3 ms·

Every platform has an escape hatch. For the iPad, when there's something you can't do, beyond it's limits, you would go use a real computer. For Macs, you use t

Every platform has an escape hatch. For the iPad, when there's something you can't do, beyond it's limits, you would go use a real computer. For Macs, you use to run to the refuge of Bootcamp, or Parallels, to get to run something you can't run on OSX. For Chromebooks, you run to Crouton. There's no device that does everything without compromise, but for some people, 90% of the time, all they need is a browser with a full-sized keyboard and largish screen.

DanBC 13y ago
> all they need is a browser How did we get so far from The Unix Way of "one tool does one job and does it well", to "just cram it into the browser"?
- cromwellian 13y ago
  The Unix Way(tm) is great for developers, but ties you to enormous local client state. "Just cram it into the browser" has lots of advantages for many use cases: 1) actual computer local state irrelevent. If HD fails or computer falls into a river, it's no big deal. 2) Sharing your computer is a lot easier. Hand a ChromeBook to someone and they are instantly productive with it, as there is no need to "set up" their environment and all their apps. 3) Arguably more secure. Big decrease in surface area for private attackers to penetrate with viruses or malware. Arguably, increase in surface area for government surveillance. Depends on whether you find Eastern European hackers getting your financial info more damaging to you than the NSA/GCHQ. Ask yourself this: Does Captain Picard carry around an entire copy of the Enterprise computer on him, or does his com-badge just talk to the ship computer? Cloud computing is the latest iteration in the pivot between mainframe and client, and for some usage models, it is far more convenient to cloud host all of your state, and make your client very thin and cheap.

3 ms·

Every platform has an escape hatch. For the iPad, when there's something you can't do, beyond it's limits, you would go use a real computer. For Macs, you use t

by cromwellian 13y ago

DanBC 13y ago
> all they need is a browser How did we get so far from The Unix Way of "one tool does one job and does it well", to "just cram it into the browser"?
- cromwellian 13y ago
  The Unix Way(tm) is great for developers, but ties you to enormous local client state. "Just cram it into the browser" has lots of advantages for many use cases: 1) actual computer local state irrelevent. If HD fails or computer falls into a river, it's no big deal. 2) Sharing your computer is a lot easier. Hand a ChromeBook to someone and they are instantly productive with it, as there is no need to "set up" their environment and all their apps. 3) Arguably more secure. Big decrease in surface area for private attackers to penetrate with viruses or malware. Arguably, increase in surface area for government surveillance. Depends on whether you find Eastern European hackers getting your financial info more damaging to you than the NSA/GCHQ. Ask yourself this: Does Captain Picard carry around an entire copy of the Enterprise computer on him, or does his com-badge just talk to the ship computer? Cloud computing is the latest iteration in the pivot between mainframe and client, and for some usage models, it is far more convenient to cloud host all of your state, and make your client very thin and cheap.