Windows is coming to your...Chromebook?

Off-Topic
1

It appears that Google will soon let you run Windows 10 on a high-end Chromebook. Here is an article from ZDNet in the 28th of Dec 2018:

Windows is coming to your Chromebook

2

[quote=419636:@Eugene Dakin]It appears that Google will soon let you run Windows 10 on a high-end Chromebook. Here is an article from ZDNet in the 28th of Dec 2018:

Windows is coming to your Chromebook[/quote]

most Chromebooks wont be able to run it. Just the really hugh end ones. And their costs is not far from a regular laptop prices.

3

Never understood why people chose a Chromebook at all. Low end laptops are cheap nowadays and can run Linux or even Windows 10

4

Chrome is a linux distrib :wink:

5

One potential viable use case is kiosk machines which are single purposed to a specific (starting) URL. Think of a trade show where you want several machines available, with minimal care / configuration / updates / etc. With cheap Chromebooks, you can:

  • Pre-configure a wifi connection to your own hot spot or other access point configuration
  • Configure to start in a kiosk mode locked to the starting URL of your choice
  • At shows, pull out of shipping cases, plug in, flip open the cover, and literally have it active by the time you can attach lock cable
  • Some models also have touch sensitive screens, allowing users to just touch screen in lieu of trackpad or mouse
  • At end, just close cover, remove lock cable, and stash back in shipping crates. VERY fast tear-down (and setup).

There are basically no maintenance tasks, very little concern over malware (kiosk mode restricts URL access too), minimal OS updates (though Chrome OS does check for updates on startup), and they are not that much of a theft target. Also not much of a loss if one is stolen or damaged.

But I agree, a Chromebook is not a good replacement for general purpose computing or users.

6

I get people all the time wondering why my Windows version doesn’t run on their crummy Chromebook. Besides the OS incompatibility, most have pitiful storage and memory. 16GB SSD and 2GB isn’t going to get you very far.

Which I know is the point. It’s designed to run only Chrome. But it isn’t a Windows replacement.

7

OFF: I get people all the time wondering why my Mac version doesn’t run on their crummy iPad.