"Why Chromebook Pundits Are Out of Touch"

[forsooth]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

It arrived today. Won't get a chance to play with it until tomorrow.

8 hours battery life too.

[Graham]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

In other Words, I would be entirely dependent on Google to make it work.

No, you'd be entirely dependent on Google if you wanted to make it work with Google office apps.

But that makes sense, if you're keeping your data in Google apps, you're already entirely dependent on Google.

If all your documents were in Office format, and you were happy with the functionality available from the cloud versions, then you could use a Chromebook with SkyDrive or DropBox quite comfortably.

You'd still need a Google account to log into your Chromebook, but it would be perfectly useable after that just by using other cloud offerings.

Graham

[Sregener]

Originally Posted by Graham

No updates to iTunes, Adobe Air, Java, security software, anti-virus, etc., or any other application that you're using?

No patches to the operating system or updates to later versions?

Well, almost nobody (including Apple) develops for PowerPC architecture anymore. So there aren't a lot of those updates you mention. And while you'd have to be suicidal to use a Windows OS that hasn't been patched since 2009, MacOS's security is such that you don't really need to update much more than your browser to be safe.

As for apps, it works perfectly with Google Docs applications, which get updated just as often as they would on any other system.

Updates on my newer Mac are relatively easy. Clicking "Update" when the box appears that informs me that there's a security update to my system isn't terribly difficult. But nothing forces me to upgrade OS versions, and the software works just fine without updates as well, so for a non-technical user, I suspect these would be non-issues.

But it is funny that you list anti-virus, iTunes and Java, as those things aren't supported with ChromeOS. So you avoid the issue of updating them by not including them at all.

[Graham]

Originally Posted by Sregener

... So there aren't a lot of those updates you mention.

and

Originally Posted by Sregener

.... when the box appears that informs me that there's a security update to my system isn't terribly difficult.

If you're happy with the process, that's fine. But there are those of us who appreciate that we don't have to do these things with the Chromebooks.

Originally Posted by Sregener

But it is funny that you list anti-virus, iTunes and Java, as those things aren't supported with ChromeOS. So you avoid the issue of updating them by not including them at all.

Well, yes. But of those three your point is valid for Java - which ChromeOS refuses to support to maintain its security, but not for the other two.

For iTunes, read any app that you use on the Mac that needs periodic updates. The point being that you don't have those hassles with equivalent apps under ChromeOS.

For anti-virus, the system has defense built in from the ground up, so it is 'included' in that sense - you just don't have the hassle of updates.

Graham

[kennyc]

Some people just don't get it. There are different computers, different solutions for different sets of needs.

A Chromebook is designed to address a particular usage/demographic. It is excellent at what it does. If it works for your needs use it. If you want a general purpose (or 5 year old computer) then be my guest.

To each his own.

[Kumabjorn]

Originally Posted by Graham

No, you'd be entirely dependent on Google if you wanted to make it work with Google office apps.

But that makes sense, if you're keeping your data in Google apps, you're already entirely dependent on Google.

If all your documents were in Office format, and you were happy with the functionality available from the cloud versions, then you could use a Chromebook with SkyDrive or DropBox quite comfortably.

You'd still need a Google account to log into your Chromebook, but it would be perfectly useable after that just by using other cloud offerings.

Graham

But as far as I am aware there is no MS Office available on Chrome. That is my main problem, I have years and years invested in those documents, and yes many of them are updated and editet on a regular Schedule. I've tried a few Android apps but they all mess up the formating so I have to go back and open them in Windows and format them again all over.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

But as far as I am aware there is no MS Office available on Chrome. That is my main problem, I have years and years invested in those documents, and yes many of them are updated and editet on a regular Schedule. I've tried a few Android apps but they all mess up the formating so I have to go back and open them in Windows and format them again all over.

Yep, and the google apps now seem to want to convert the .doc and .docx etc to their own format....unless I've missed something. I haven't tried this in a while now.

If you need to maintain the originals in the MS formats then it probably is not worth messing with.

[jj2me]

Because there is so much knowledge in this thread, I'm going to go a little off-topic to ask a question that I couldn't find an answer for in the Google forum.

Is there any way to auto-fill the initial ChromeOS Google password?

Rationale: A relative with depression, short-term memory loss, and occasional episodes of anxiety, could really use the simplicity of ChromeOS (and so could her family support team). Except her problem on Windows has been that she compulsively changes her e-mail password, which she invariably forgets.

She's been through all sorts of password recovery options, including contacting Google, but eventually she runs out of chances and has to get a new e-mail address. And since she forgets any contacts' addresses, she can't alert her friends and relatives except via phone. She's given up on e-mail and is now more isolated, adding to her problems.

I realize that ChromeOS will come out of sleep and not require a password. But for those other times....

Thanks for considering.

[Graham]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

But as far as I am aware there is no MS Office available on Chrome. That is my main problem, I have years and years invested in those documents, and yes many of them are updated and editet on a regular Schedule. I've tried a few Android apps but they all mess up the formating so I have to go back and open them in Windows and format them again all over.

Well that's a different issue from the one you raised above where you asked whether ChromeDocs (which I took to mean Google Docs) could be used with DropBox.

Anyone who must maintain full compatibility with legacy Office format documents will, of course, still need acccess to a Windows machine. That's one of the reasons why none of us are recommending a ChromeOS device yet as your primary machine.

The options you currently have with Office format documents are to use Microsoft's Office365 web versions of the applications - which themselves don't give all the functionality of the desktop versions - or to open with a compatible third party solution.

