Ma and Pa's Blog

Chromebook:  Pros and Cons after 7-months

Since early December 2010, I’ve been using the prototype Chromebook (Cr-48) provided me by Google.   It’s been fun and, only occasionally, frustrating.   I thought after 7-months, it would be interesting to compare pros and cons to summarize the current state.   My feeling is, prior to beginning this effort, is positive — I’d buy one.   Now, let’s see if I change my own mind.

1. Pros
   • Aesthetics are good. I don’t think I’ve seen a better display or workspace design on a screen this size.   The overall machine is sleek and solid to the touch.   Lacking adornments allows the owner to choose whether he / she wants professional or artistic or whatever look by adding stickers or tattoos to the case.  Personally, flat black is just fine.
   • Battery life is super. I am amazed at how long a charge lasts.  With the Atom processors and solid state disk drive it runs mostly cool and always quiet.  This has to be the greenest computer I’ve ever owned.
   • Maintenance is nil. Updates are handled in background and no extras (anti-virus, anti-spyware, etc.) are needed.   The system can be restored completely from a software image (stored on a 4GB thumb drive) in less than an hour and without losing any data or settings.   Data is stored on the “cloud” (remote web severs) and settings can be synced through Google.   Settings, by the way, are then synced for all computers you use Chrome OS or Chrome web browser on — be they Windows, Mac or Linux machines.  I use all three.
   • Security is good. Should the Chromebook be stolen, all I need do is change my Google password (using another computer or smart phone), and my data is secure.  The exception here would be data stored on an SD card that could be left in the SD reader slot.   I keep this in mind when deciding what I might want to store there.
   • Wifi and Mobile Data Connected. The Cr-48 can connect to the web via wifi or mobile data (i.e. cellular data connection over Verizon networks).   The cellular does not require a contract and seems a good alternative when wifi is unavailable.
2. Cons

• It’s not a general purpose computer. While I can do most of what I do on a computer, I can’t accomplish every task.   I can surf the web including watching flash videos, YouTube, Hulu, Pandora radio, email, download and open PDF documents (except password protected ones).   I can create, edit and share documents using Google docs or Microsoft OfficeLive.  I can upload photos to Picasa or Flickr and do some photo editing using online apps.   I can’t run general purpose CAD software or Photoshop.   I can’t unzip file archives without first uploading them to the cloud.   I can’t mount a Windows shared drive or NAS (network accessible storage) drive on my network.
• Printing requires assistance. Printing is though CloudPrint.  That is, print jobs are submitted over the web to a computer running the CloudPrint server software or to a CloudPrint compatible networked printer (e.g. HP ePrint capable printers).  In my case, I wanted to continue using my 10-year old laser printer, so I run Cloudprint on my Windows desktop connected to the laser printer.   Were the Chromebook my only computer, I’d need to buy a compatible printer.
• Web and Google dependence. This may be a big issue for some, but I think there is reasonable flexibility in sourcing services.   Email can be set up through other providers, as can document storage.   It’s even possible to set up local cloud storage with stand-alone disk drives and devices like Tonido plug — a compact cloud server used in concert with off-the-shelf usb drives.  Though I’ve connected thumbdrives to the Chromebook, I’ve not tried a usb harddrive connected directly.    Web dependence would be a problem for dial-up users, though mobile data could provide an alternative (albeit a relatively expensive alternative).

In conclusion, I feel the Chromebook is well suited to a huge population of computer users.

1. It is attractive to those who use computers but don’t want to be bothered by the details of how they work.   In this respect, I think it rivals Apple’s offerings in providing technology that “just works”.  No geek required to install drivers or fix crashes or install add-ons.
2. It is attractive to IT departments and household geeks because it minimises the need for user support.
3. It is “super simple” to transition PC and Mac users who have experience with the Chrome browser, because the Chromebook experience is nearly identical to the experience of using the Chrome browser.   To that point, there is no need for a Chromebook to do anything you can’t do on a PC or Mac within Chrome brower (which includes using apps from the Chrome Web Store).  The reasons for the Chromebook are security, reliability, and long battery life on well designed and executed hardware.

