Not Fox, Not even Windows, but interesting tech I thought I'd share.
As Family Area Network SysAdmin, I set up and support machines for a couple of relatives.
One was interested in browsing and broadcasting free movies from archive.org and slideshows and personal files to his TV. I set up a Google Chromecast and picked up an inexpensive refurbed ASUS Chromebook 15 from NewEgg ($130).
Essentially, the laptop is a 16Gb SSD running Chrome OS and Chome browser. No Windows to infect and update and "have you turned it off and back on" tech support. Decent screen 13x7 and 15" decent audio, HDMI and 2 USB3 ports. Supposed 12 hour battery, and 802.11ac wifi. ChromeOS has some decent accessiblity features that display extra-large cursors and graphics and some zoom and magnify features for those with limited vision.
Yes, everything you do is transmitted to Google who use it to target you with ads.
Added EFF's Privacy Badger and HTTPS Everywhere to the browser.
Can't run Windows apps locally, but there are some RDP solutions as well as web-based, of course. Could run Linux if you really wanted to, but for this use case, this seems like a pretty sweet consumer machine at a very reasonable price.
Bonus Google Hangouts means video phone calls and screen sharing (also in Chrome Remote Desktop) for tech support.
Anyone else using Chromebooks? Good or bad experiences to share? Warnings on things to avoid?
Have a blind friend at church who loves his. He can do everything he needs to and he doesn't care about the big graphics.
On Thu, Apr 6, 2017 at 8:33 AM, Ted Roche tedroche@gmail.com wrote:
Not Fox, Not even Windows, but interesting tech I thought I'd share.
As Family Area Network SysAdmin, I set up and support machines for a couple of relatives.
One was interested in browsing and broadcasting free movies from archive.org and slideshows and personal files to his TV. I set up a Google Chromecast and picked up an inexpensive refurbed ASUS Chromebook 15 from NewEgg ($130).
Essentially, the laptop is a 16Gb SSD running Chrome OS and Chome browser. No Windows to infect and update and "have you turned it off and back on" tech support. Decent screen 13x7 and 15" decent audio, HDMI and 2 USB3 ports. Supposed 12 hour battery, and 802.11ac wifi. ChromeOS has some decent accessiblity features that display extra-large cursors and graphics and some zoom and magnify features for those with limited vision.
Yes, everything you do is transmitted to Google who use it to target you with ads.
Added EFF's Privacy Badger and HTTPS Everywhere to the browser.
Can't run Windows apps locally, but there are some RDP solutions as well as web-based, of course. Could run Linux if you really wanted to, but for this use case, this seems like a pretty sweet consumer machine at a very reasonable price.
Bonus Google Hangouts means video phone calls and screen sharing (also in Chrome Remote Desktop) for tech support.
Anyone else using Chromebooks? Good or bad experiences to share? Warnings on things to avoid?
-- Ted Roche Ted Roche & Associates, LLC http://www.tedroche.com
[excessive quoting removed by server]
I just purchased a LiteBook. ( https://alpha.store/ ) ChromeBook like form factor and price, but full Linux (Elementary OS). I'm typing on it right now.
I was following them on the news and found it an interesting piece of hardware. I *was* going to take a wait-and-see attitude, but then I saw how nasty the Linux trolls were treating these people and I voted with my wallet. Two weeks later, and my white LiteBook with the hybrid ssd+harddrive system arrived.
The purpose of this thing is to be my "walking around laptop". Just like I used to carry "walking around money" back in the day that people actually carried money. I was tired of carrying around my $1,300 development laptop when I just wanted to check emails or watch how-to YouTube videos in my wood shop. This $269 machine fit the bill.
The good:
1. Full Linux 2. Decent keyboard 3. Decent performance 4. Decent weight 5. Decent trackpad
The bad:
1. Trackpad buttons suck (but I'm a mouse guy so I use a travel mouse anyway) 2. Celeron processor gets hot under about 25% of the case. Real hot. 3. No "trackpad off" button? 4. So far unsuccessful to get external monitor working via the micro-hdmi port
So far, I like it. I can take it to work and not worry about bringing in my sensitive files. Thumbs up. Maybe not two thumbs up, but thumbs up, nonetheless.
-Kevin
On 04/06/2017 09:33 AM, Ted Roche wrote:
Not Fox, Not even Windows, but interesting tech I thought I'd share.
As Family Area Network SysAdmin, I set up and support machines for a couple of relatives.
