• @[email protected]
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    229 months ago

    I would definitely get a Chromebook, but only once you can change the default browser from Chrome without needing to do any weird workarounds like Android apps

    • @[email protected]
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      199 months ago

      As someone who has owned a Chromebook for several years, I can tell you that you shouldn’t. Hardware wise it’s hard to beat Chromebooks at their price points, but the complete lack of control over the system is a deal breaker. I don’t have time to list all of the issues I’ve had. In many cases what would have been trivial fixes on a normal Linux system required full reinstalls on chromeOS. Like the time I accidentally filled up the fairly modest system storage. The system refused to allow me to delete anything, requiring a reset just to get local file management abilities back.

      I ultimately ended up installing full Linux on it, which ended up being a whole other ordeal due to all of Google’s “security” features.

        • @[email protected]
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          39 months ago

          There are 2 ways to do it, either via depthboot(software only, no custom firmware, lots of manual OS prep, 0 risk) or custom firmware(maybe physical, model dependant, no os prep, small risk). For custom firmware you usually have to either bridge an internal jumper, unplug the battery, or build a custom cable, depending on your model.

          While it is allowed it’s not supported by google.

          I would never recommend buying a Chromebook with the intention of replacing the OS unless you’re looking for a project or you’re getting it for cheap.

          • @[email protected]
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            49 months ago

            TLDR it’s harder to replace the OS on a Chromebook than a Mac, and you get none of the benefits of Mac hardware.

    • @ScreaminOctopus
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      169 months ago

      It kinda crazy you can’t do this, wasn’t Microsoft forced to let you change default browsers in an antitrust suit?

      • @[email protected]
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        119 months ago

        Its okay, once Microsoft introduces EdgeOS, they can claim that Edge is an integral part of the OS, and therefore cannot be removed.

        …oh wait, that’s just Windows 10 onwards