo.../1060909?hl=en

Connect to a monitor or TV

You can connect your Chromebook to a monitor or TV. After you connect, you can:

Extend your desktop to display across multiple screens.
Mirror your display to show the same image on your Chromebook and external monitor.
To project your Chromebook's screen on an external monitor or TV, connect the monitor to your Chromebook. To get the best possible resolution, use high-quality cables that don’t convert from one end to the other (e.g. HDMI-to-HDMI, or DVI-to-DVI).

Single-link DVI adapters can only support low resolutions, depending on refresh rate. Passive HDMI-to-VGA or DP-to-VGA adapters aren’t supported on your Chromebook.

[Kumabjorn]

Much appreciated. I'll look into the hardware specifics. Have several monitors that I should be able to switch over, but the graphics support in the CPU seems to be limited. On my SP3 I run two WQHD over DP ports and one HD over USB. If a chromebook supports that I'm game.

[leaston]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Chromebooks are a browser-in-a-box, it is not that complicated a concept.

I think what's causing me some confusion is the mention of packaged apps outside the browser. I was always under the impression the OS is 100% browser based until I started reading all this

[David Fitz]

Seems like a lot of the issues with Chromebooks that concern users here can be solved by installing ubuntu via crouton on the chromebook. For those who don't know what that means, it basically means you can very easily install Ubuntu, a fuly-fledged linux operating system, alongside Chrome OS and can even switch to it without rebooting the chromebook. By doing this, I am able to have a chromebook 90% of the time, but can run Calibre and other such programs, print from USB, and connect my Sony Reader all at the drop of a hat. With Wine installed on ubuntu (intel-based chromebooks only), I can even run windows programs with varying degrees of success.

It's definitely worth bearing this in mind for everyone, since it really is easy to install ubuntu this way...

Instructions

[leaston]

Originally Posted by David Fitz

Seems like a lot of the issues with Chromebooks that concern users here can be solved by installing ubuntu via crouton on the chromebook.

Crikey, now that's a selling point for a Chromebook for me

[Anthem]

Originally Posted by ApK

And also price, though that gap is closing, with Chromebook prices increasing, and Windows offering a free version (if I understand correctly).

When I got our Chromebooks, the price difference from a comparable Windows machine made the choice highly rational: need less, get less, spend less, fuss less.

Yeah, they have the "Windows with Bing" thing that is either super cheap or free for OEMs. That may be the same program as the "under certain screen sizes there is no price to license Windows" or it may be separate. I can't remember.

Personally, the low price of my first Chromebook only decided how easily I could try one out... I was going to purchase one no matter what it cost, because I love the idea and the OS/ecosystem.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by leaston

I think what's causing me some confusion is the mention of packaged apps outside the browser. I was always under the impression the OS is 100% browser based until I started reading all this

Those are all Chrome Apps, which run as a pluginized extension to the Chrome Browser.

Then there is Crouton of course, as mentioned above.

Since ChromeOS is a derivative of Ubuntu, it is easy (relatively speaking...) to run Ubuntu via a chroot, integrated into ChromeOS by simply running the extra bits via Crouton's magic.

Alternatively you can install Ubuntu the normal way, bootstrapped via ChrUbuntu.

[jj2me]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Those are all Chrome Apps, which run as a pluginized extension to the Chrome Browser.

And leaston can see exactly what he'd get from these apps on a Chromebook by "installing" them from the Chrome Web Store onto his current PC, which, of course, needs the Chrome browser.

[Rizla]

Chromebooks have forced low price windows chromebook killers to emerge. Thats a good thing.

[frahse]

Originally Posted by Rizla

Chromebooks have forced low price windows chromebook killers to emerge. Thats a good thing.

Yes indeed.

Just like the net-books forced MS to sell XP home for $5 to $10 to netbook manufactures to avoid an onslaught of Linux OS's.

The availability of a much cheaper product makes the more expensive products cheaper.