One was interested in browsing and broadcasting free movies from archive.org and slideshows and personal files to his TV. I set up a Google Chromecast and picked up an inexpensive refurbed ASUS Chromebook 15 from NewEgg ($130).
Essentially, the laptop is a 16Gb SSD running Chrome OS and Chome browser. No Windows to infect and update and "have you turned it off and back on" tech support. Decent screen 13x7 and 15" decent audio, HDMI and 2 USB3 ports. Supposed 12 hour battery, and 802.11ac wifi. ChromeOS has some decent accessiblity features that display extra-large cursors and graphics and some zoom and magnify features for those with limited vision.
Yes, everything you do is transmitted to Google who use it to target you with ads.
Added EFF's Privacy Badger and HTTPS Everywhere to the browser.
Can't run Windows apps locally, but there are some RDP solutions as well as web-based, of course. Could run Linux if you really wanted to, but for this use case, this seems like a pretty sweet consumer machine at a very reasonable price.
Bonus Google Hangouts means video phone calls and screen sharing (also in Chrome Remote Desktop) for tech support.
Anyone else using Chromebooks? Good or bad experiences to share? Warnings on things to avoid?
--- StripMime Report -- processed MIME parts --- multipart/alternative text/plain (text body -- kept) text/html ---
Ted, We bought a 11" Acer chromebook 2 years ago to use to watch tv after getting rid of cable TV. I spilled a whole glass of milk in it, dried it out overnight over a dehumidifier, and it's worked fine ever since.
We then bought a 15" Acer chromebook from Groupon for $80 refurbished, and that has worked flawlessly too. The only issue I have with Chrome is that it locks up quite a bit if you have more than 3 or 4 tabs open and a few apps running. I wish they could get the virtual memory working better. The 15" has at least an 8 hour battery life, which is awesome. I also use it for to remote desktop and teamviewer into client's computers. Mike From: Ted Roche tedroche@gmail.com To: "profox@leafe.com" profox@leafe.com Sent: Thursday, April 6, 2017 9:33 AM Subject: [NF] Chromebook OOBE
Not Fox, Not even Windows, but interesting tech I thought I'd share.
As Family Area Network SysAdmin, I set up and support machines for a couple of relatives.
One was interested in browsing and broadcasting free movies from archive.org and slideshows and personal files to his TV. I set up a Google Chromecast and picked up an inexpensive refurbed ASUS Chromebook 15 from NewEgg ($130).
Essentially, the laptop is a 16Gb SSD running Chrome OS and Chome browser. No Windows to infect and update and "have you turned it off and back on" tech support. Decent screen 13x7 and 15" decent audio, HDMI and 2 USB3 ports. Supposed 12 hour battery, and 802.11ac wifi. ChromeOS has some decent accessiblity features that display extra-large cursors and graphics and some zoom and magnify features for those with limited vision.
Yes, everything you do is transmitted to Google who use it to target you with ads.
Added EFF's Privacy Badger and HTTPS Everywhere to the browser.
Can't run Windows apps locally, but there are some RDP solutions as well as web-based, of course. Could run Linux if you really wanted to, but for this use case, this seems like a pretty sweet consumer machine at a very reasonable price.
Bonus Google Hangouts means video phone calls and screen sharing (also in Chrome Remote Desktop) for tech support.
Anyone else using Chromebooks? Good or bad experiences to share? Warnings on things to avoid?
I bought this one for a relative with limited vision who could use the TV to better enjoy what was on the screen. I've been setting it up for them.
I'm likely to pick one up myself, based on what I've seen. I use Google as the primary email for both my personal and business accounts, and have a number of SMB clients using the Google for Work that I help admin. This is a pretty useful tool in a light, portable package.
On Mon, Apr 17, 2017 at 4:35 AM, Michael Madigan mmadi10699@yahoo.com wrote:
Ted, We bought a 11" Acer chromebook 2 years ago to use to watch tv after getting rid of cable TV. I spilled a whole glass of milk in it, dried it out overnight over a dehumidifier, and it's worked fine ever since.
We then bought a 15" Acer chromebook from Groupon for $80 refurbished, and that has worked flawlessly too. The only issue I have with Chrome is that it locks up quite a bit if you have more than 3 or 4 tabs open and a few apps running. I wish they could get the virtual memory working better. The 15" has at least an 8 hour battery life, which is awesome. I also use it for to remote desktop and teamviewer into client's computers. Mike From: Ted Roche tedroche@gmail.com To: "profox@leafe.com" profox@leafe.com Sent: Thursday, April 6, 2017 9:33 AM Subject: [NF] Chromebook OOBE
Not Fox, Not even Windows, but interesting tech I thought I'd share.
