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Writing this from my 2011 MBA. Looking at a replacement, and the CBP is a strong contender. If I swap out the storage for a 256 or 512 GB drive and throw linux

by MAGZine 12y ago

Writing this from my 2011 MBA. Looking at a replacement, and the CBP is a strong contender. If I swap out the storage for a 256 or 512 GB drive and throw linux or windows on it, then it's better hardware than a macbook air, for cheaper. In fact, it's impossible to build a MBA that stands up to CBP's hardware. the chromebook represents essentially what i wanted out of a macbook air refresh, instead the ipad-with-a-keyboard Macbook showed up.

nfoz 12y ago
But why wouldn't you get the Dell XPS 13 instead? (Linux edition coming out soon.) The Pixel is heavier than the MBA, while the XPS is lighter/slimmer and has a real harddrive. There are minor trade-offs here and there but it's the limitation of ChromeOS that really makes this a strange option. I myself am debating both options, but I've ordered a Pixel specifically because I'm hoping the keyboard is a bit better than the XPS, and to see how well it will run Debian natively. If only the US had ultraportable options like they have in Japan.
- mkozlows 12y ago
  As someone who runs Linux and ChromeOS on my personal laptops, was looking at the XPS, and just ordered a Pixel, I can answer that: 1. Chromebook is zero-hassle. It's great that Dell is putting native Ubuntu on their laptops, but fundamentally those are still machines that were designed for Windows first and awkwardly adapted to Linux. They'll always have a few niggling issues that a designed-for-ChromeOS machine won't have. 2. I prefer ChromeOS to Linux. The ultra-minimalist ChromeOS UI is just amazingly clean and elegant, in a way that none of the Linux desktops are (and I say that as a huge fan of GNOME 3). 3. The high-DPI version of the XPS 13 is more expensive than the Pixel (and might not be the one that gets released with Linux, they haven't announced it); high-DPI is a mandatory thing on an expensive laptop now for me. 4. 3:2 screen is the perfect aspect ratio, and the XPS isn't that. 5. USB-C charger is sweet. But the XPS 13 looks like it'll be a nice laptop when the Linux version comes out. Still, I wish Dell would design Linux-first laptops rather than trying to awkwardly retrofit Linux onto designed-for-Windows machines.
  - nindalf 12y ago
    What is the difference between a laptop designed for Windows and one designed for Linux? Apart from device drivers (graphics, Wi-Fi, bluetooth) which are usually not a problem, I can't think of any difference. Perhaps Linux might not look very good on very high DPI screens, but that's it.
    - mkozlows 12y ago
      Look at what the Project Sputnik people are saying about getting Linux working on the current XPS 13 -- they're working on drivers for various portions of it that don't currently work currently on Linux. (If you install Ubuntu on the XPS 13 today, it will have problems.) It's great that Dell is doing that, it really is. But if they were building a laptop for Linux first, they never would have sourced those components.
  - slgeorge 12y ago
    Your point (1) is incorrect, actually the reverse of the truth. Dell specifically deserves credit for sourcing and designing the XPS hardware to natively support Ubuntu. There are no "niggling issues" because hardware components and all elements of the supply chain are required to work with Canonical to ensure that Ubuntu is a full experience. So sorry but the XPS range is a "Linux-first laptop" in the sense that you mean - Dell deserves credit for that work. Both Dell and Google basically work to define a spec requirement, then put it out to tender to ODM's to respond. In both cases part of the design requirements will have been certification for the OS. For Google it would be ChromeOS, for the XPS from Dell it was Ubuntu and Windows - Window will work anyway for obvious reasons, but it means additional work for the ODM and Dell to ensure that Ubuntu works.
Eleopteryx 12y ago
Can you replace the drive? I dislike the newer Macbooks because nothing can be upgraded. If I can throw a 512GB SSD in this thing, I'd honestly sell my Retina Macbook Pro and replace it with the Chromebook.

by MAGZine 12y ago

nfoz 12y ago

But why wouldn't you get the Dell XPS 13 instead? (Linux edition coming out soon.) The Pixel is heavier than the MBA, while the XPS is lighter/slimmer and has a real harddrive. There are minor trade-offs here and there but it's the limitation of ChromeOS that really makes this a strange option. I myself am debating both options, but I've ordered a Pixel specifically because I'm hoping the keyboard is a bit better than the XPS, and to see how well it will run Debian natively. If only the US had ultraportable options like they have in Japan.

mkozlows 12y ago
As someone who runs Linux and ChromeOS on my personal laptops, was looking at the XPS, and just ordered a Pixel, I can answer that: 1. Chromebook is zero-hassle. It's great that Dell is putting native Ubuntu on their laptops, but fundamentally those are still machines that were designed for Windows first and awkwardly adapted to Linux. They'll always have a few niggling issues that a designed-for-ChromeOS machine won't have. 2. I prefer ChromeOS to Linux. The ultra-minimalist ChromeOS UI is just amazingly clean and elegant, in a way that none of the Linux desktops are (and I say that as a huge fan of GNOME 3). 3. The high-DPI version of the XPS 13 is more expensive than the Pixel (and might not be the one that gets released with Linux, they haven't announced it); high-DPI is a mandatory thing on an expensive laptop now for me. 4. 3:2 screen is the perfect aspect ratio, and the XPS isn't that. 5. USB-C charger is sweet. But the XPS 13 looks like it'll be a nice laptop when the Linux version comes out. Still, I wish Dell would design Linux-first laptops rather than trying to awkwardly retrofit Linux onto designed-for-Windows machines.
- nindalf 12y ago
  What is the difference between a laptop designed for Windows and one designed for Linux? Apart from device drivers (graphics, Wi-Fi, bluetooth) which are usually not a problem, I can't think of any difference. Perhaps Linux might not look very good on very high DPI screens, but that's it.
  - mkozlows 12y ago
    Look at what the Project Sputnik people are saying about getting Linux working on the current XPS 13 -- they're working on drivers for various portions of it that don't currently work currently on Linux. (If you install Ubuntu on the XPS 13 today, it will have problems.) It's great that Dell is doing that, it really is. But if they were building a laptop for Linux first, they never would have sourced those components.
- slgeorge 12y ago
  Your point (1) is incorrect, actually the reverse of the truth. Dell specifically deserves credit for sourcing and designing the XPS hardware to natively support Ubuntu. There are no "niggling issues" because hardware components and all elements of the supply chain are required to work with Canonical to ensure that Ubuntu is a full experience. So sorry but the XPS range is a "Linux-first laptop" in the sense that you mean - Dell deserves credit for that work. Both Dell and Google basically work to define a spec requirement, then put it out to tender to ODM's to respond. In both cases part of the design requirements will have been certification for the OS. For Google it would be ChromeOS, for the XPS from Dell it was Ubuntu and Windows - Window will work anyway for obvious reasons, but it means additional work for the ODM and Dell to ensure that Ubuntu works.

Eleopteryx 12y ago

Can you replace the drive? I dislike the newer Macbooks because nothing can be upgraded. If I can throw a 512GB SSD in this thing, I'd honestly sell my Retina Macbook Pro and replace it with the Chromebook.