# Chrome OS **URL:** \ **Category:** Garrulous Geeks\ **Created:** [February 27, 2020, 12:26am UTC](https://bbad.com/t/chrome-os/944 "2020-02-27T00:26:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Reg](https://bbad.com/user_avatar/bbad.com/reg/32/6053_2.png) [@Reg](https://bbad.com/u/Reg)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2020, 5:11am UTC](https://bbad.com/t/chrome-os/944/43 "2020-06-05T05:11:21Z")
Mark you can make one of those boot USBs for free if you already have a bootable USB drive lying around, which almost everyone does these days. [https://linuxhint.com/install\_linux\_mint\_19/](https://linuxhint.com/install_linux_mint_19/) Mint is a great distribution but they’re all good these days. ---
**Author:** ![Reg](https://bbad.com/user_avatar/bbad.com/reg/32/6053_2.png) [@Reg](https://bbad.com/u/Reg)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2020, 4:40am UTC](https://bbad.com/t/chrome-os/944/44 "2020-06-19T04:40:01Z")
Well, this could be a game changer. Only Enterprise clients for now, but that could broaden. > **[Google is bringing Microsoft Office and other Windows apps to Chromebooks](https://www.theverge.com/2020/6/16/21293180/google-chrome-os-microsoft-office-windows-desktop-apps-support-parallels?fbclid=IwAR08lV86eFhaWvpmI7Wwxi2kxMaZXDQC7Ofg-bcTQ0nbt45f7ovnTcOfJdQ)** > > Google has partnered with Parallels for Windows apps on Chrome OS. ---
**Author:** ![DthBreath](https://bbad.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@DthBreath](https://bbad.com/u/DthBreath)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2020, 6:34am UTC](https://bbad.com/t/chrome-os/944/45 "2020-07-04T06:34:32Z")
That seems easier to use and learn. I’m going to hold off buying a book on anything computer related. Right now I can to Tips or Get Help to learn more about windows. I can also go to HP Documentation from the start menu or search box and go through the full hardware, networking, security, even work with the BIOS. Hopefully my brain will start functioning again with some retention. I have an old hardware book I can go through and a DOS book… This computer apparently comes with some Linux and FreeDOS products versions as well as Windows. It is a start. Office would be next. Studying other things right now atm (not asychronous transfer mode). Can’t afford to learn what will be eventually useless to me. ---
**Author:** ![DthBreath](https://bbad.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@DthBreath](https://bbad.com/u/DthBreath)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2020, 6:38am UTC](https://bbad.com/t/chrome-os/944/46 "2020-07-04T06:38:07Z")
If you were hiring Reg maybe I could test out for an A+ and Network+ certification and whatever you decide to use cisco, linux, etc. Still have books for and MCSE I could never get around to complete. My brain is like one of those black sand ashtrays sometimes. Really burnt out by tech. ---
**Author:** ![Reg](https://bbad.com/user_avatar/bbad.com/reg/32/6053_2.png) [@Reg](https://bbad.com/u/Reg)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2020, 6:57am UTC](https://bbad.com/t/chrome-os/944/47 "2020-07-04T06:57:50Z")
Mark, I’ve gone serverless. I use AWS Lambda. I don’t plan to touch hardware again professionally. ---
**Author:** ![Reg](https://bbad.com/user_avatar/bbad.com/reg/32/6053_2.png) [@Reg](https://bbad.com/u/Reg)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2020, 1:53am UTC](https://bbad.com/t/chrome-os/944/48 "2020-10-09T01:53:08Z")
_Some guy asked in a FB group what Windows can do that Chromebooks can’t. I typed a comment that grew and grew and grew. I think I’ll repost it here to refer to if I ever need it later. I wouldn’t bother reading this post unless you’re really interested in Chromebooks vs Windows._ # What can Windows do that Chromebooks can’t? Chromebooks will not: - Work with most printers/scanners. Check if your printer/scanner is on the approved list. Ignore all the people who will tell you “but my printer works fine” and check if YOUR printer will work fine. - Run any Windows software. This includes the native version of MS Office, and “How can I install MS Office?” remains the most common question I see in the Chromebook groups. The correct answer is, “you can’t”. The Android and web versions of MS Office are severely limited