As Family Area Network SysAdmin, I set up and support machines for a couple of relatives.
One was interested in browsing and broadcasting free movies from archive.org and slideshows and personal files to his TV. I set up a Google Chromecast and picked up an inexpensive refurbed ASUS Chromebook 15 from NewEgg ($130).
Essentially, the laptop is a 16Gb SSD running Chrome OS and Chome browser. No Windows to infect and update and "have you turned it off and back on" tech support. Decent screen 13x7 and 15" decent audio, HDMI and 2 USB3 ports. Supposed 12 hour battery, and 802.11ac wifi. ChromeOS has some decent accessiblity features that display extra-large cursors and graphics and some zoom and magnify features for those with limited vision.
Yes, everything you do is transmitted to Google who use it to target you with ads.
Added EFF's Privacy Badger and HTTPS Everywhere to the browser.
Can't run Windows apps locally, but there are some RDP solutions as well as web-based, of course. Could run Linux if you really wanted to, but for this use case, this seems like a pretty sweet consumer machine at a very reasonable price.
Bonus Google Hangouts means video phone calls and screen sharing (also in Chrome Remote Desktop) for tech support.
Anyone else using Chromebooks? Good or bad experiences to share? Warnings on things to avoid?
-- Ted Roche Ted Roche & Associates, LLC http://www.tedroche.com
[excessive quoting removed by server]
+1 on the Acer 15"" Chromebook. Bought one (new $179) for my wife to use on the road (she's a mobile dental hygienist) to remote desktop into the company server. She absolutely loves the battery life (10-12 hrs) and the "instant on" that;s it's available as soon as she opens the lid. No problems with crashing at all.
Fred
On Mon, Apr 17, 2017 at 1:35 AM, Michael Madigan mmadi10699@yahoo.com wrote:
Ted, We bought a 11" Acer chromebook 2 years ago to use to watch tv after getting rid of cable TV. I spilled a whole glass of milk in it, dried it out overnight over a dehumidifier, and it's worked fine ever since.
We then bought a 15" Acer chromebook from Groupon for $80 refurbished, and that has worked flawlessly too. The only issue I have with Chrome is that it locks up quite a bit if you have more than 3 or 4 tabs open and a few apps running. I wish they could get the virtual memory working better. The 15" has at least an 8 hour battery life, which is awesome. I also use it for to remote desktop and teamviewer into client's computers. Mike From: Ted Roche tedroche@gmail.com To: "profox@leafe.com" profox@leafe.com Sent: Thursday, April 6, 2017 9:33 AM Subject: [NF] Chromebook OOBE
Not Fox, Not even Windows, but interesting tech I thought I'd share.
As Family Area Network SysAdmin, I set up and support machines for a couple of relatives.
One was interested in browsing and broadcasting free movies from archive.org and slideshows and personal files to his TV. I set up a Google Chromecast and picked up an inexpensive refurbed ASUS Chromebook 15 from NewEgg ($130).
Essentially, the laptop is a 16Gb SSD running Chrome OS and Chome browser. No Windows to infect and update and "have you turned it off and back on" tech support. Decent screen 13x7 and 15" decent audio, HDMI and 2 USB3 ports. Supposed 12 hour battery, and 802.11ac wifi. ChromeOS has some decent accessiblity features that display extra-large cursors and graphics and some zoom and magnify features for those with limited vision.
Yes, everything you do is transmitted to Google who use it to target you with ads.
Added EFF's Privacy Badger and HTTPS Everywhere to the browser.
Can't run Windows apps locally, but there are some RDP solutions as well as web-based, of course. Could run Linux if you really wanted to, but for this use case, this seems like a pretty sweet consumer machine at a very reasonable price.
Bonus Google Hangouts means video phone calls and screen sharing (also in Chrome Remote Desktop) for tech support.
Anyone else using Chromebooks? Good or bad experiences to share? Warnings on things to avoid?
-- Ted Roche Ted Roche & Associates, LLC http://www.tedroche.com
[excessive quoting removed by server]
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Fred Taylor -
Kevin Cully -
Michael Madigan -
Stephen Russell -
Ted Roche