Does Chrome OS suck?

matt167

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In relative terms, for an older persons daily driver. Is Chrome OS usable if they are currently operating W10 on a socket 775 USFF system?
 
In relative terms, for an older persons daily driver. Is Chrome OS usable if they are currently operating W10 on a socket 775 USFF system?
depends on what you expect of it. if all they do is doable in a browser or within google play store, then yeah it can be a daily.
you could load cloudready os on a usb stick, boot that usff off it and let them try it. doesnt have play store but will give them/you an idea.
 
My MIL is using it, and it's fine for her. She doesn't need anything other than a browser, and less options are better. The other three parents won't use it. Two want real Office, not browser office; one plays a bunch of games. I've also got one at home so I can know how it works to help MIL and use it for zoom cause it's there.

If you're ok with browser only, and replacing the hardware that works just because updates end, it's decent.
 
I just installed CloudReady on a Windows netbook I shouldn't have bought 5 years ago. It's a Lenovo Flex 3-1130 with a Celeron N3060 and 2GB of ram, soldered of course. It wasn't really usable for running a browser under Windows 10, but seems to work ok now. The only thing I've tried that doesn't work is putting it in tablet mode. In Windows that would disable the keyboard and rotate the screen. CloudReady doesn't do either, though I can rotate the screen in the settings.
 
ChromeOS is just a Linux distro with a Google's DE and a limited lifespan. Honestly? You could get better results using a well packaged Linux distro without the forced obsolescence.
 
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ChromeOS is just a Linux distro with a Google's DE and a limited lifespan. Honestly? You could get better results using a well packaged Linux distro without the forced obsolescence.
Hardware compatibility can be a pain, but when it works it's much better than Chrome is.
 
Hardware compatibility can be a pain, but when it works it's much better than Chrome is.
Hardware compatibility is a problem under all operating systems, there's plenty of outstanding sound cards, fingerprint readers and even printers that no longer work under Windows 10. Avoid any network adapter made by Realtek and you'll be fine, even then chances are the Realtek device will work, it just won't work well.

Buy a Raspberry Pi 4 4GB, stuff it in a slick little case with a power button, add a cheap keyboard and mouse and install TwisterOS = Done. No sweat, no hassle and you can backup the whole SD card containing the OS and files/software in 15 mins using DD.

I use the Pi400 in my sig daily, it's an awesome device.

iBEEOC2.jpg
 
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I can't find a Pi 4 in stock anywhere, but that is where I really wanted to look. I was actually thinking of hacking a cheap Chromebox to install linux on if Chromeos itself sucked. I used to be big into linux but faded away. Her computer used to run SUSE until she wanted a couple games, which are no longer played.. But the fan on the machine is starting to whine and it's a Dell 760 USFF so it has an external 360w ( I think ) that is always on. I did upgrade it. I think it has 8gb ram now, a cheap SSD and the fastest processor that it supports. E8600 If I remember right. 3.0 ghz dual core. Pretty good for a machine manufactured in 2008
 
I can't find a Pi 4 in stock anywhere, but that is where I really wanted to look. I was actually thinking of hacking a cheap Chromebox to install linux on if Chromeos itself sucked. I used to be big into linux but faded away. Her computer used to run SUSE until she wanted a couple games, which are no longer played.. But the fan on the machine is starting to whine and it's a Dell 760 USFF so it has an external 360w ( I think ) that is always on. I did upgrade it. I think it has 8gb ram now, a cheap SSD and the fastest processor that it supports. E8600 If I remember right. 3.0 ghz dual core. Pretty good for a machine manufactured in 2008
They are all over Amazon, at least on the Canadian site. I got one for Christmas from Canakit that comes with a case/sd card/adapter to write to the SD card from Windows/ usb c power brick and a few other odds and ends. Pretty cool little gadget. Works just as well as anything else when you're just browsing around.

I use the stock raspberry Pi OS. Whatever they included on the SD.
 
I'm not going to argue Linux vs. anything, but hardware compatibility is much more difficult in Linux. Especially in tablets and two in one's.

Galliumos wiki has a list of Chromebooks known to work.

Don't be surprised if you're swapping kernels until you find one that works.

I have an Acer C710 and it's amazing on Manjaro once I figured out which old kernel didn't break the sound.
 
I think ChromeOS for a daily driver for someone who just web browses is a great idea. Less surface area to attack. Setup Google so Christmas letters stay in Google Docs so they never lose anything if you have to reload the box.
 
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I think ChromeOS for a daily driver for someone who just web browses is a great idea. Less surface area to attack. Setup Google so Christmas letters stay in Google Docs so they never lose anything if you have to reload the box.
It has a definate use case. That just doesn't align with most users of this forum. Unlike removing eMMC write protection and installing Linux.
 
It has a definate use case. That just doesn't align with most users of this forum. Unlike removing eMMC write protection and installing Linux.
This is what I was thinking about. I just ordered a cheap Chromebook after looking for a cheap tablet to use in my garage for YouTube repair watching. So I can show my mom what it is. But the hardware itselfmight be the best part. With something like an old Chromebox
 
I'm not going to argue Linux vs. anything, but hardware compatibility is much more difficult in Linux. Especially in tablets and two in one's.
I thought we were talking about a S775 USFF system? I stated running Linux full time on such a system and didn't have the slightest problem. Drivers are no more of a problem under Linux than they are under WIndows, in fact considering a S775 system, the average packaged Linux distro would support it just fine.

