Who pays $1,199 for a Chromebook?
It runs a mainline kernel with full hardware support. It's the best for me.
Rumor has it, this new "Pixelbook" has a dev friendly keyboard (and checked the leaked shot... You can clearly tell it's not a standard Chromebook keyboard).
edit: I'd echo the comments about build quality. My average laptop life span is 12-18 months, yet I've been running this since it was released. This thing has put up with a lot, and looks like it could've come out of the box a week ago (save for a bright blemish in the screen from a foreign object in my bag, and the rubber strip being slightly ajar after adjusting the write protect screw).
Anyway, I'm not a fan of convertible laptops in general, but between the Linux support, great build quality, satisfaction with the 2015 model etc, I'll probably pick one up and see if I'm happy or want to just settle on the XPS 13.
For power users, The intel core processor based chromebooks can run a standard Linux install as well, FreeBSD mostly works, and Windows can work with some effort. So you're not really locked in. There's a decent community of people packaging updated coreboot builds that get better at booting other operating systems over time.
I don't know that that the pixel appeals to me, but the low spec chromebooks are nice because they're cheap and they usually have decently up to date cpus -- I don't want/need a super fast CPU but I want the latest architecture. Most Windows laptops in the prices range are really bulky and have slow spinning drives instead of an SSD (granted, the SSDs are usually tiny in the chromebooks). At the price point of the Chromebook Pixel series, you're getting a higher tier CPU, so you do need to shop around and see if you're getting a good value for the parts, and if you like the system design. Honestly, I don't see why I would pay $1000+ for a laptop that doesn't have the cluster of keys around page up/page down, but I'm a dinosaur and my taste isn't very well reflected in the marketplace. At the $200 price range where I've bought a few chromebooks, I can manage using a keyboard without important keys. :)
I can do the same on my $200 PC. Surely this isn't the best argument to buy a chrome book. What I don't get is why would people pay a premium for something that basically amount to a web browser? Ease of us? Just install Chrome on whatever PC you have and remove the rest of the apps...
> This eliminate Google's data mining of the whole desktop experience and give you better customization options at the same time.
Yes, by giving more money to Google...
It signals that Chromebooks aren't just cheap devices for students - but that they can be performance devices as well. Luxury items even.
People see this good looking device - and if they don't like the price, may be interested in other Chromebooks. I wouldn't be surprised if the Samsung flip and C302CA get a surge of popularity because of this.
For many also $1099 is spare change -- at least when considering what computer they can buy.
You can want a hassle-free Cloud-based computer whether you are a millionaire or unemployed.
Also, why would I want worse specs? I'd rather get the best hardware I can, and if it looks good, even better.
That said on the low end I bought an Acer CloudBook (Win-10 competitor to chromebook) about 2y back and literally everything works, including suspend, wifi, and all the rest.
When a linux install goes right, it's pretty great.
Because they want the "all Cloud, all the way" simplicity of a Chromebook as opposed to the "you're on your own" standard Linux operational mode.
Take this $1K device.
Hardware-wise, for that kind of price you can get a nice laptop. Heck, for $200 extra, you can even get a MacBook pro if you wanted.
Software wise, the value proposition looks even worse. Apple can justify that price tag because you are buying into the Mac ecosystem. Windows laptops can justify the price tag because, well, Windows is what people expect.
Chromebooks, however, have a "mobile-OS-pretending-to-be-a-desktop-OS" OS, irrevocably tied to the cloud and Google's services that runs "apps" and web applications disguised as desktop applications. Barf.
It's so bad that most people that cheer for these devices say "just put Linux on it".
Yeah, you know where else I can stuff Linux onto? Nearly every other Laptop in existence. Last 3 laptops in which I stuffed Linux Mint "just worked". WiFi, Bluetooth, suspend, everything. I'm either a fantastically lucky bastard, or maybe things aren't shit anymore (hint: I suck at poker).
Chromebooks made sense in their niche, as the next iteration of a netbook. One step above tablet (has a keyboard), but several steps (and dollars) below a full blown laptop. Once you cross that threshold, the value proposition looks like crap, because you can generally get a much better device.
Not having to care about software and hardware specs like those you've mentioned.
Those people value closed OS that's irrevocably tied to the Cloud (as a good thing).
And I shouldn't even have to point it out. That's literally the marketing proposition behind Chromebooks from the start.
>It's so bad that most people that cheer for these devices say "just put Linux on it".
You'd be surprised.
Chromebook's being tied to Google's services is a great feature for the easily replaceable vast majority of Chromebooks that are given to students, grandparents, children. They turn on in seconds and take basically zero management. Every time I open my wife's mac there are 5 updates waiting to install because she can't be bothered to click on the notification.
I take the Pixelbook (and earlier Chromebook Pixels) to be Google's attempt to do what people are criticizing Apple of forgetting to do: remember the power users. They don't plan to sell many of them but they want the option to be out there for a developer who might install linux on it anyways but also might take a stab at packaging their app on the Chromestore, or put it on the Canary channel and submit early bug reports. If a couple especially price insensitive casual users buy them that's just a bonus.
It might also have the effect of catching people's attention who then go on to buy a lower price Chromebook. Imagine a casual laptop shopper wants a small nice laptop. They look for a Macbook / Air because they are small seem pretty capable and have nice commercials. They also notice this Pixel because it's in the same price range and other search filters, so it must be similar, right? They find it runs this strange "ChromeOS" which is really just a browser. Come to think of it that's all they really need, what other Chromebooks are there? Ohh look here's one that does everything I was planning on doing with the Macbook for $300. This is not the typical HN reader, but I'd wager a good many laptop purchases work like this.
I mean, let's get real, obviously it wouldn't appeal to you (doesn't appeal to me either).
But at least I can pretend to understand the proposition -- it's about never caring for backups and stuff, and having all your stuff in the Cloud, in a Google curated computing experience.
Not about specs or if one can install fvwm and xmonad on it.
care to clarify?
Most of the new languages are written on unix-like systems first..
And what does Chromebook offers?
> For many also $1099 is spare change -- at least when considering what computer they can buy.
You mean it's an expensive gadget for rich hipsters to use as a vulgar display of wealth? that's what Chromebook offers over a regular laptop? then by all means...
A Google-curated, hassle-free computing experience. Those that don't want one can always, I dunno, not buy it.
>You mean it's an expensive gadget for rich hipsters to use as a vulgar display of wealth?
No, I mean that if you're pinching pennies, you can always buy something else, even if you'd really like a Chromebook.
A Pixelbook is for those wanting such an experience, AND being able to afford one (And of course there are much cheaper Chromebooks out there).
If you don't like yourself a Chromebook, on the other hand, why are you even discussing this?