Google's own solution is QuickOffice which it is in the process of baking into ChromeOS, but this is undoubtedly poor at preserving formatting, etc., at the moment. Definitely a work in progress.

However, the tools work reasonably well if you just need to read a legacy document (and can cope with some formatting glitches). It's for editing that you need to switch back to Windows.

Or move the document over to the Google format at that point, tidy up, and then you're fine for future editing.

Where I do need to return to Windows is for complex Excel sheets and applications that I'm mandated to run through work. I remote desktop into my old Windows netbook for this (as it's much quieter than my Windows desktop).

But for leisure, and a great deal of my work, I use my ChromeOS devices. The Chromebox coupled with the 23" monitor is a pleasure to use, and I genuinely do prefer using it now to my Windows i7 desktop.

Graham

[Graham]

Originally Posted by jj2me

Because there is so much knowledge in this thread, I'm going to go a little off-topic to ask a question that I couldn't find an answer for in the Google forum.

Is there any way to auto-fill the initial ChromeOS Google password?

Rationale: A relative with depression, short-term memory loss, and occasional episodes of anxiety, could really use the simplicity of ChromeOS (and so could her family support team). Except her problem on Windows has been that she compulsively changes her e-mail password, which she invariably forgets.

She's been through all sorts of password recovery options, including contacting Google, but eventually she runs out of chances and has to get a new e-mail address. And since she forgets any contacts' addresses, she can't alert her friends and relatives except via phone. She's given up on e-mail and is now more isolated, adding to her problems.

I realize that ChromeOS will come out of sleep and not require a password. But for those other times....

Thanks for considering.

I don't think so. The Chromebooks allow multiple user accounts linked to Google accounts so having the requirement to enter a Google password on reboot, even if set to be off on returning from sleep, is mandatory.

I'm wondering whether investing in Google Apps for Business might be the answer, thus providing her with a Google email address that you or another relative could administer?

Graham

[Kumabjorn]

Originally Posted by Graham

Well that's a different issue from the one you raised above where you asked whether ChromeDocs (which I took to mean Google Docs) could be used with DropBox.

Anyone who must maintain full compatibility with legacy Office format documents will, of course, still need acccess to a Windows machine. That's one of the reasons why none of us are recommending a ChromeOS device yet as your primary machine.

The options you currently have with Office format documents are to use Microsoft's Office365 web versions of the applications - which themselves don't give all the functionality of the desktop versions - or to open with a compatible third party solution.

Google's own solution is QuickOffice which it is in the process of baking into ChromeOS, but this is undoubtedly poor at preserving formatting, etc., at the moment. Definitely a work in progress.

However, the tools work reasonably well if you just need to read a legacy document (and can cope with some formatting glitches). It's for editing that you need to switch back to Windows.

Or move the document over to the Google format at that point, tidy up, and then you're fine for future editing.

Where I do need to return to Windows is for complex Excel sheets and applications that I'm mandated to run through work. I remote desktop into my old Windows netbook for this (as it's much quieter than my Windows desktop).

But for leisure, and a great deal of my work, I use my ChromeOS devices. The Chromebox coupled with the 23" monitor is a pleasure to use, and I genuinely do prefer using it now to my Windows i7 desktop.

Graham

Guess I didn't explain it properly. I have a ton of Office documents in Dropbox and it would be so convenient if I could open and edit them in Chrome, hence GoogleDocs, save them back to Dropbox and then distribute them as needed to clients that use Office.

[jj2me]

Originally Posted by Graham

I'm wondering whether investing in Google Apps for Business might be the answer, thus providing her with a Google email address that you or another relative could administer?

Graham

Thanks so much, Graham. I'll look into this further, but it looks like this will be the answer, from this instruction for resetting a user's password. No one has ever given me an alternative before, so I'm very much appreciative.

Apologies to all for the slightly off-topic direction, but this thread just breathed with in-depth knowledge, so I figured it would be my best chance.

[Graham]

Originally Posted by jj2me

Thanks so much, Graham. I'll look into this further, but it looks like this will be the answer, from this instruction for resetting a user's password. No one has ever given me an alternative before, so I'm very much appreciative.

No problem. Let us know if it works out; I'm not sure what the annual cost would be, but it may well be worth it.

We're using Google Apps for Business for my wife's company (half a dozen users), and switched over recently so I'm just getting my head round what's possible. But that's got charitable status so Google have provided the service for free.

Graham

[Graham]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

Guess I didn't explain it properly. I have a ton of Office documents in Dropbox and it would be so convenient if I could open and edit them in Chrome, hence GoogleDocs, save them back to Dropbox and then distribute them as needed to clients that use Office.

Yes, for this use case ChromeOS's not yet there. QuickOffice is developing quite fast now, but is a long way off, and it may be that Google get it to 'good enough' without taking it all the way to 'perfect'.

However, they've got a vested interest in making this work, as it's something that must be holding a lot of people back from making the switch.

Definitely a case of watch this space, but I reckon it will be at least another year.

Office365 will be developing too, so the solution is on the horizon.

Graham

[Sregener]

Originally Posted by kennyc

Some people just don't get it. There are different computers, different solutions for different sets of needs.

No, really, I do get it. I understand the appeal of a Chromebook. It's a very-limited tablet with a keyboard. For people whose biggest gripe with a tablet is the lack of an attached keyboard and a small screen, the ChromeBook is a great choice. For people who have realized that tablets are saddled with slow processors, limited storage, and poor connectivity to peripherals, a keyboard and larger screen isn't going to fix it.