Supporting these conclusions is the fact that I have, in the course of the past seven months, used the Chromebook,  my Windows desktop, Windows on my laptop, Linux on my laptop, my wife’s Apple PowerBook and Linux via dual boot on the Chromebook, and yet I come back to Chrome OS on the Chromebook for the best experience.   My main reasons for ever booting another computer are:

1. To watch Netflix — which is promised for Chromebook users in the future by Netflix but not yet available;
2. To make a remote desktop connection locally.   This is much quicker than using remote desktop over the internet — the latter is possible on the Chromebook.
3. To unzip a file archive I receive via email or download from a web site — e.g. my photo gallery allows me to download my photos, but only packaged in zip archives.

Draw your own conclusions   Test drive a “virtual Chromebook” on your PC, Mac or Linux machine by installing the Google Chrome browser.   See if you can live totally inside the Chrome browser and store everything you want on the web.  Whenever you’re tempted to launch another application, check the Chrome Web Store and see if there is a solution that works inside Chrome Browser.  Whenever you want to save something, look to the cloud for a place to store it.  Then, imagine doing that on a lightweight notebook with incredible battery life and near zero maintenance.   Oh, and I didn’t mention the Chromebook boots in about 15 seconds from the powered off state (instantaneously from sleep state).

For the counterpoint to this review see Whatever you do, don’t buy a Chromebook.   I obviously disagree.   In my view, my computers are very uninteresting devices when not connected to the web.   We live on the web today.   That’s a fact for most of us.

It’s a little scary that we may, over time, become so isolated, because web sites are customizing the content they offer up based on individual behaviors.  We can then each become ignorant of perspectives different from our own.

I like it!  Unity desktop is a little different, but everything is running quickly and looking great.

First off, I didn’t waste the entire weekend.   We did have a nice outing Saturday to Wendell August Forge (Berlin, OH) and Lehman’s Hardware (Kidron, OH).

On to the wasted time . . . Following the iPad experience, I began to wonder what I’d been missing on the PC side, since I started using Linux exclusively a couple years ago.   So I restored Windows (Vista ) to my laptop.   The larger hard drive I installed a couple months ago leaves plenty of room for Windows and Linux to coexist, after all.  That took the better part of a day in all, and I did  experience the frustration with my computer becoming  overwhelmed by the early background work that Windows does — installing voluminous updates, creating restore points, scanning for viruses and spyware, and issuing those annoying (“are you sure you want me to proceed”-like) warnings.

Anyway . . . that’s behind me and Windows is running relatively smoothly.   I can do most of what I could do in Linux with only minor sacrifice of speed and flexibility.   Plus I can do the few things that I couldn’t  – iTunes, Google SketchUp,  Netflix streaming, and Kindle reader.   This is not to say that there were not close cousins to each available in Linux.

Now for what I learned:

First, the security suite offered by Time Warner (CA Security Suite)  is a pain.   The firewall was overly restrictive and conflicted with Windows built in firewall.  It prevented me from logging into my own sites because it wouldn’t allow cookies from the scripts used on the sites.   The anti-spam and anti-spyware components added two more levels of background activities (downloading updates and scanning files) on top of that needed for the anti-virus component.   I uninstalled the CA firewall and turned on the Windows firewall.  Since my email systems already do anti-spam, I uninstalled the CA anti-spam.  I also uninstalled the CA anti-spyware, which I think I can do without by being careful about what sites I visit, what I download, and how frequently I purge cookies — plus Window is still warning my about every software install.   The computer seems much happier without these items.

