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The problem with the chromebooks is definitely not the hardware, it's that you can't skype or play a dvd. If they sold one of these with just android I would buy it in a heartbeat. Perfect linux box.

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Hangouts and WebRTC should be good alternatives for that. But you also can use Skype in the browser last I checked (for video-calls):

https://imo.im

Using imo for skype is far from "ideal" -- you give your skype password to a third party, and I don't think you can call landlines with it. You might say "just use google voice", but you're out of luck if you're not in the US.

I've toyed with giving my parents a chromebook, but the lack of skype is always the sticking point.

DVDs? Do people complain about DVD drives when discussing tablets? Why should this be any different.

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