"Why Chromebook Pundits Are Out of Touch"

[Prestidigitweeze]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Whether it's Mac or linux, any distro including ChromeOS, they are all the same in that they aren't Windows. Control-freak updates are a special Windows thing. . . .

Earlier on, I mentioned that I liked booting into the Ubuntu partition on my netbook because Linux was so quiet compared to Windows. Thank you, kacir and eschwartz, for confirming I'm not alone in that perception.

Another member mentioned that the balloons in XP were a thing of the past with Windows 7. I didn't want to monopolize the conversation by adding that I've got a machine running Windows 7 and it still nags me about updates and refuses to shut down until they're installed. That's after checking the box in the Control Panel that supposedly guarantees Windows won't install updates automatically. I realize there's a more comprehensive way to ensure that, but I haven't been looking into tailoring my Windows 7 experience as much as I do with Linux and OSX. And I hate the fact you have to buy a more expensive version of Windows to customize your moo-hanking desktop.

While it's possible to configure Windows 7 not to nag the user about updates or insist on them (imagine if that happened at companies running their own software, sites and patches -- companies that depend on the stability of a particular synergy), the mere fact that MS makes the process recondite for the ordinary user is an indication of why Ubuntu was such a relief to install and maintain.

On a similar subject: How easy is it to tell Chrome not to update? Android seems rather insistent about installing KitKat on my Nexus 7; is Chrome like that?

[HansTWN]

Originally Posted by Prestidigitweeze

Earlier on, I mentioned that I liked booting into the Ubuntu partition on my netbook because Linux was so quiet compared to Windows. Thank you, kacir and eschwartz, for confirming out I'm not alone in that perception.

Another member mentioned that the balloons in XP were a thing of the past with Windows 7; I didn't feel inclined to continue the conversation by mentioning that I've got a machine running Windows 7 and it does the same thing.

While it's possible to configure Windows not to nag the user about updates or insist on them (imagine if that happened at companies running their own software, sites and patches -- companies that depend on the stability of a particular synergy) -- the mere fact that MS makes the process recondite for the ordinary user is an indication of why Ubuntu was such a relief to install and maintain.

On a similar subject: How easy is it to tell Chrome not to update? Android seems rather insistent about installing KitKat on my Nexus 7; is Chrome like that?

I think most of you are comparing apples and oranges. What takes 30 minutes on a 5-year-old PC often takes less than a minute on a new PC. I never had to wait on any update on my latest PC. And with Windows 8 even a complete reboot is just a matter of seconds. MS has also learned to group updates. And the first time you get a new PC you get to decide update behaviour (can be easily changed later, of course).

[Prestidigitweeze]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

I think most of you are comparing apples and oranges. What takes 30 minutes on a 5-year-old PC often takes less than a minute on a new PC. I never had to wait on any update on my latest PC. And with Windows 8 even a complete reboot is just a matter of seconds. MS has also learned to group updates. And the first time you get a new PC you get to decide update behaviour (can be easily changed later, of course).

Those are valid points, Hans, and I might yet upgrade to 8.1. But too many friends (particularly a producer I work with) have insisted that, for my uses, Windows 8 is inadvisable at this stage.

I seem to have been unclear about the hardware involved.

My Windows 7 machine is a "modern PC" in the sense that it's fast (or was as of 2012). It's my netbook that is the throwback, and the only reason it's running XP is because that iteration is lighter and therefore more compatible with the deliberately under-spec'd processor.

[HansTWN]

Originally Posted by Prestidigitweeze

Those are valid points, Hans, and I might yet upgrade to 8.1. But too many friends (particularly a producer I work with) have insisted that, for my uses, Windows 8 is inadvisable at this stage.

I seem to have been unclear about the hardware involved.

My Windows 7 machine is a "modern PC" in the sense that it's fast (or was as of 2012). It's my netbook that is the throwback, and the only reason it's running XP is because that iteration is lighter and therefore more compatible with the deliberately under-spec'd processor.

Netbooks were totally underpowered. An attempt to make PCs as cheap and light as possible before the hardware was ready. In my experience on older hardware Windows 8 is faster than Windows 7 and I would definitely suggest upgrading a PC if you can do it for free. You might not want to pay for it and in some usage cases drivers may be missing (not that I had any problems upgrading 3 PCs). But probably nothing can save a netbook (that really isn't Microsoft's fault but Asus who brought the netbook junk to the world). Just use a cheap tablet to replace the netbook.

[Prestidigitweeze]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

Netbooks were totally underpowered. An attempt to make PCs as cheap and light as possible before the hardware was ready. In my experience on older hardware Windows 8 is faster than Windows 7 and I would definitely suggest upgrading a PC if you can do it for free. You might not want to pay for it and in some usage cases drivers may be missing (not that I had any problems upgrading 3 PCs). But probably nothing can save a netbook (that really isn't Microsoft's fault but Asus who brought the netbook junk to the world). Just use a cheap tablet to replace the netbook.

