|
I think it's finally time to replace my OG Pixelbook. I've been using my daughter's HP Chromebook X2. I love the size and weight of it, and I love that the pen is always charged, but the keyboard kinda blows. Also the hard drive is kinda small: I use Linux heavily. Are there any options today that are small, lightweight, work as a tablet, can use some sort of pen, and have a flip-around keyboard instead of a tear-off keyboard? I probably don't give two poops about CPU speed, since the Pixelbook was meeting my needs just fine. cruft fucked around with this message at 17:26 on Mar 25, 2024 |
#
¿
Mar 25, 2024 17:20
|
|
|
|
| # ¿ Nov 8, 2025 07:50 |
|
|
Mental Hospitality posted:Maybe something like this Lenovo? Probably have to get a pen separately but Lenovo sells a bunch and I believe you can get one that works with the Flex 5. Cool, that looks like a contender... Lenovo idea pads seem to fit the bill, there are even smaller ones than what you linked. The Chromebook x2 is 11.0", which fits nicely into my purse. Is it unfair of me to be using bezel size as a proxy for how crappy a machine is? Everything looks either gigantic (15" or more) or chonky (made for school children) e: I take it back, the only Lenovo under 15" has a tear-off keyboard 
cruft fucked around with this message at 18:43 on Mar 25, 2024 |
|
#
¿
Mar 25, 2024 18:39
|
|
|
waffle iron posted:Yeah most of the smaller laptops are very low budget/educational market focused. Plastic, under resourced, and can be thrown around by kids. Hmm, kinda sounds (and looks) like my best option is the HP Chromebook x2 I already have, then. Heh.
|
|
#
¿
Mar 25, 2024 22:26
|
|
|
Xiphas posted:I have a Pixelbook, and it is hands down my favorite laptop ever. I keep trying to find something to replace it, and I can't find anything that is a 1-to-1 match for it. Nothing has the same feature set. The Dragonfly comes the closest, but it is not fanless. I would also like something with more memory just to future proof it. yeah that's a thought. I would have to replace the battery, but that appears to be documented and doesn't look more difficult than a cell phone... Hmmm... It feels so gigantic compared to this x2 though. And the camera is crap by comparison. I guess I already have my ideal Chromebook right here. cruft fucked around with this message at 01:18 on Mar 26, 2024 |
|
#
¿
Mar 26, 2024 01:14
|
|
|
Really looking forward to the next release of ChromeOS, so I don't have to open crosh and run "vmc stop arcvm" after every resume from sleep.
|
|
#
¿
Apr 10, 2024 02:38
|
|
|
DACK FAYDEN posted:Crossposting from the tablet thread - My wife wants a device to replace her existing old laptop. We were thinking tablet plus a peripheral keyboard because she honestly doesn't do much: A Chromebook will get software updates for longer than an Android tablet, and if your needs are limited to what you stated, will save you a fair chunk of change over an iPad. It also has the advantage of self-updating, and those updates are seriously no big deal: no waiting around for things to happen or scheduled reboots, you just get a little notice saying there's a new version ready, and next time you reboot, you're on the new version. No having to wait for updates before you can use your stuff, it's instant. Ms Cruft moved from Windows to ChromeOS about 10 years ago and the adjustment period was maybe 30 minutes.
|
|
#
¿
Apr 18, 2024 18:25
|
|
|
DarkAvenger211 posted:Yeah I kind of noticed. Everything runs through chrome it seems. Are there any good extensions that can help manage that stuff? There's not much to be done here: adding more software is unlikely to help with a limited RAM situation. If anything, removing extensions would help.
|
|
#
¿
May 7, 2024 18:31
|
|
|
DarkAvenger211 posted:I literally only use it to have a couple Google docs open for when I run RPGs and it still feels like it sucks at that task. If you can use a simple text editor instead of Google Docs, you're likely to see a massive improvement. text is a pretty lightweight option.
|
|
#
¿
May 7, 2024 18:34
|
|
|
DarkAvenger211 posted:disabling the play store gave me back a whole GB so it's definitely feeling a bit lighter now.  25% is great!
|
|
#
¿
May 8, 2024 17:01
|
|
|
god please help me posted:Is it easy to swap the OS on a chromebook to something else? I'd be tempted to try out Ubuntu on that. strong username/post energy here
|
|
#
¿
May 8, 2024 22:45
|
|
|
god please help me posted:darn it, I'm never escaping this username. The Chromebooks I've owned have, generally, been much prettier than the non-Chromebook laptops I've owned. Not sure why, maybe because they can cut back on parts. But I totally understand wanting to run Linux on one. If I could convince myself to replace the battery on this OG Pixelbook I might just look into Linuxing it up.
