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I have a Chromebook Plus, and I have to say, it's not a device I'd recommend. I only use it as a tablet replacement (watching video and reading digital comics),

I have a Chromebook Plus, and I have to say, it's not a device I'd recommend. I only use it as a tablet replacement (watching video and reading digital comics), and if manages to fail miserably at both of those. As someone who uses Linux on all of his desktop and laptop devices, it kills me to say this, but if you're looking for a tablet-like laptop, I'd recommend getting a previous generation Surface, which is about the same price, and a vastly better device. I'll just copy my previous comment[0] about the Chromebooks here. I have a Samsung Chromebook Plus, and I absolutely despise it as a tablet. Compared to my Nexus 9 (which is still kicking), it's a far inferior device. My primary uses for my tablet are watching video and reading comics. It manages to fail at both of those two things. 1. No system-wide support for red-tint (aka "night mode", Flux, Twilight, etc.)[1] 2. Buggy rotation lock - this works very inconsistently across apps. 3. Heavy (compared to keyboard-less tablets) 4. Buggy soft keyboard (sometimes the soft keyboard just straight-up doesn't work in certain apps, so I have to unfold the device from tablet mode just to use the hardware keyboard to type). I still use my Nexus 9 over the Chromebook Plus every time I can. When my Nexus 9 dies, I'll probably end up getting a Surface to replace it. [0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17213097 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17213097 [1] There is finally support for it on a per-user basis, but it took years for them to introduce this. And even now, if you close your tablet and have to unlock it again, you'll be blinded by the unlock screen.

duxup 8y ago
>I only use it as a tablet replacement (watching video and reading digital comics), and if manages to fail miserably at both of those. As another Chromebook Plus owner I find this really surprising. I see your list there but I'm not sure how the video and digital comics fail. I've found it a pretty versatile device.
- chimeracoder 8y ago
  > As another Chromebook Plus owner I find this really surprising. I see your list there but I'm not sure how the video and digital comics fail. Lack of red tinting (system-wide) is a non-starter. If I'm reading late at night, I don't want to blind myself. The rotation lock is really buggy and app-dependent. On Android tablets, it just works.
  - vatueil 8y ago
    Night Light works system-wide for me, including the lock screen. Samsung Chromebook Plus, single user, stable channel. If yours is bugged, perhaps setting a dark wallpaper background might help mitigate the issue? The rotation lock, I can't say I've had any issues with it, but I don't think I use the Chromebook Plus in tablet mode nearly as much as it sounds like you do.
ghaff 8y ago
I have the small Asus Flip Chromebook which I like but not as a tablet. When I travel with it I bring a tablet or Kindle along as well.
jamespo 8y ago
Why did you get a device with a physical keyboard when you only needed a tablet?
- chimeracoder 8y ago
  > Why did you get a device with a physical keyboard when you only needed a tablet? Because the last true flagship tablet Google released was the Nexus 9 in 2014. I actually still prefer to use that over the Chromebook, but it's clear they want the Chromebook to be the replacement for their flagship tablet lines (Nexus/Pixel).
  - vatueil 8y ago
    Not counting the Pixel C, I suppose? It's too bad Chrome OS wasn't ready for the tablet/convertible form factor in time for the Pixel C's release, given the rumors that it was originally supposed to be a Chrome OS device. Perhaps Google's next Pixelbook will be a convertible like the new HP Chromebook X2: https://chromeunboxed.com/news/hp-chromebook-x2-first-impressions/ https://chromeunboxed.com/news/hp-chromebook-x2-first-impres...
jacksmith21006 8y ago
Wife has a CB+ and loves it. I have a PB as my only issue was the keyboard. I am sensitive to keyboards and the keyboard on the Pixelbooks is the best keyboard I have seen on any laptop. Since getting my PB have not turned in my Mac. I love having gnu/Linux on my laptop and able to run the same containers I use in the cloud. So easy to pull something down and play with it and learn. So much better than alternatives. OS x is close but still not Linux. Yesterday had to help someone with an issue with reddis and not in my PB. Grab a container and up in minutes and can focus on the issue at hand. But why on Earth has it taken so long?
- drudru11 8y ago
  Do you have to do that weird thing of not hitting the space bar on boot up to get into developer mode?

duxup 8y ago

>I only use it as a tablet replacement (watching video and reading digital comics), and if manages to fail miserably at both of those. As another Chromebook Plus owner I find this really surprising. I see your list there but I'm not sure how the video and digital comics fail. I've found it a pretty versatile device.

chimeracoder 8y ago
> As another Chromebook Plus owner I find this really surprising. I see your list there but I'm not sure how the video and digital comics fail. Lack of red tinting (system-wide) is a non-starter. If I'm reading late at night, I don't want to blind myself. The rotation lock is really buggy and app-dependent. On Android tablets, it just works.
- vatueil 8y ago
  Night Light works system-wide for me, including the lock screen. Samsung Chromebook Plus, single user, stable channel. If yours is bugged, perhaps setting a dark wallpaper background might help mitigate the issue? The rotation lock, I can't say I've had any issues with it, but I don't think I use the Chromebook Plus in tablet mode nearly as much as it sounds like you do.

ghaff 8y ago

I have the small Asus Flip Chromebook which I like but not as a tablet. When I travel with it I bring a tablet or Kindle along as well.

jamespo 8y ago

Why did you get a device with a physical keyboard when you only needed a tablet?

chimeracoder 8y ago
> Why did you get a device with a physical keyboard when you only needed a tablet? Because the last true flagship tablet Google released was the Nexus 9 in 2014. I actually still prefer to use that over the Chromebook, but it's clear they want the Chromebook to be the replacement for their flagship tablet lines (Nexus/Pixel).
- vatueil 8y ago
  Not counting the Pixel C, I suppose? It's too bad Chrome OS wasn't ready for the tablet/convertible form factor in time for the Pixel C's release, given the rumors that it was originally supposed to be a Chrome OS device. Perhaps Google's next Pixelbook will be a convertible like the new HP Chromebook X2: https://chromeunboxed.com/news/hp-chromebook-x2-first-impressions/ https://chromeunboxed.com/news/hp-chromebook-x2-first-impres...

jacksmith21006 8y ago

Wife has a CB+ and loves it. I have a PB as my only issue was the keyboard. I am sensitive to keyboards and the keyboard on the Pixelbooks is the best keyboard I have seen on any laptop. Since getting my PB have not turned in my Mac. I love having gnu/Linux on my laptop and able to run the same containers I use in the cloud. So easy to pull something down and play with it and learn. So much better than alternatives. OS x is close but still not Linux. Yesterday had to help someone with an issue with reddis and not in my PB. Grab a container and up in minutes and can focus on the issue at hand. But why on Earth has it taken so long?

drudru11 8y ago
Do you have to do that weird thing of not hitting the space bar on boot up to get into developer mode?