Next, I noticed that my satellite TV receiver showed up on my network.   I’d connected it to the network as an alternative to connecting the phone line — the latter was less convenient now that we’re using Vonage.   Anyway the receiver showed up as a “Directv MediaShare Renderer”, and that piqued my interest.   After some investigating, I found that Windows Media Player could interface with the receiver to share photos, music and video to the TV over my home network.   Photos and music worked right off.   Video, on the other hand was more trouble, because it required an MPEG2 encoded file and most of  my fires were AVI or MOV or WMV.   Conversion was going to take forever.   THEN I found a program called “TVersity Media Server” that organizes content and transcodes the videos on the fly.   The program has a free and a PRO ($40) version.   The free version handles all my media files and YouTube.   The PRO version can handle Hulu, RSS media feeds, and more.   Also, it appears the same MediaShare is available on ATT Uverse DVRs.   And it sounds like with the DVRs you can also watch recordings remotely on the PC.   FLASH:   TVersity appears to work with the WII also.

OK, to summarize . . . I spent a day an a half to learn that (1) I can make my PC run Windows almost as well as it ran Linux and (2) I can look at media files on my TV instead of my always-handy laptop.   Damn that really does does sound like a waste of time!  I apologize for wasting your time telling you about it.   That’s all . . . until next time.

Well, our iPad has been returned to the mother ship. We took it back to the Apple Store today. The return was precipitated by the touch screen malfunction, but the real reason is that it’s just too expensive and too large for something that is the functional equivalent of an iPod touch or iPhone. If it were a viable laptop (even netbook) equivalent, I would have been happy, but it was deficient compared to either. As a portable media player for music, video and photos, it was superb. That, however, was not my goal. It was a fun test drive and an expensive test drive — given the 10% restocking charge and the $25 I spent on software through the App Store.

Hmmm.   Today the iPad developed a twitch.   While typing, I’d get extra letters (like key bounce on a mechanical keyboard).  Then I’d get spurious inputs while not touching the keyboard (like a poltergeist was taking control).   I contacted Apple, and they had me do a hard reset (problem persisted) then a restore of the OS, firmware and factory software.   The problem still persists.   I turned off the network, in case it might have been a malicious intrusion.   Still a problem.   So, I contacted Apple again, and I have an appointment for tomorrow to exchange the unit for a new one.

Well, that brings me to a decision — exchange it, or return it (with possible restocking charge associated with the latter).

Honestly, I am quite impressed with parts of the iPad and disappointed with others.   Unfortunately, I find the things I do most with a computer in the disappointment column.  Entertainment applications appear to be well done;  productivity applications are less impressive — though, I’ve not purchased the word processing or spreadsheet from Apple.   I find having one app for downloading a file while browsing the web, another for ftp transfers and yet another to mount a shared drive on my network a bit tedious.   Add to that that the transferred files can be captive to the application that they were downloaded in, and it’s even more frustrating.   Printing requires a separate app and not all applications can access printing.   Typing will always be a compromise unless I add a $70 optional keyboard.

I think odds are better than even for a return.   Slick as the iPad may be, I do more (of what I want to do with a computer) with less hassle on my Linux laptop.   Dang, Apple.   You can do better.

So far on the iPad:

Safari web browsing (without flash support).

Photo storage and display — excellent for browsing and slideshows.

PDF files read well.

iBook very cool.  Also available is free Kindle reader.

Skype works for voice calls (no camera).

iTunes works, of course.

Tutorial video from apple.com stalled frequently?  YouTube OK.

Netflix streaming works.

No file browser nor printing interface.  

Mail app configs easily for Gmail.

Games — tried only a couple.  Could be good.  Arcade graphics & sound.

Pandora works.

Maps cool for directions — driving and transit (no transit for Akron).

Location service detects gps location when turned on.

No multitasking, so no music while you surf or work, or play. CORRECTION: iTunes can play in background. Pandora can’t.

Touch typing possible, but not as fast yet as regular-size keyboard.  Requires swaps between letter and number/symbol layouts while typing.  Optional wireless keyboard is $70.

Our new baby . . .

and his proud Daddy . . .

It’s very beautiful to look at, and it does so much. While it’s not a PC replacement, it’s not far from one. More after I finish exploring

We tried in vain to capture Owen making volleyball returns and kicking the balloon — both of which he does very well.   He’s still cute in the below video.

Owen’s Soccer and Volleyball Skills from Pa on Vimeo.