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cruft posted:Why? All I can find is that the Atom is made for low power use and, as a result, isn't a big performer. Seems ideal for a Chromebook, what am I missing?
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Dec 3, 2024 16:14
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ExcessBLarg! posted:A web browser is one of the most taxing pieces of software that's run on a typical desktop computer, mostly because websites aren't designed to be optimally efficient. Chromebooks may have an efficiency advantage compared to a Windows desktop by essentially only running the browser, but that's not going to fix websites being lovely resource hogs. I have an older ARM Chromebook and the browsing experience ranges from "This Is Fine" to "lovely  ".Great battery life though.
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Dec 4, 2024 16:23
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It seems obvious in hindsight, but I was able to free up a lot of disk space on my Crostini instance by making a new folder in ChromeOS called "Home" and moving a bunch of data files into it: just moving MP3s and my RollerCoaster Tycoon game files freed up about 40% of the disk. My Chromebook has an SD card reader, so moving all this data there frees up the 64GB onboard SSD. That's nice, except the SD card gets unmounted every time I suspend. I've started carrying a SIM card eject tool on my keyring so I can pop the SD card out and push it in again when I need my big data drive. Annoying.
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Dec 9, 2024 00:38
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Hey guys, so my ex destroyed my Windows laptop and I'm looking into replacing it. Thing is, the only thing I used my laptop for was managing files across devices (pdfs/ebooks and MP3/MP4 files)and ripping CDs to put music on my phone. On paper it looks like a good Chromebook would do what I want. The issue. From what I've seen Chromebooks can't run iTunes at all. up until now the only program I've used to rip and burn music CDs is iTunes so not having it has me concerned. Does anyone know of an alternative to iTunes that I could use to organise my music files? Basically need something that can rip CDs and add album artwork to my MP3 files. Thanks
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Dec 13, 2024 23:03
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? there is no laptops with dvd drives anymore, so i assume you use an external drive i'd be hard pressed to think of a computer that couldn't rip cd's given an external drive edit: oh you mean like software... well, get a chromebook you can put linux on proper :P
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Dec 14, 2024 00:58
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Chromebooks do not support DVD or CD-ROM drives, not even in Crostini.
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Dec 14, 2024 04:08
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Tankakern posted:? Yeah I should have clarified I meant software. Already use an external disc drive. I just have no idea what software I can use on a Chromebook to rip CDs. Xiphas posted:Chromebooks do not support DVD or CD-ROM drives, not even in Crostini. Not even an external disk drive? Darn 
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Dec 14, 2024 10:48
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if you want to dabble with proper linux it will work though, loads of software there. ironically i use eac in wine for my ripping needs
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Dec 14, 2024 14:18
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I use a Raspberry Pi to rip CDs and DVDs. I wrote https://git.woozle.org/neale/media-sucker for this: it does a great job 80% of the time.
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Dec 14, 2024 14:41
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Thanks for the help guys. Gave me enough information to get started.Tankakern posted:if you want to dabble with proper linux it will work though, loads of software there. ironically i use eac in wine for my ripping needs Only had time for a cursory glance but this might be workable. I have very limited Linux experience though. I'm guessing I'd need a separate piece of software for managing tags/adding artwork. cruft posted:I use a Raspberry Pi to rip CDs and DVDs. I wrote https://git.woozle.org/neale/media-sucker for this: it does a great job 80% of the time. This is really neat. Unfortunately I don't have a raspberry pi. Grabbing one of those and a Chromebook puts the price into the same realm as a decent laptop
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Dec 14, 2024 17:35
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Nyeehg posted:so my ex destroyed my Windows laptop You don't have to answer, but I feel like we glossed over what could be an interesting story. 
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Dec 19, 2024 20:13
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Hell, destroying a Windows laptop isn't anything special. I destroy Windows laptops all the time by just using the software built into the OS.
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Dec 19, 2024 20:33
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mom and dad fight a lot posted:You don't have to answer, but I feel like we glossed over what could be an interesting story. they just turned it on and microsoft did the rest
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Dec 20, 2024 16:35
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Crostini has been telling me that GPU support defaults off now, to improve stability. OpenSCAD kept crashing the entire OS until I re-enabled GPU support for Crostini, though. Anybody else seeing something similar? Maybe it's just ARM that has flaky software?