|
|
#
¿
May 9, 2024 15:24
|
|
|
WattsvilleBlues posted:Friend of mine has an HP Stream (13?) from years ago. He got in touch the other week when he started getting error messages for installing VLC, turns out the poor 32GB onboard storage had about 8 bits left on a Windows 10 installation - presumably a release that's now end of life, or it certainly can't update itself even if it isn't. You can use VLC https://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-chromeos.html The interface is bonkers but it works. Some media types work natively, too.
|
|
#
¿
May 16, 2024 19:38
|
|
|
WattsvilleBlues posted:Thanks, I'll bear this in mind. Any recommendations for music players on ChromeOS? I use PlexAmp for my Plex media, and the built-in thing for stuff I've downloaded to the MicroSD card. But you can run a whole bunch of Android apps on a Chromebook, so you've got pantloads to choose from.
|
|
#
¿
May 17, 2024 22:33
|
|
|
We just did a big chromebook shuffle. I'm back on the OG Pixelbook. Cruft Jr now has a Lenovo Duet, and Ms Cruft takes the HP X2. Jr tried Windows for a full year in college and is sick of it. I know Google will eventually crap this OS up, but for the time being, it sure is nice to have a computer that you can turn on and start doing work, without having to fight the OS to install updates or make the sound card work or whatever.
|
|
#
¿
May 27, 2024 17:25
|
|
|
WattsvilleBlues posted:Thank you kind goon. I think I'll try Winamp for the nostalgia. Please report back to the thread! We need to know if it still whips the llama's rear end.
|
|
#
¿
Jun 7, 2024 17:57
|
|
|
The HP Chromebook x2 11 I've been using crashed again. It does this all the time, usually after I've launched an android app and then shut the lid/flap to suspend. No biggie, it's ChromeOS, it booted back up in seconds... but now the stylus doesn't work. The tool thingy says the stylus is charging, but there's just nothing happening. I tried rebooting. I tried holding down refresh and power for 60 seconds, which I read on a web page somewhere. I'm not going to power wash it just yet because there's crap I need on this box. For the time being, I'm back on the Pixelbook, which is a really nice machine! Maybe I'll just stay here. It also has a stylus, which works, and when you put it into tablet mode, you don't have to find someplace to stash the keyboard. But it won't run Minecraft, and the battery only lasts like 4 hours
cruft fucked around with this message at 19:02 on Jun 28, 2024 |
|
#
¿
Jun 28, 2024 18:35
|
|
|
Xiphas posted:I don't know what your Minecraft use case is, but the one time I had to bust out Minecraft on my Pixelbook, Minecraft Java worked fine in Crostini. I don't want to have to start a whole VM just to run Minecraft!  arcvm
|
|
#
¿
Jun 28, 2024 19:08
|
|
|
Atomizer posted:I'm not sure about the "60 seconds" thing, but you should try an actual hardware reset which usually resolves symptoms like those you're describing. Thanks for the pointer, I hadn't tried that! The stylus is still dead
|
|
#
¿
Jun 30, 2024 14:15
|
|
|
The stylus on my HP Chromebook x2 x11 stopped working when I installed an OS update about 6 updates ago. I bought a new stylus, exact same HP original stylus. That doesn't work either. In a last-ditch "this couldn't possibly work" move, I tried the stylus from cruft jr's Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5. That works! I feel like I tried this before and that pen didn't work on this Chromebook, but I may not be remembering this correctly. My best guess about what's happening is that the OS update included some sort of stylus driver that doesn't see the pen the machine shipped with but works with other USI pens.
|
|
#
¿
Aug 15, 2024 01:32
|
|
|
Atomizer posted:Did you make sure to check that the battery in each HP stylus isn't dead? (And that you removed the insulator from the battery compartment in the new one?) They do inductive charging through the magnetic mount on the side of the screen. Maybe that's blown, which I guess would be equivalent to "breaking its own pen". Weird coincidence that it was working right up until I rebooted to get that OS update, though.
|
|
#
¿
Aug 15, 2024 12:45
|
|
|
MikeJF posted:My sister's looking for a new tablet, about 10 inches, that she can jot notes down on (stylus), use as a kind of second screen, and a little media consumption. She's pretty tied to the Google ecosystem and in theory Android would do her fine but given that the Android tablet situation is crap I'm thinking chromebooks. What's the current best idea for a lowish cost to look at these days. I remember a while back it was the Lenovo Duet 3 11? This sounds like she needs my HP x360 11, which is no longer sold. I use it to watch movies on the train, as my primary net browser, and just yesterday I used it to diagram out a new software system I'm building, using the pen. There's some new 11" chromebook that just came out, it looks pretty rad. I'd buy that if I needed to replace my current thing. Worf posted:is an ipad completely out of the question? its going to be better in most conceivable ways for this task imo LOL wrong thread. "Hi my sister is in the Google ecosystem and wants something like a tablet but maybe a Chromebook?" "Friend, have you considered Apple's fine line of quality products?"
