jebmo’s posthaven

My $250 ASUS C201 Chromebook

Why I left my new MacBook for a $250 Chromebook

I spend a lot of time with my computer and phone, so much that I consider them a part of me. A delay in loading, a mistype, and tech-hiccups all feel like arthritis and Alzheimer to my extended self. So, changing from a state-of-the-art Apple device to something as “un-designed” as a Chromebook felt like it was never going to happen.

But I had to try, and after a week a realized I hadn't opened my Mac and how four weeks later the honeymoon is over and I am in love. Here’s how.

I started this post as simple list of recommendations and experiences, but as I started finding quirks and workarounds I added it and will keep updating.

What a Chromebook is

I realized when I asked for input for this post that a lot of the fears are around a new interface, downloading files, and missing out on apps. I can try to make all of these clearer and I’ll treat the first two right here: it is like starting a computer and that computer is your browser. Just your browser (especially true if you run Google Chrome).

Secondly, you can download files but they will just be in Google Drive in a hidden folder. But the apps and being without Internet, let me get back to that.

Getting started is a breeze

As a Gmail and Chrome browser user, of course, the experience is flawless. It is more than that — it is incredible. I used a Chromebook Pixel for an hour, when it was released, but the big difference is when you plan to use and work with something. You need everything to lock in place, and not carry around two devices.

As every password was saved in Chrome, I was up and running in less than five minutes. A new Mac or PC costs you at least and hour of downloading apps and getting things up and running. And then you forgot something.

A lot of Google services like Gmail (Original not Inbox) and Google Drive display that the version you are running of Chrome is not supported:

I just dismissed these. Not sure what I’m missing out on :)

Comparing two Chromebooks

I just bought the higher resolution Toshiba, which only costs $250 and has a way better screen and still a 9h+ battery life. It is way bigger than the tiny road warrior ASUS C201. It is like moving to a 15" MacBook Pro, from a MacBook. I like the improved screen resolution and quality and it is a lot less plastic, but I like the size of the ASUS a lot.

The Toshiba CB30 and the ASUS C201 side by side

Strangely enough, the difference is not only in the hardware, but in things behave differently.

*Update* I found that under “About” I could get a newer version, and for some reason I had to help it.

Before some pages never seemed to stop loading on the Toshiba and it found “spelling errors” where there are none, and some apps didn’t work the same way.

Now when they run the newest version they both work fine. I guess that is why Apple still makes ̶b̶e̶t̶t̶e̶r̶ more quality controlled products by owning the whole stack ;)

Now, more importantly: Where are the apps?

Hey — will my apps work? Yes, the biggest fear to move to a Chromebook is that you won’t be able to use the first class tools you use today. I wanted Google’s products (email, calendar, drive, photos), and then came the tricky ones: Spotify, Skype, Slack, Dropbox, and Keynote.

Spotify

Yes, Spotify has a web-player: http://ift.tt/XKoL3E. (And there seems to be a Chrome plugin for it too, didn’t notice much of a difference with it though.)

The only flaws I have found are that it sometimes asks for Flash (?!) but with a reload it works. The only feature missing is that music that I uploaded and offlined (like Radiohead’s amazing A Moon Shaped Pool) are not accessible.

Skype

I often use Hangouts but I also need Skype, and conveniently they have a web version too: https://web.skype.com

Some of the great benefits are that it doesn’t eat 1 Gb of memory or require me to turn off and on my wifi-connection from time to time. It doesn’t support video yet, and sport a BETA, but works just as well as the desktop version for me.

Slack

I think we all know that “the new email”, aka Slack, has a web version: http://ift.tt/X2H6Ln

What you might not think of is that all your nice Chrome plugins now work inside Slack. The only downside is that every Slack is now a tab, but the upside of that is that if you are part of 10+ slack groups then at least it doesn't eat all your RAM.

Dropbox

Dropbox works just fine, of course it won’t be a folder anymore but I don’t end up using Dropbox like that. On a Chromebook you can actually mount Dropbox as a file manager instead.