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Dec 23, 2024 17:30
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Is there a way to get python & IDLE on a chromebook without using the linux development environment? I want to set it up for my kid but it is not possible to enable the linux env on their family-managed account and that seems to be the only way to get IDLE.
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Jan 1, 2025 08:59
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Associate Christ
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other people posted:Is there a way to get python & IDLE on a chromebook without using the linux development environment? I want to set it up for my kid but it is not possible to enable the linux env on their family-managed account and that seems to be the only way to get IDLE. Does this help? quote:Method 2: Using a Python Online IDE
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Jan 1, 2025 09:05
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I saw some of those in my searching. They seem to be aimed at professional use cases. I think there is too much going on there and it will be distracting. That is what is one of the key features of IDLE, it is very plain. It does make me wonder if we could access python/IDLE on a remote system somehow. There is an always-on linux system in the house...
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Jan 1, 2025 09:32
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other people posted:I saw some of those in my searching. They seem to be aimed at professional use cases. I think there is too much going on there and it will be distracting. That is what is one of the key features of IDLE, it is very plain. If just accessing the remote system as a whole is OK, then you can always use something like novnc. If you want just access to IDLE via the web and nothing else, you could try to find a docker image that hosts it via web. I couldn't find one that only does IDLE, but if it does exist, it would be something like this container that hosts a Jupyter Notebook instance (although this docker image is clearly for data scientist type folks). Or you could always roll your own container if you want to spend the time and effort.
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Jan 1, 2025 12:21
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For now I have given up and I am letting them use IDLE running from my account's linux env. I found this android app that is indeed python idle but it runs a full x11 env to do it and it is not a pleasant user experience. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tech.ula.idle
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Jan 1, 2025 14:50
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other people posted:I saw some of those in my searching. They seem to be aimed at professional use cases. I think there is too much going on there and it will be distracting. That is what is one of the key features of IDLE, it is very plain. I created Python for Cool Kids for school kids who don't have access to anything outside a browser. Everything runs on your computer; even the program is stored in your browser. dirtbags.net has no record of you doing anything other than loading the page. That also means if you lose your computer/browser, you've lost your work... I know of a couple kids who've done entire science fair / programming competition projects with Python for Cool Kids.
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Jan 1, 2025 15:09
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My HP x2 11 is no longer forgetting about the MicroSD card on resume. I'd love it if they could also make it so Bluetooth doesn't flake out after a few days, but the MicroSD card vanishing was by far the most annoying thing. Maybe one day they'll even make the original pen work again! The replacement (originally for cruft jr's Lenovo chromebook) is fine, but I liked how the original one magnetically attached to the side of the machine and charged itself there.
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Jan 21, 2025 16:44
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Xiphas posted:Chromebooks do not support DVD or CD-ROM drives, not even in Crostini. Chromebooks absolutely can, but the software can't. Install VLC and have no problem
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Feb 3, 2025 16:26
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I've noticed that some recipe sites have a "Cooking Mode" button you can press to stop the screen from timing out and turning off after 5 minutes. Since the functionality is obviously there, is there a good extension where I can do the same thing and just press a button when I want the screen to stay on while I'm cooking?
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Feb 3, 2025 16:46
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Quixzlizx posted:I've noticed that some recipe sites have a "Cooking Mode" button you can press to stop the screen from timing out and turning off after 5 minutes. I use https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/caffeine-keep-awake/fcblbbbkcneogddmpmfdchnocbpfpmag Be sure it's always visible, don't drag it into the puzzle piece menu, or you're going to forget you turned it on and then your battery will die. For weeks, until, smacking your forehead, you realize why. Ask me how I know this.
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Feb 3, 2025 19:45
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cruft posted:
ok i give up, how
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Feb 3, 2025 20:00
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cruft posted:I use https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/caffeine-keep-awake/fcblbbbkcneogddmpmfdchnocbpfpmag Thanks, I'll check out that one. I like how there's also a timer I can enable in case I do forget to turn it off, although I wish there was a value between 1 and 6 hours.
