Tell HN: Chromebook (Chrome OS) Is the Best OS for Browsing the Web

[ThrowITout4321]

I know I'm late (way late) to the party but I just bought a very cheap Chromebbook and it beats both of my Windows and mac book i7 machines when browsing the web.

Both my i7s are fast but when browsing the web there's always a period of time when things slow to a crawl when web browsing or the never ending updates that tie them up at some very inopportune times.

I was surprised how smooth and hassle free it is. I use an ad blocker. I will still need my 2 i7s for work but I'm sold. If I'm browsing the web to relax I'm using a Chromebook from now on.

I know most people think of them as less than great but both windows and OSX have gotten so blotted that it slows down even the fastest CPU. Google has done a great job at optimizing the code to work well with low end CPUs. Both Apple and Microsoft should learn from it and create a web only OS.

[PraetorianGourd]

I can only speak for myself, but for me they are devices in search of a purpose. If I'm passively browsing, my phone covers that. If I need to do active work, then I use my laptop. For me, I don't have a need for the small overlap in the Venn diagram.

I think they make great sense in the edu market and other similar scenarios.

[MBCook]

Have you tried an M1 based Mac? That’s also a different world from an i7 powered one.

[daviddever23box]

<^> this <^>

Underneath the hype, a Chromebook is still a Linux-powered laptop OS atop whatever reasonably-capable hardware platform one throws at it.

[mutant]

how so? genuine question

[sqwrell]

try Linux Mint with Chrome or Bravo browser on any old laptop with an SSD and it's golden!

[easytiger]

And you failed to consider the option of linux on a laptop.

[schwartzworld]

Chromebooks can run linux. I learned development on a Chromebook running Ubuntu. It's great being able to switch between the lightweight ChromeOS for browsing, videos and cloud stuff and Ubuntu for actual development.