compared to the native Windows version. Some Office clones like LibreOffice and OpenOffice will run under Linux and that works for some people. GSuite is also pretty good although not as full featured. It might even be theoretically possible to run MS Office from a command line using Wine under a Linux subsystem although I’ve never heard of anyone doing that successfully and it’d be incredibly complex and slow as hell given the two extra layers of virtualization. - Edit PDFs natively. Yes there are some web apps that can edit PDFs. None of them have met my needs. If you need Adobe Acrobat, you need Windows or Mac. - Run Dropbox or OneDrive the way you do on Windows so the files are available from any program. You CAN run their Android apps (and I do) but most of the time when you need to use a file, you’ll have to go through the extra steps of downloading it, using it, then re-uploading it. The seamless Windows workflow of editing an offline file and having your changes instantly replicated across all your computers is not possible with Chromebooks. - Play most computer games. I’m not a gamer. I don’t care, myself. - Run any little utilities that you might use, from ham radio apps to scientific apps for school to scheduling utilities for work. These generally only work on Windows. Some of these might possibly work if you install Linux on your Chromebook and then install Wine to your Linux subsystem and then try to load the Windows app using Wine from a Linux command line but that’s a lot of work to get a tiny app to run. - Run alternate browsers to Chrome. Yes, you can load Linux and run Firefox or Opera under that, but it’s an extra layer of virtualization on already-slower hardware. Generally speaking, if you want access to Firefox/Opera/Brave/whatever, stick to Windows. - Use high end graphics or video editing software. There are some good online alternatives but they don’t come close to matching the functionality of the high end native apps. Some Linux alternatives are available but generally, high-end graphics and video are a Windows/Mac game and we’re back to that extra layer of virtualization anyway. For most people (including me), the web apps are fine. - Rename your Bluetooth devices. This is not an issue for most people. If you have several duplicate bluetooth devices in different locations (such as the same model speaker in two or three rooms), it’s a pain to figure out which is which if you can’t rename them. - Work with most third party hardware, from 3d printers to many webcams to label printers to home automation hardware to CD/DVD burners. Again, ignore people who say “but my (blank) works fine with my Chromebook” and check if YOUR (blank) works fine with Chromebooks. Most don’t. Chromebooks will: - Update quickly. - Remove any need for antivirus or security software. - Boot quickly. - Restore easily to a new computer if your hardware dies or gets stolen. - Easily be locked remotely if your laptop gets lost or stolen. - Force you to be disciplined about keeping everything in the cloud. - Run Android apps. - Last longer on a charge (although the new Windows ARM laptops are as good). - Usually charge via USB-C which can make for one less charger to carry. - Generally be less expensive than Windows laptops. ---
**Author:** ![DthBreath](https://bbad.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@DthBreath](https://bbad.com/u/DthBreath)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2020, 11:33pm UTC](https://bbad.com/t/chrome-os/944/49 "2020-10-10T23:33:32Z")
Still can’t train my iPhone not to take pictures sideways. ---
**Author:** ![DthBreath](https://bbad.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@DthBreath](https://bbad.com/u/DthBreath)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2020, 7:10pm UTC](https://bbad.com/t/chrome-os/944/50 "2020-12-16T19:10:28Z")
Im going to be enrolling in an online microsfot course for a certification. It’s kind of like a gift hopefully what I have already with office 365 is all I need. ---
**Author:** ![AgeofGrace](https://bbad.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/c2a13f/32.png) [@AgeofGrace](https://bbad.com/u/AgeofGrace)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2020, 11:07am UTC](https://bbad.com/t/chrome-os/944/51 "2020-12-17T11:07:24Z")
> [@DthBreath](#): > > Im going to be enrolling in an online microsfot course for a certification. Looking to get a job working for Bill Gates? > [@DthBreath](#): > > Still can’t train my iPhone not to take pictures sideways. Is your phone an android? Oh nevermind. You said (I)phone lol ---