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Feb 3, 2025 21:20
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https://computers.woot.com/offers/acer-chromebook-14-laptop-5?ref=w_gw_dd_3 Here's a Woot deal with <24 hours remaining to buy, but it's interesting enough that I felt it was worth posting even if only a few people got the chance to purchase it. $240 for a FHD touchscreen with a decent CPU and 8 GB of RAM, plus 128 GB local storage and >8 years of software updates. New, not refurbished. This is the type of CB I have in mind when people ask for recommendations, but nothing specific, and for a fairly low price; it's basically "good enough" all around (except for the amount of RAM, at least for my purposes) although I think it doesn't have a backlit keyboard. Still, it's hard to beat for the price, especially as a secondary/kid system.
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Apr 7, 2025 08:01
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Atomizer posted:$240 for a FHD touchscreen with a decent CPU and 8 GB of RAM, plus 128 GB local storage and >8 years of software updates. New, not refurbished.
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Apr 7, 2025 11:46
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Atomizer posted:https://computers.woot.com/offers/acer-chromebook-14-laptop-5?ref=w_gw_dd_3 Update: I bought one, and played around with it a bit. It's nice, definitely worth more than what I paid. The only thing I really miss is a backlit keyboard, and 8 GB of RAM is insufficient for my uses (at least for my main device; right now I'm using 17 GB on my Framework CB for example.) But as a backup, it'll do nicely. The performance is fine, and the keyboard/trackpad/display/speakers are more than adequate. The touchscreen is a nice bonus, I wish my Framework had one!
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Apr 13, 2025 07:57
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Atomizer posted:Update: I bought one, and played around with it a bit. It's nice, definitely worth more than what I paid. The only thing I really miss is a backlit keyboard, and 8 GB of RAM is insufficient for my uses (at least for my main device; right now I'm using 17 GB on my Framework CB for example.) But as a backup, it'll do nicely. The performance is fine, and the keyboard/trackpad/display/speakers are more than adequate. The touchscreen is a nice bonus, I wish my Framework had one! I really wish Framework would put out a new Chromebook edition of the Framework 12. It just makes sense if they marketing it to kids like they claim.
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Apr 13, 2025 20:47
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Here's another cheap CB deal on a short sale. It's the Pixelbook Go, albeit from 2019. Compared to that Acer I posted, the Pixelbook has a worse CPU & half the local storage, the same amount of RAM, a comparable display (both touchscreens,) and a backlit keyboard. Overall fit & finish should be much better, and it gets updates through August of 2029 (versus June 2033 for the Acer.) The price is close too, at $250, which is the only reason I'm comparing the two because the Acer of course sold out weeks ago. My only concern here is the battery; these are new stock apparently but who knows how old they are or if the battery is DoA. If it is dead I'd contact customer support either to return it or see if they'll offer a credit; battery replacement looks like a slight pain in the rear end but doable, except they seem to run ~$90 on eBay at a glance. Xiphas posted:I really wish Framework would put out a new Chromebook edition of the Framework 12. It just makes sense if they marketing it to kids like they claim. I absolutely would buy one (my original Framework CB 13 that I'm typing on right now is still great) although I resent the "marketing to kids" reference! 🤓
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Apr 29, 2025 08:14
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the camera in my wife's Pixelbook Go died. I wonder, if use these iFixit instructions to crack it open, maybe I can find a disconnected ribbon cable...
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Apr 29, 2025 17:09
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cruft posted:the camera in my wife's Pixelbook Go died. I wonder, if use these iFixit instructions to crack it open, maybe I can find a disconnected ribbon cable... It looks like you'd get into it by disassembling the screen, which is glued down and kinda seems like a real pain to get to. It's weird for a camera to just die though, so it wouldn't be that surprising if the ZIF connector indeed got jiggled loose and was a quick fix to reinsert. I might not attempt this repair if the rest of the device is working fine, however.
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Apr 30, 2025 08:00
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Atomizer posted:It looks like you'd get into it by disassembling the screen, which is glued down and kinda seems like a real pain to get to. It's weird for a camera to just die though, so it wouldn't be that surprising if the ZIF connector indeed got jiggled loose and was a quick fix to reinsert. I might not attempt this repair if the rest of the device is working fine, however. Yeah, that's a pity. Makes me want that Framework laptop when it's finally time for a replacement.
