The Chromebook Fixed-Function Pricing Conundrum

The Chromebook holds the promise of a simpler laptop that's $250-500. Even though they only run the Chrome browser and a clunky version of Android compatibility, for many users that's enough. 

Are Chromebooks something home users should consider? Maybe, if the device is under $300. 

Chromebooks are stuck in a Conundrum. They are built out of the same hardware components as laptops and tablets, so they end up costing the same amount as comparable general-purpose computers that run lots of software. But why would you pay the same price for a fixed-function computer, losing the ability to run arbitrary desktop software? 

I picked up a refurbished HP x360 14" Chromebook for $250. At this price, it's a great device. It's simple, it has good battery life. I don't have to think about software problems or upgrades. It just works. It's like a simple web-browser appliance. However, If I had to buy this machine for the full-retail of $520-600 on Amazon, I would not be very happy with it. Especially when I can buy the 2019 version of the same x360 hardware for $500 running full fledged windows10. 

This comparison gets even worse when looking at Google's Flagship Chromebook Pixel that's a full $1000. For that amount of moolah, you can buy a non-retina Macbook Air or dozens of different excellent Windows 10 laptops. Those are full fledged computers that can run actual real desktop software. These expensive Chromebooks remind me of early "fixed function word processors" which were destroyed by the introduction of general purpose personal computers. 

I'll admit, there are some situations where the simplicity of the Chromebook might be worth the loss of functionality. For a less savvy computer user, a Chromebook is much less likely to get a Virus, get corrupted or broken, or require software repair. Yes, you can install Android apps, but these are pretty bizarre and clunky to use with a mouse-keyboard, because they are designed for finger touch mobile devices. 

However, is the simplicity of ChromeOS really worth giving up all native desktop applications if they are the same price? My answer to this question is a resounding N.O.  

Which means, if you're going to dig into Chromebooks, look for lower priced, refurbished, or used models. 

The  $260 Acer Chromebook 11 CB311-8H-C5DV  has USB-C charging, a decent screen, and is a good value, especially for kids. 

However there are far more cheap chromebooks you should stay away from. the $250 ASUS Chromebook C523NA-DH02 15.6" is an absolutely horrific display that causes unreasonable eyestrain. The ASUS C100PA-DB02 Flip 10" and Acer C720 11" have reasonable screens but they don't charge via USB-C, which means keeping track of annoying propritary chargers. 

NOTE: It is entirely possible for a simpler ChromeOS like system to allow native desktop applications, much like it allows native Android applications. ChromeOS just chooses not to. 

Chromebooks - hobbled by lack of keymap configuration

For years I've been watching the Chromebook trend, waiting for it to deliver on the promise of lower priced simpler computers, but unwilling to use these budget slow 10-11" toys. Well, I recently found a piece of Chromebook hardware I actually like. The HP x360 Chromebook has USB-C charging, a 14" screen, and a decent enough Intel processor to feel like a real laptop (at least in chrome).

Update:  I've been able to mitigate these issues, by swapping the Control and Alt keys in Chromebook configuration. As a side effect, this produces PC-like cut-copy-paste physical motion, instead of Mac-like. That's fine for me, but YMMV. 

However, beyond trivial browsing, I find it virtually unusable, because I keep instinctually hitting alt-left to go to beginning of line (because that's how it is on the Mac), and it keeps doing browser-back and eating my typing into web pages. It's happened three times tonight already.

I want to throw this thing into the wall so hard it will break into a zillion pieces so it will never steal any of my work ever again. The only thing stopping me is the motivation to write this post so I can make sure it never eats any of your work.

Apparently google has decided to map browser-back to alt-left and beginning-of-line to search-left, and there is no way to remap them, because, well, i have no idea. People hack around Chromebook keymap issues with custom keyboards and extensions, but it's not possible to remap this, because it's not a key, it's a key-sequence that chrome interprets. I could swap the alt and search keys entirely, but then anytime i pressed alt I would get search, which seems even worse.

The irony is.. I don't want a browser-back shortcut at all. I always disable it on windows and mac laptops. I can handle actually clicking on the browser back button when I want to use it.

If you are a fast typist, and you are used to using Command-Left on the Mac, consider seriously whether you will be able to control yourself before you buy a chromebook.