Does ChromeOS make sense for a desktop?
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For a work system or personal computer, can you elaborate the use case?
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there are a lot of people that like it for this. I think if it fits your needs there is certainly nothing wrong with it.
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If you can live only in a browser - then sure.
But most desktop hardware will be well beyond what it needs for normal stuff, and you'll be limited to browser only stuff on ChromeOS.
another option - Fedora and Cinn.
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I'm thinking about two scenarios:
- Simple personal computer that everyone in the family can use.
- Office desktop that requires "zero" support.
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@Pete-S said in Does ChromeOS make sense for a desktop?:
I'm thinking about two scenarios:
- Simple personal computer that everyone in the family can use.
- Office desktop that requires "zero" support.
I think it would work fine for this, depending on family usage. For my family it would work fine they only use a browser. I don't have one but when I need something to be totally portable I make sure and just use browser for everything.
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@Pete-S said in Does ChromeOS make sense for a desktop?:
I'm thinking about two scenarios:
- Simple personal computer that everyone in the family can use.
For web only use cases, sure. G-Suite for document creation, youtube, other browser functionality.
- Office desktop that requires "zero" support.
Personal office or business office? You'll want to account for user training and the PEBCAK issues.
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@DustinB3403 said in Does ChromeOS make sense for a desktop?:
Personal office or business office? You'll want to account for user training and the PEBCAK issues.
Business office. I thought ChromeOS would be so simple to use that you would basically not need any training. Basically if you can handle a smartphone, you can handle ChromeOS.
I actually don't use a chromebook but played around with it a few times. Maybe there is more to it than I thought?
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BTW, doesn't ChromeOS have real Office 365 apps too?
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@Pete-S said in Does ChromeOS make sense for a desktop?:
@DustinB3403 said in Does ChromeOS make sense for a desktop?:
Personal office or business office? You'll want to account for user training and the PEBCAK issues.
Business office. I thought ChromeOS would be so simple to use that you would basically not need any training. Basically if you can handle a smartphone, you can handle ChromeOS.
I actually don't use a chromebook but played around with it a few times. Maybe there is more to it than I thought?
yeah - while I agree people will muddle through - if they have any experience on Windows they will get frustrated because the desktop is not a real usable space, etc.
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@Pete-S said in Does ChromeOS make sense for a desktop?:
BTW, doesn't ChromeOS have real Office 365 apps too?
Not really - there are the Android apps, they aren't bad...
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@Dashrender said in Does ChromeOS make sense for a desktop?:
@Pete-S said in Does ChromeOS make sense for a desktop?:
BTW, doesn't ChromeOS have real Office 365 apps too?
Not really - there are the Android apps, they aren't bad...
I've tried Android in the past as a desktop and it was pretty limiting because Android doesn't have a typical window manager. At least it didn't when I tested.
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@Pete-S said in Does ChromeOS make sense for a desktop?:
@Dashrender said in Does ChromeOS make sense for a desktop?:
@Pete-S said in Does ChromeOS make sense for a desktop?:
BTW, doesn't ChromeOS have real Office 365 apps too?
Not really - there are the Android apps, they aren't bad...
I've tried Android in the past as a desktop and it was pretty limiting because Android doesn't have a typical window manager. At least it didn't when I tested.
Supposedly you can run Android apps on ChromeOS now - no idea how well it works.
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@Pete-S said in Does ChromeOS make sense for a desktop?:
Does ChromeOS make sense for a desktop only computer?
I'm thinking about something like Asus Chromebox but maybe there are other hardware options as well.
If you don't need any features that it doesn't have, then it makes an awesome desktop.
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@Pete-S said in Does ChromeOS make sense for a desktop?:
BTW, doesn't ChromeOS have real Office 365 apps too?
No, only Windows and macOS do.
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@Dashrender said in Does ChromeOS make sense for a desktop?:
If you can live only in a browser - then sure.
ChromeOS runs all Android apps, and all Linux apps. It's not limited like it was years ago. Locally installed apps are a standard thing now.
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@Pete-S said in Does ChromeOS make sense for a desktop?:
I'm thinking about two scenarios:
- Simple personal computer that everyone in the family can use.
- Office desktop that requires "zero" support.
Yup, it's just about perfect for those. The key reason we don't deploy it for those cases is that we want MeshCentral support so that we can remote in and help people with things.
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@DustinB3403 said in Does ChromeOS make sense for a desktop?:
For web only use cases, sure. G-Suite for document creation, youtube, other browser functionality.
Zoho works, too. Of O365 online. Or OnlyOffice and LibreOffice via CODE in NextCloud. Lots of options today.
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@Pete-S said in Does ChromeOS make sense for a desktop?:
Business office. I thought ChromeOS would be so simple to use that you would basically not need any training. Basically if you can handle a smartphone, you can handle ChromeOS.
Easier, actually. It goes from password to open browser. It's that simple.
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@Pete-S said in Does ChromeOS make sense for a desktop?:
@Dashrender said in Does ChromeOS make sense for a desktop?:
@Pete-S said in Does ChromeOS make sense for a desktop?:
BTW, doesn't ChromeOS have real Office 365 apps too?
Not really - there are the Android apps, they aren't bad...
I've tried Android in the past as a desktop and it was pretty limiting because Android doesn't have a typical window manager. At least it didn't when I tested.
It runs Android apps, it is not an Android desktop. Two totally different things. There is no Android running here.
Windows can run Android apps too, with the right add on tools. Paul does this all the time.
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@Dashrender said in Does ChromeOS make sense for a desktop?:
@Pete-S said in Does ChromeOS make sense for a desktop?:
@Dashrender said in Does ChromeOS make sense for a desktop?:
@Pete-S said in Does ChromeOS make sense for a desktop?:
BTW, doesn't ChromeOS have real Office 365 apps too?
Not really - there are the Android apps, they aren't bad...
I've tried Android in the past as a desktop and it was pretty limiting because Android doesn't have a typical window manager. At least it didn't when I tested.
Supposedly you can run Android apps on ChromeOS now - no idea how well it works.
Very well, it's a key feature of the platform.