My Dropbox is always there!!

Twitter

True. Twitter’s native app is far superior their web experience. I ended up installing TweetDeck to solve the problem.

Keynote

I’m a keynote thinker and warrior. Whenever I think I start with building a keynote. Somehow I can’t make Google Slides an extension of my thought process the same way. I’ll try more. I know some people say the same about OmniGraffle. No solution found yet.

Other apps — audio, image editing, and coding

Pixlr seems to be a great Photoshop alternative that works.

I still haven’t edited audio or video, and guess I have to find a replacement for Hindenburg.

I haven’t coded either, but sadly I don’t anymore. Few dev tools seem to mention supporting Chromebooks and not having access to shell feels like it would make it impossible to be a developer using one. I haven’t tried Cloud9, maybe that is a solution. Any developer on a Chromebook out there that care to comment?

Android apps

I’m a iPhone user so not used to the Android ecosystem, but now you can install Android apps on Chrome.

It worked out of the box on the Toshiba, but on the ASUS I ended up using this direct link to get it to work. You are supposed to see a little checkbox “Available for Android”:

But, when you don’t have Internet then?

Of course, most things don’t work very well without an Internet connection, but then again, what does? When I’m on an airplane, I would watch a video or listen to music on a tablet or phone anyhow. Or need an Internet connection for Spotify, Netflix, or HBO anyhow…

When you want to edit files or do email, I can comfort you that Google Drive and Gmail work well offline, right out of the box.

Some of my favorite Chrome-plugins:

• Grammarly is a dream if you write a lot. As it doesn’t work on Medium (!) and some other places (not a Chromebook thing) I end up opening the text on Grammarly’s own editor.
• SnoozeTab is still the best thing I have seen, both to de-clutter, improve performance, and remember things. It is by far the best Chromeplugin. I used to use OneTab previously, but find SnoozeTab’s way of allowing you to use tabs as to-dos is great.
• Screencastify seems to be the best option if you want to record your phone calls or do screencasts.

Will I keep using the “Crapbook”‽

At the end of the day, I don’t think I am going back to my Mac. The ASUS is super performant, I don’t have to have any files locally, and somehow it feels “fresh” to not buy all your goods at the white temple. So far I haven’t felt locked in or restrained.

If you are reading this ASUS; then please move to a USB-C, bump the screen quality a notch, and test that Android apps work in Chrome. Don’t change the size, it is just amazing. I love the C201, and long for a an update fixing the screen brightness especially.

If you want to do the jump, then here’s a post on Techradar listing the best Chromebooks of 2016.

Life changers

1. The biggest differences for me have been that there is never is a load time or memory running out. Generally the experience is a lot faster than any other computer I’ve had.
2. Lending a computer to someone is not a pain or fear. You logout, they login (or run as Guest), do whatever they needed, then logout, you login, and everything is back as you left it. And boot times are minimal.
3. No more AirPlay devices. I am selling off my AirPlay speakers and buying Chrome Casts at home to plugin to “dumb” speakers. Works better and are a lot cheaper. (Install the Google Cast extension.)
4. No more lost files. I sometimes end up with files on my desktop, or in the download folder, or… on Dropbox… or what is Google Drive… or did I email myself the file? Where on earth is it‽ That hasn’t happened yet here as there is no desktop. All files are on Drive or Dropbox. Searchable.
5. I have to learn to love Google Slides or find an alternative. Tips more than welcome.
6. I lost the charger for my ASUS while travelling and the ASUS C201 doesn’t use any standard (much less USB-C) which is a real downer and I have contacted ASUS support to get a new one…
7. I can’t SMS from my Chromebook as I can on my Mac, but that is probably easily fixed by buying an Android phone next ;P

One thing is for sure, Chromebooks are coming and will be a real alternative to running Windows or having a Mac!

I’d love tips from other Chromebook lovers and happy to answer questions too, so please comment and like or spread the post if you found it useful.