#there was no way for me to get the files from the busted logicboard

[hobbitunderthemountain]

*sad noises* set up my mac again............

#there was no way for me to get the files from the busted logicboard #so i'm starting from scratch again #and i don't thinkkkkkk? there was anything on my last computer that I'm like devastated to lose #but still its just like the #knowing i had all my crap on my computer #and now if i need something im gonna have to sit and think about 'did I have that file between 2020 and 2022?? is it gone?? #so there's that #mostly i think the *sad noises* are about the chapter headers I made for fic in the past #and i can't remember what fonts i've used in the past #and what needs to be re-installed and such #BIG SIGH #im not looking at my credit card balance until pay day at the end of the month #there goes my quarterly bonus :\ #real life adventures

[akashbhat]

Should Your Next Laptop Be a Chromebook?

On the morning of May 7, 2017, my Macbook Air refused to turn on. It’s logicboard had gone bust and was going to cost me a little over Rs.30,000 to fix. I love everything about Apple’s laptops — design, user experience and reliability. However, they costed an unreasonable amount of money to buy (and repair).

I began looking for alternatives and was quickly convinced that a Chromebook was a viable option. I ordered the Asus Chromebook Flip 302CA — a 2 in 1 convertible — a Chromebook that looked sleek, costed me just Rs.29,000 and promised to do everything that I needed from a computer.

I’ve been using this device as my daily-driver for 3 months. Here’s how I feel about it.

What is a Chromebook?

For most users, the browser is almost the only app that you use on a computer. Most basic users (who aren’t developers and designers) can get all their work done using web-apps and services on the cloud. Chromebooks use Chrome OS, which is a light, speedy operating system built around the Chrome browser. It can help you accomplish most basic tasks using a combination of Chrome browser, Chrome Apps and Andorid Apps. This means that you won’t be able to install traditional PC apps like Tally and video games like CS:GO. But Google understands that most users don’t need these apps — and they’re right!

What can you do with a Chromebook?

A Chromebook isn’t for everyone. It’s for users who browse the web, watch video content and use an office suite (word, excel, etc) for productivity. Here’s what I do with my device.

I write a lot. For this, I use Google Docs and Calmly Writer. They’re both beautifully designed word processors with powerful feature sets. Plus, they back my work up to the cloud constantly.

I use Google Sheets and Slides to replace Excel and Power Point. They’re both amazing applications and do an excellent job at fulfilling my needs. Sheets has more than enough power for a home user like myself and Google Slides has an abundant source of gorgeous templates for rich presentations. You can also use the Android and web versions of MS Office if Microsoft’s office suite is essential for your daily productivity.

Chrome OS is built around one major application: the Chrome Browser. Thanks to this, you can expect to enjoy an amazing browsing experience. Surfing the web is extremely quick, smooth and pleasurable on my Chromebook. Serving up a stellar browsing experience is Chrome OS’s superpower. You’ll be impressed at how delightful it can be to open tabs, scroll through pages and view rich content on the Internet. I can enjoy a seamless browsing experience on my device with over 2 dozen tabs open.

Netflix, Prime Video & YouTube — I hook my chromebook up to my TV via HDMI to watch video content. The experience is good. And Ahoy pirates! You fellows can play your Torrent-Sourced video files on your Chromebook.

Also, Ahoy Pirates! You lot can play video files from your Chromebook in case you aren’t a big fan of streaming video content.

What Do I Miss?

My video games on Steam — But they are a huge distraction and I’m glad that I don’t have access to them anymore. You can play Android games from the Play Store if you’re into mobile games. But this platform clearly isn’t for gamers.

Scrivner — An application that I use to write fiction, compile large documents (mostly epub Ebooks) for publication. It’s not a biggie, but I do miss having it on my device.

What I Love About My Chromebook

It’s very quick and the user experience is delightful. The UI is minimal, clean and elegant. There are no stutters, lags and slowdowns. The ASUS 302CS offers a better experience than most Windows PCs that I’ve used. Also, it is as smooth as my Macbook Air.

The 302CA features sleek, sexy design. It’s pretty light at 1.2 kilos and features a reliable build thanks to its sturdy, aluminium shell. The sleek form factor will win you compliments while you pretend to work at Starbucks, while its 2 in 1 design might even charm some of your friends.

The 302CA has one of the nicest keyboards that I’ve used on a laptop. It takes a day or two to get used to, but once you’re in the groove, you’ll love how much travel these keys have. And yes, they are back-lit.

It fires up in less than 7 seconds and all my important data is backed up on the cloud.

The device can be owned and used by multiple members of a household since it serves up a personalised, independent experience to each user based on the contents of their Google account. This means that daddy won’t have access to mommy’s data and vice versa. When either of them log into the device, there won’t be a trace of the previous users activity.

The 302CA is a convertible. You can fold it into a laptop when required. While it isn’t as sleek as most tablets, the form factor still manages to offer a decent experience in tablet-mode.

You know how Windows sometimes forces you to update your software at the most inconvenient moments? Well, updates on Chrome OS aren’t authoritarian — you’ll never be forced to do anything. Your system will update in the background and the changes will reflect after you restart (which you won’t be forced into doing).

Many of the newer Chromebooks have access to the Google Play store. This means that you can run Android apps on your Chromebook. While native scaling for these apps won’t arrive in the near future, it’s a decent feature to have.

Things I Dislike

- Sometimes, the 302CA has trouble pairing with my Bluetooth speakers. While it pairs with my Logitech Bluetooth mouse flawlessly, it doesn’t do so well with my speakers. But restarting the device usually solves this problem. I’m hoping they’ll fix this with future updates of Chrome OS.

- They come with very little storage space. My 302CA has only 64GB of on-board storage. However, I threw in a 128GB micro-sd card and solved that problem. But with Chrome OS, you don’t really need much on-device storage. I don’t use more than 30GB at any given time despite storing some heavy video files on my device.

Bottom Line

The Asus 302CA offers a delightful computing experience (that can compete with a MacBook Air) for basic users. If all you do is use an Office suite, watch videos and browse the web, this is the laptop for you.

Buying a Chromebook

You can pick Chromebooks for as low as 200$ from the US. The Asus 302CA is more of a high-end device because of its premium build, convertible 2 in 1 design and speedy internals. Check out Chromebooks from Asus, Acer and Samsung that retail between 200$ and 500$.

They’ll serve up a sweet computing experience for basic users. Visit reddit.com/r/chromeos/ to find the right Chromebook for your needs. Also, buy them from the US, they’re way cheaper in the States when compared to India and Europe.