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Apr 30, 2025 12:36
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I've got crostini GPU pass-through still going through a flag, but by default it's off now. What's the thread's opinion on how long I can keep this up? I really like this crappy little 11 inch Chromebook with no fan, but I know at some point I'm going to have to move back to a Linux box, and I'm not seeing that putting Linux on this thing is practical... ... or is it? Anybody happen to know whether you can get Linux onto a HP Chromebook x2 11 with the ARM cpu and wonky bootloader? e: You could get Fedora on it back in 2022, with some hacks: https://blog.dowhile0.org/2022/11/04/how-to-install-fedora-on-an-hp-x2-chromebook/. Meh. I'll probably just keep using this they completely remove the ability to pass through to the GPU and/or remove crostini altogether. Maybe the Framework 12 will be available by then. ChromeOS seemed so cool, but it's been this protracted break-up. First the SD card started disappearing after waking up from sleep (but they fixed that 2 years later), then the bundled pen stopped working (but my daughter's pen started working... weird), then they made GPU operations in Linux crazy slow (but you could speed it back up with a flag). At this point I figure it's only a matter of time before Crostini goes away. cruft fucked around with this message at 15:43 on May 3, 2025 |
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May 3, 2025 15:16
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cruft posted:ChromeOS seemed so cool, but it's been this protracted break-up. First the SD card started disappearing after waking up from sleep (but they fixed that 2 years later), then the bundled pen stopped working (but my daughter's pen started working... weird), then they made GPU operations in Linux crazy slow (but you could speed it back up with a flag). At this point I figure it's only a matter of time before Crostini goes away. I have used a Chromebook as my primary computer since around 2015. I just ditched it this month. Inconsistencies like you have been mentioning are the primary reason. Phone Hub, in my opinion, is the biggest offender. That thing never works. The GPU acceleration thing was annoying to me, but since I am running ancient hardware that doesn't support Vulkan, I gave up on GPU accelerated software years ago. The Manifest v3 extension changes finally killed ublock origin (yes, ublock origin lite exists, and it works for 99% of things, it's the principle of the thing that makes me mad). I love the Pixelbook hardware - it's my favorite hardware ever. I wanted to move to another computer since running a difficult to repair, 8 year old computer in the U.S. tariff environment seems risky, but there was no Chromebook that could replace it. There is no Chromebook with 16 GB of RAM, a convertible 3:2 touchscreen, and a good trackpad on the market that is readily available. It is all education junk or hard to buy corporate high end stuff. Nothing for an ordinary consumer. So I got myself a Framework 13 and am running a Linux+Firefox book now. I don't feel like I'm missing anything software-wise over ChromeOS. With the recent monopoly rulings against Google, I think ChromeOS is in a death spiral. Signs are that Google is starting to beat the Android\ChromeOS merger drum again. After all, why invest in something that you might be forced to divest from by the government?
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May 3, 2025 23:47
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https://computers.woot.com/offers/asus-10-5-touchscreen-mediatek-kompanio-520z Ordered one of these to see if it can be a halfway decent tablet and mostly use it for Android apps. At least it will probably be faster than my Lenovo Duet 10 inch first generation (2020?) with a MediaTek arm CPU.
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Jun 16, 2025 19:37
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Can anyone give me a rough idea of what sort of games an Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (or similar?) could run in Linux? I had a Chromebook, probably a decade ago, that could run Nuclear Throne and Daggerfall Unity, but absolutely nothing in the way of anything like a remotely modern AAA game. What are we looking at nowadays? These seem to sell at about $300 and I'm trying to get an idea of how much of an upgrade, if any, it might be for an old windows laptop that is fine for indie games but can't touch anything triple A from the last decade (good lord Witcher 3 release date). I've seen the laptop run Dungeons and Degenerates and Curse of the Golden Idol without issues but Indika looked like a low poly demake, I seriously thought it was a surreal artistic choice until I saw other screenshots and realized it's supposed to be a completely regular modern game.
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Jul 18, 2025 16:54
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Jack B Nimble posted:Can anyone give me a rough idea of what sort of games an Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (or similar?) could run in Linux? I don't know if it's just my Chromebook, or if it's all Chromebooks, but the only way I'm getting GPU access from Crostini now is by toggling a flag. The next logical step would be removing that flag. I wouldn't advise anyone to count on a Chromebook having any kind of graphics performance in Linux.
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Jul 18, 2025 22:14
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My 1st gen Asus Chromebook Duet is now slow enough that I mostly use it for scrolling through recipes while I'm cooking. Is there some sort of magnetic case or mount I can put on my fridge to give me easier access in the kitchen?
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Jul 18, 2025 22:19
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