I've set up a vast number of Linux systems, granted without touchscreens, and I've never had a problem with drivers - Things just worked. I use Linux live installs to diagnose issues with Windows systems and I never have a problem with drivers. Literally everything is included in the kernel, you don't have to install anything in most cases.

Just avoid Realtek and it's generally smooth sailing.
 
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I thought we were talking about a S775 USFF system? I stated running Linux full time on such a system and didn't have the slightest problem. Drivers are no more of a problem under Linux than they are under WIndows, in fact considering a S775 system, the average packaged Linux distro would support it just fine.
Yeah, in not familiar with that system, so you're likely correct. Only added my own similar experience with similar Gear. Not making any argument or disagreement.
I've set up a vast number of Linux systems, granted without touchscreens, and I've never had a problem with drivers
I'm about 50-50 with Linux out of the box. 90% after tweaking. Desktop hardware is 100% for me.
I use Linux live installs to diagnose issues with Windows systems and I never have a problem with drivers.
I do as well, but generally I can fix whatever from inside Windows
Literally everything is included in the kernel, you don't have to install anything in most cases.
The kernels often have broken drivers baked in. The Intel sound in my baytrail system has been a pain in that regard. You can spend days swapping kernels looking for one that works.
 
The kernels often have broken drivers baked in. The Intel sound in my baytrail system has been a pain in that regard. You can spend days swapping kernels looking for one that works.
Only Realtek drivers, because they're reverse engineered Windows drivers made by the Linux community as Realtek's Linux support sucks. I've experienced Realtek sound driver issues under Windows, at one point in time it was a massive problem.

As stated, No OS is ammune to driver issues. Just look at Apple, they can't run current Nvidia hardware period.
 
The Optiplex 760 USFF ( Socket 775 ) is still operational and runs decent, except the fan is getting loud and being over 10 years old, I have looked on and off for a while for a replacement, knowing eventually she's going to call me to tell me it won't turn on or something
 
I think it might be grouped almost the same was is iOS (Apple devices). But iOS might be a more expensive, nicer looking boat that holds more people, but might also have small leaks. So YMMV.
 
Only Realtek drivers, because they're reverse engineered Windows drivers made by the Linux community as Realtek's Linux support sucks. I've experienced Realtek sound driver issues under Windows, at one point in time it was a massive problem.

As stated, No OS is ammune to driver issues. Just look at Apple, they can't run current Nvidia hardware period.
Intel sound chip. Not realtek.

I've never had an issue with realtek on Linux. But yes I have had realtek issues on Windows.
 
I showed my Chromebook to my mom, and it's too different for her... So the old Dell will live on longer
 
I showed my Chromebook to my mom, and it's too different for her... So the old Dell will live on longer

When I first decided to give Linux a go, I didn't bother with VM's. I bought an old Dell Optiplex from a swap meet for $70.00 with bulging caps around it's S775 socket, stuffed a Q6600 in there as well as an SSD and 4GB of RAM and ran it like that for years - I was so impressed with Linux it became my daily driver as my Windows 10 PC faded into obscurity.

Eventually those caps did fail completely, I could have replaced them but I decided to upgrade to a newer Dell Workstation with dual Xeons and 48GB of ram. But mark my words, I flogged that little Dell day in, day out and it never missed a beat right up until those caps leaked dry.

Furthermore, it actually performed really well. I ran an Nvidia GT210 2GB GPU and it played games pretty damn well at 720p.
 
When I first decided to give Linux a go, I didn't bother with VM's. I bought an old Dell Optiplex from a swap meet for $70.00 with bulging caps around it's S775 socket, stuffed a Q6600 in there as well as an SSD and 4GB of RAM and ran it like that for years - I was so impressed with Linux it became my daily driver as my Windows 10 PC faded into obscurity.

Eventually those caps did fail completely, I could have replaced them but I decided to upgrade to a newer Dell Workstation with dual Xeons and 48GB of ram. But mark my words, I flogged that little Dell day in, day out and it never missed a beat right up until those caps leaked dry.

Furthermore, it actually performed really well. I ran an Nvidia GT210 2GB GPU and it played games pretty damn well at 720p.

I got the Optiplex 760 probably 10 years ago when I was buying and selling a few PC's at a time. It was a core 2 system when the core I series had just launched. I think I paid $40 for it No OS.. I updated the bios and installed Win 7 on it originally using a Win 7 Dell disc. Then I asked my mom if she wanted it, as it was a USFF, I could not upgrade it much. SUSE linux went on, but later she went to Windows 7 and then 10 again. Now it has a cheap SSD, maxed Ram and I think the E8600 processor. Fast as it will go. The USFF will not work with quads, even though I do have a 775 quad left. I can't remember what one though.
 
I got the Optiplex 760 probably 10 years ago when I was buying and selling a few PC's at a time. It was a core 2 system when the core I series had just launched. I think I paid $40 for it No OS.. I updated the bios and installed Win 7 on it originally using a Win 7 Dell disc. Then I asked my mom if she wanted it, as it was a USFF, I could not upgrade it much. SUSE linux went on, but later she went to Windows 7 and then 10 again. Now it has a cheap SSD, maxed Ram and I think the E8600 processor. Fast as it will go. The USFF will not work with quads, even though I do have a 775 quad left. I can't remember what one though.
I've still got my Q6600, it was one hell of an overclocker in the day.
 
I think that I found the solution. A Optiplex USFF or Micro are fairly cheap and either of them have a lot more power than a Chromebox. I can do Windows or something else. Although I really do like my Chromebook. I can't seem to get it to print to either of my printers. It detects them but fails to print. I don't care about it, but I know my mom prints a lot.
 
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