**Author:** ![DthBreath](https://bbad.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@DthBreath](https://bbad.com/u/DthBreath)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2020, 6:07pm UTC](https://bbad.com/t/chrome-os/944/52 "2020-12-17T18:07:11Z")
No to you. ---
**Author:** ![DthBreath](https://bbad.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@DthBreath](https://bbad.com/u/DthBreath)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2020, 11:35pm UTC](https://bbad.com/t/chrome-os/944/53 "2020-12-17T23:35:12Z")
> [@AgeofGrace](#): > > Looking to get a job working for Bill Gates? No this is something of a redemption deal. ---
**Author:** ![AgeofGrace](https://bbad.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/c2a13f/32.png) [@AgeofGrace](https://bbad.com/u/AgeofGrace)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2020, 11:00am UTC](https://bbad.com/t/chrome-os/944/55 "2020-12-22T11:00:59Z")
> [@DthBreath](#): > > No this is something of a redemption deal. Good luck. I hope they don’t say no to you. ---
**Author:** ![DthBreath](https://bbad.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@DthBreath](https://bbad.com/u/DthBreath)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2020, 6:56pm UTC](https://bbad.com/t/chrome-os/944/56 "2020-12-22T18:56:56Z")
This is just an online cert course for office someone is planning on gifting me with. I had enrolled in some cert courses decades ago but never completed them fully. ---
**Author:** ![Reg](https://bbad.com/user_avatar/bbad.com/reg/32/6053_2.png) [@Reg](https://bbad.com/u/Reg)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2020, 9:00pm UTC](https://bbad.com/t/chrome-os/944/57 "2020-12-31T21:00:26Z")
I finally got my desktop set up. Off the Chromebook for the first time in a week. This is vastly better. A real screen and keyboard. And it’s fast. The Chromebook is good to have but Windows is my mainstay. ---
**Author:** ![DthBreath](https://bbad.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@DthBreath](https://bbad.com/u/DthBreath)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2021, 3:22am UTC](https://bbad.com/t/chrome-os/944/58 "2021-01-01T03:22:15Z")
Sorry can’t hear you over my Nintendo Switch Lite. ---
**Author:** ![AgeofGrace](https://bbad.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/c2a13f/32.png) [@AgeofGrace](https://bbad.com/u/AgeofGrace)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2021, 12:49pm UTC](https://bbad.com/t/chrome-os/944/59 "2021-01-01T12:49:13Z")
> [@Reg](#): > > I finally got my desktop set up. Off the Chromebook for the first time in a week. Congratulations. I know you’ve been busy working hard to get everything set up since you made it back home. Happy New Year, Reg. ---
**Author:** ![Reg](https://bbad.com/user_avatar/bbad.com/reg/32/6053_2.png) [@Reg](https://bbad.com/u/Reg)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2021, 12:50pm UTC](https://bbad.com/t/chrome-os/944/60 "2021-01-01T12:50:34Z")
Happy New Year, Michele! May this year be better than the last one for both of us. ---
**Author:** ![AgeofGrace](https://bbad.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/c2a13f/32.png) [@AgeofGrace](https://bbad.com/u/AgeofGrace)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2021, 1:25pm UTC](https://bbad.com/t/chrome-os/944/61 "2021-01-01T13:25:53Z")
Can it be worse? ---
**Author:** ![thinkingaboutit](https://bbad.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@thinkingaboutit](https://bbad.com/u/thinkingaboutit)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2021, 1:39pm UTC](https://bbad.com/t/chrome-os/944/62 "2021-01-01T13:39:59Z")
> [@AgeofGrace](#): > > Can it be worse? yes ---
**Author:** ![AgeofGrace](https://bbad.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/c2a13f/32.png) [@AgeofGrace](https://bbad.com/u/AgeofGrace)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2021, 1:41pm UTC](https://bbad.com/t/chrome-os/944/63 "2021-01-01T13:41:39Z")
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