CMV - Chromebooks are the ultimate Good Goy computer. 📦

3    07 Mar 2021 19:01 by u/None

Macbooks and Windows machines at least let you do some stuff offline* and the ladder at least lets you pretend you have some freedom. *I doubt they're truly offline if you soft-disable networking Discuss.

15 comments

5 u/None [OP] 07 Mar 2021 19:27
Posts like this are why I switched to Ruqqus, you can't find high quality content like this on Reddit.
3 u/None [OP] 07 Mar 2021 20:16
ayy
5 u/jBoi76 07 Mar 2021 19:37
I've heard some people say that chromebooks may bring a light to Linux for desktops since iirc they're technically gentoo based, but IMO they will do the exact opposite. People will start associating chrome os with cheap e-waste laptops that it usually comes with and when someone tells them that they're Linux based they'll probably start associating Linux with crappy laptops too. They're also awful since they're used in schools, which means that many children will get stuck in the google ecosystem from the beginning and will be willing to shill out for stuff like more gdrive space (since these laptops usually have like 32gb lol) Also I don't want to have an os from a company who makes most of their money from tracking and selling user data - this goes for microshit and gulag. Chromebooks are also borderline e-waste because they'll probably break and be thrown out after a year.
5 u/Ryaniskira 07 Mar 2021 20:13
FWIW my Asus C201 I got in like 2014 still works to this day, and I have Archlinux running on it rather happily though I imagine my luck is mostly due to the fact I sprung for the 4GB model, you can't do shit with 2GB of RAM.
2 u/jBoi76 07 Mar 2021 20:23
Oh, nice. I doubt that that's the case for most people though, if they're given to kids they're probably going to destroy it in a year. Also Chromebooks usually aren't fast by any means, so most people will probably upgrade them pretty soon after getting one.
3 u/Ryaniskira 07 Mar 2021 20:35
If you go with an ARM Chromebook its longevity after they lose support is up in the air. x86 Chromebooks do come with Coreboot pre-installed though which is a plus, my wife flashed a custom Coreboot build on hers which gimps IME and includes Tianocore so her laptop is full open source at least as far as the boot process is concerned. She uses Arch btw.
2 u/jBoi76 07 Mar 2021 20:39
Cool, for cheap laptops I think that I still prefer old used laptops though (thinkpads, dells, ect.). I use artix on my 14y/o old dell btw. No systemd=cooler, right? Lol
0 u/Ryaniskira 07 Mar 2021 20:40
Nah you have to install Gentoo and spend at least 24 hours tweaking cflags for max cool points. /s
0 u/jBoi76 07 Mar 2021 20:41
NOOOOOOOOO!!!!! MY INTERNET COOL POINTS ARE RUINED!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ![](https://media.giphy.com/media/OPU6wzx8JrHna/100w.gif)
1 u/SEELE 07 Mar 2021 20:51
Cheap used Chromebooks are an amazing source of throwaway Linux machines if you're willing to go through the reflashing process. You do have to look them up in advance and check compatibility and upgradeability.
1 u/None [OP] 07 Mar 2021 21:20
why tho
1 u/SEELE 07 Mar 2021 21:40
Chrome OS is Linux, so they are already Linux compatible. And they resell for really cheap. You might even be able to get some for free. Sometimes people want a dirt cheap laptop for experimenting, or pentesting, or travel.
1 u/None [OP] 07 Mar 2021 23:53
>Chrome OS is Linux, so they are already Linux compatible Ah, yes. I can install shit from playstore or dick around with web"apps". Very compatible. >And they resell for really cheap. You might even be able to get some for free. >Sometimes people want a dirt cheap laptop for experimenting, or pentesting, or travel. Or I could just buy a lappy that isn't totally locked down.
1 u/SEELE 08 Mar 2021 18:19
You didn't understand what I said. You have to reflash it with Coreboot and remove Chrome OS, then you can install Linux and use it like a regular laptop. You just have to make sure that the hardware has mainline Linux support (many do). Howto: https://mrchromebox.tech/
2 u/None [OP] 08 Mar 2021 23:02
I admit that I was wrong