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And what, exactly, does a Chromebook offer? Take this $1K device. Hardware-wise, for that kind of price you can get a nice laptop. Heck, for $200 extra, you c

And what, exactly, does a Chromebook offer? Take this $1K device. Hardware-wise, for that kind of price you can get a nice laptop. Heck, for $200 extra, you can even get a MacBook pro if you wanted. Software wise, the value proposition looks even worse. Apple can justify that price tag because you are buying into the Mac ecosystem. Windows laptops can justify the price tag because, well, Windows is what people expect. Chromebooks, however, have a "mobile-OS-pretending-to-be-a-desktop-OS" OS, irrevocably tied to the cloud and Google's services that runs "apps" and web applications disguised as desktop applications. Barf. It's so bad that most people that cheer for these devices say "just put Linux on it". Yeah, you know where else I can stuff Linux onto? Nearly every other Laptop in existence. Last 3 laptops in which I stuffed Linux Mint "just worked". WiFi, Bluetooth, suspend, everything. I'm either a fantastically lucky bastard, or maybe things aren't shit anymore (hint: I suck at poker). Chromebooks made sense in their niche, as the next iteration of a netbook. One step above tablet (has a keyboard), but several steps (and dollars) below a full blown laptop. Once you cross that threshold, the value proposition looks like crap, because you can generally get a much better device.

Touche 9y ago
I disagree, I find Chromebook's software to be superior. The fact that it boots up directly to a browser is a plus for me, that's where I spend 85% of my time anyways. That I don't have to worry about borking some system file is another plus.
coldtea 9y ago
>And what, exactly, does a Chromebook offer? Not having to care about software and hardware specs like those you've mentioned. Those people value closed OS that's irrevocably tied to the Cloud (as a good thing). And I shouldn't even have to point it out. That's literally the marketing proposition behind Chromebooks from the start. >It's so bad that most people that cheer for these devices say "just put Linux on it". You'd be surprised.
gangstead 9y ago
I think you are confusing the benefits of Chromebooks in general with Google's Pixel Chromebooks. Aside from the Pixel line of > $1k Chromebooks are usually $150-$300 with a couple "premium" $500 models. Chromebook's being tied to Google's services is a great feature for the easily replaceable vast majority of Chromebooks that are given to students, grandparents, children. They turn on in seconds and take basically zero management. Every time I open my wife's mac there are 5 updates waiting to install because she can't be bothered to click on the notification. I take the Pixelbook (and earlier Chromebook Pixels) to be Google's attempt to do what people are criticizing Apple of forgetting to do: remember the power users. They don't plan to sell many of them but they want the option to be out there for a developer who might install linux on it anyways but also might take a stab at packaging their app on the Chromestore, or put it on the Canary channel and submit early bug reports. If a couple especially price insensitive casual users buy them that's just a bonus. It might also have the effect of catching people's attention who then go on to buy a lower price Chromebook. Imagine a casual laptop shopper wants a small nice laptop. They look for a Macbook / Air because they are small seem pretty capable and have nice commercials. They also notice this Pixel because it's in the same price range and other search filters, so it must be similar, right? They find it runs this strange "ChromeOS" which is really just a browser. Come to think of it that's all they really need, what other Chromebooks are there? Ohh look here's one that does everything I was planning on doing with the Macbook for $300. This is not the typical HN reader, but I'd wager a good many laptop purchases work like this.

Touche 9y ago

I disagree, I find Chromebook's software to be superior. The fact that it boots up directly to a browser is a plus for me, that's where I spend 85% of my time anyways. That I don't have to worry about borking some system file is another plus.

coldtea 9y ago

>And what, exactly, does a Chromebook offer? Not having to care about software and hardware specs like those you've mentioned. Those people value closed OS that's irrevocably tied to the Cloud (as a good thing). And I shouldn't even have to point it out. That's literally the marketing proposition behind Chromebooks from the start. >It's so bad that most people that cheer for these devices say "just put Linux on it". You'd be surprised.

gangstead 9y ago

I think you are confusing the benefits of Chromebooks in general with Google's Pixel Chromebooks. Aside from the Pixel line of > $1k Chromebooks are usually $150-$300 with a couple "premium" $500 models. Chromebook's being tied to Google's services is a great feature for the easily replaceable vast majority of Chromebooks that are given to students, grandparents, children. They turn on in seconds and take basically zero management. Every time I open my wife's mac there are 5 updates waiting to install because she can't be bothered to click on the notification. I take the Pixelbook (and earlier Chromebook Pixels) to be Google's attempt to do what people are criticizing Apple of forgetting to do: remember the power users. They don't plan to sell many of them but they want the option to be out there for a developer who might install linux on it anyways but also might take a stab at packaging their app on the Chromestore, or put it on the Canary channel and submit early bug reports. If a couple especially price insensitive casual users buy them that's just a bonus. It might also have the effect of catching people's attention who then go on to buy a lower price Chromebook. Imagine a casual laptop shopper wants a small nice laptop. They look for a Macbook / Air because they are small seem pretty capable and have nice commercials. They also notice this Pixel because it's in the same price range and other search filters, so it must be similar, right? They find it runs this strange "ChromeOS" which is really just a browser. Come to think of it that's all they really need, what other Chromebooks are there? Ohh look here's one that does everything I was planning on doing with the Macbook for $300. This is not the typical HN reader, but I'd wager a good many laptop purchases work like this.