My mention of the netbook (which I myself described as deliberately under-spec'd -- I think everyone is aware they were severely underpowered) had nothing to do with the PC running Windows 7; truthfully, the netbook is now rarely used.

Also: My comments about Windows forcing updates were about the process, not the slowness of the task. Comments about speed were by a different MR member.

Still, thanks for the report on 8 running much faster than 7.

Compatibility becomes a bigger issue re W8 if one's running a number of legacy devices and instruments (which in music production parlance aren't dated but "vintage" -- you're absolutely supposed to keep and use them no matter how much new kit you acquire).

I feel guilty, however, about our spending so much time discussing my non-Chrome setup!

[Graham]

Originally Posted by Prestidigitweeze

How easy is it to tell Chrome not to update?

Hard. I found this:

Originally Posted by Jay Lee

I don't really recommend this for many reasons but if you're in developer mode and drop to a root shell you can run:

initctl stop update-engine

this will need to be run on each boot (or run automatically on your system). You can also create a file /mnt/stateful_partition/etc/lsb-release and add the lines:

CHROMEOS_RELEASE_VERSION=9999.9999.9999.9999
GOOGLE_RELEASE=9999.9999.9999.9999

which tells the update engine that you're running a much newer version (a lie) and you don't need to update.

Graham

[Sregener]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

What takes 30 minutes on a 5-year-old PC often takes less than a minute on a new PC.

Well, disaster has struck. After those 30 minutes of updates (on an Dell Inspiron 1545 laptop), it took an additional 15 minutes to start back up while it "configured" all those updates. The payoff? It broke the network device drivers and the laptop can no longer connect to a network. Reinstalling the drivers did not resolve the problem. Trying to restore to a "good" point didn't work. It didn't come with restore media. It's effectively a brick.

I'm downloading Ubuntu now in the hopes of getting some functionality out of this box.

Windows updates: A perfectly legitimate reason to switch to a ChromeBook.

[CWatkinsNash]

Originally Posted by Sregener

It didn't come with restore media. It's effectively a brick.

If you're interested and in the US or Canada, you can order recovery media for your system:
https://www.dell.com/support/diagnos...diagnostichome

[Sregener]

Originally Posted by CWatkinsNash

If you're interested and in the US or Canada, you can order recovery media for your system.

I appreciate the help/offer, but I don't have time for this crap. I stopped using Windows on a daily basis because it sucked untold hours of support out of me. I was trying to use my wife's old laptop to do a few things. Ironically, her system just had to be rebuilt because her anti-virus software choked on an update (thought it was a webkit) and in "repairing" the problem destroyed the system. She needs Windows for work. I don't.

I'll try this Linux setup and see if they've really made things better/easier than I remember.

My MacBook Pro arrived DOA and is being returned, in case anyone was wondering. The seller is standing by it and will either replace it or refund my money.

Those Chromebooks are looking better to me every day...

[ApK]

Originally Posted by Sregener

I'm downloading Ubuntu now in the hopes of getting some functionality out of this box.

Windows updates: A perfectly legitimate reason to switch to a ChromeBook.

If you really do ultimately deem it bricked, I'll be happy to pay shipping to take it off your hands! :-)

By the way, I ordered one of those MacBook Pros from ebay. Should be here tomorrow. To get one capable of running XCode5 for iOS7 development, I had to spend a bit over $400, but still better than the >$1000 a new or current refurb would have cost.

The price of a Mac: another perfectly legitimate reason to switch to a ChromeBook. ;-)

[ApK]

Originally Posted by Sregener

My MacBook Pro arrived DOA and is being returned, in case anyone was wondering. The seller is standing by it and will either replace it or refund my money.

Those Chromebooks are looking better to me every day...

Hmm. Ominous portent.

If had known you were comparing the price of a Chromebook to a DEAD Macbook, I may have argued more on the functionality differences...;-)

Seriously though, I hope the seller straightens it out for you. and I hope mine fairs better.

[kennyc]

Dell Unveils Its First Chromebook, An 11-Inch Portable Designed Specifically For Education

http://techcrunch.com/2013/12/11/dell-chromebook-11/

[tubemonkey]

Pretty much the same specs as the Acer C720; only $50 more expensive.

It’s an Intel-powered device with a Celeron 2955U processor (interesting choice), 10 hours of battery life,...

Huh? What's so interesting about the 2955U? If you want long battery life, it's the best choice for this price point.

[tubemonkey]

Asus has yet to join the party. They plan to release Chromebooks next month; which is really bad timing. Miss the holiday shopping season and you miss huge sales. Holiday shoppers buy what's available, not what's promised.

And still no word on when they plan to release their Chromebox.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Asus has yet to join the party. They plan to release Chromebooks next month; which is really bad timing. Miss the holiday shopping season and you miss huge sales. Holiday shoppers buy what's available, not what's promised.

And still no word on when they plan to release their Chromebox.

Ah but all those potential customers with christmas money and gift cards burning their pockets....