|
|
#
¿
Aug 29, 2024 17:29
|
|
|
Okay, sure. We just spent a few pages in the Windows thread talking about Linux. Let's discuss iPads in the Chromebook thread.
|
|
#
¿
Aug 29, 2024 20:39
|
|
|
That might be the one I was thinking of. Let us know how you like it, OP. Seems like some percentage of this thread is borderline coveting that machine. e: on second thought maybe I was thinking of this new HP 11 incher? Suddenly everybody has small chromebooks again, yay! ee: Oh no I might be about to drop $900 on a convertible laptop. eee: Nah. The x2 I've got is doing the job. But if anybody buys that HP, I demand a review ITT. TIA. cruft fucked around with this message at 12:48 on Aug 30, 2024 |
|
#
¿
Aug 30, 2024 12:33
|
|
|
I feel like I should drop a quick Chromebook update: the HP x2 11-inch is still badass. Yes, it's less stable than an Intel-based machine. However, consider that I can watch a movie on it while it charges my cell phone for under 20W. That's right, I can do all that crap while charging the Chromebook, with a 20W tiny Anker power supply. This is awesome. Also, the flap on the back wedges perfectly between the headrest and the seatback on Amtrak Superliner seats. So I can jam my Chromebook into the seat in front of me and watch movies like a boss while everybody else is craning their neck looking down at their 5-inch cell phone on the tray. Love this thing.
|
|
#
¿
Oct 14, 2024 15:22
|
|
|
KingKapalone posted:Thinking about getting a new laptop or maybe a Chromebook. With the ublock origin removal happening, is that going to diminish my interest in one of these or will other browsers work? If you're going to run another browser, you may be better off running VanillaOS or something. ChromeOS is very tightly bundled to Chrome. Since you stated the option as other browsers vs. diminished interest, a Chromebook is probably not for you.
|
|
#
¿
Oct 24, 2024 15:52
|
|
|
ExcessBLarg! posted:Can't you run Firefox in Crostini? Seems like you can. You can, but if that's your main web browser, I'm not clear what the point would be of running Debian inside ChromeOS, when you could just run Debian on the native hardware and have access to USB and whatnot. I guess ChromeOS does get you access to the Play Store, letting you run Android apps.
|
|
#
¿
Oct 24, 2024 17:33
|
|
|
I've been using EFF's Privacy Badger, which I generally don't have to think about. I spent a good 12 seconds investigating how manifest v3 would impact it, and decided I probably wouldn't notice.
|
|
#
¿
Oct 28, 2024 03:41
|
|
|
Atomizer posted:Honestly I haven't been following them because we've long been able to get systems with decent CPUs fairly cheaply, like the models you were considering, but I want to say that while modern examples are probably OK for low-end use, I'd still recommend against those Atom-based CPUs if at all possible. 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?
|
|
#
¿
Nov 28, 2024 13:40
|
|
|
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.
|
|
#
¿
Dec 9, 2024 00:38
|
|
|
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.
|
|
#
¿
Dec 14, 2024 14:41
|
|
|
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.
|
|
#
¿
Dec 19, 2024 20:33
|
|
|
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?
|
|
#
¿
Dec 23, 2024 17:30
|
|
|
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.
|
|
#
¿
Jan 1, 2025 15:09
|
|
|
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.
|
|
#
¿
Jan 21, 2025 16:44
|
|
|
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.
|
|
#
¿
Feb 3, 2025 19:45
|
|
|
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...
|
|
#
¿
Apr 29, 2025 17:09
|
|
|
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.
|
|
#
¿
Apr 30, 2025 12:36
|
|
|
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 |
|
#
¿
May 3, 2025 15:16
|
|
|
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.
|
|
#
¿
Jul 18, 2025 22:14
|
|
|
|
| # ¿ Nov 8, 2025 07:50 |
|
|
Jack B Nimble posted:Is Chrostini the in built Linux access? I was think about manual install dual boot, that's how I did it with the old Chromebook. Oh, yeah, Crostini is the built in Linux thingy. I've never played with dual boot, I'll be interested to read what other replies you get!
|
|
#
¿
Jul 19, 2025 02:08
|
|