I have been so frustrated with Chrome in Windows 8.1 since the update to the most recent 8.1. Chrome has frozen and crashed multiple times. And when it crashes Internet Explorer and Windows File Explorer stop working too. Windows just freezes up. Since I like Android so much, I thought I would like Chrome OS as my computer.
After failed attempts to put Chrome on a USB drive to boot on my computer, I decided to try a Chromebox and not a Chromebook. I gave my computer multiple chances to act right until I was pushed to try Chrome OS so I bought an Asus Chromebox through Best Buy online.
Before I received the new computer, I tried to complete different tasks through my Chrome browser on my desktop. I found the first problem that Chrome could not use my scanner on my printer. There are two go around ways of getting it done. The first is scanning from the AIO HP app from my phone. The second is using an USB drive to scan to from the printer. Using the IP address for my HP 8600 printer is not an option as the firmware needs to be updated to allow to save the scan.
The next failure of Chrome OS is actually a failure of Google Cloud Print as it doesn't allow you to print envelopes. I found this out before I received my Chromebox also. There is an app in the Chrome Store for creating envelopes, but it doesn't solve the paper handling of the printer. My HP 8600 would not print out the envelopes as it gave a message of wrong paper in the tray. I could print from Chrome through Google Drive on my computer if I did not use Google Cloud Print and used the driver installed on the computer. Chrome OS doesn't have drivers, so this is another fail from Google OS.
Those are just 2 functions that did not work that would not be important to most users. I am a small home based business user, so it is important to me. There were other issues too.
I used my Samsung AIO computer as the monitor for the Chromebox. It looked cool and I was able to access my computer through Chrome Remote Desktop at the same time which was cool. The problem came when using the browser, an additional microphone is needed to use Google Voice Search as there is no output for touch, microphone or webcam from my Samsung AIO computer. I found that there are other touchscreen monitors, but none within a reasonable price range included a microphone and webcam.
The Chromebox started very fast and had an update that required to restart the computer. It didn't show the annoying message like on Windows computer that it must be restarted. It restarted instantly though and was ready to go.
What was also very fast was the connection with my Chromcast. According to the Google representative in Best Buy, most Chromebooks are not able to use Chromcast. I thought this is messed up since it was all Google products. The Chromebox has the same processor and memory as most Chromebooks, and it ran a faster smother connection to Chromecast as my Samsung AIO. Myth busted. Lol
The last area of despair was with the interface with my Logitech mouse and keyboard. I turned up the speed to the max in Chrome OS, but it still appeared to be a bit laggy. The keyboard was equally laggy and was a huge disappointment. I wonder if it would have been better using the Asus Chromebox mouse and keyboard that is sold separately.
In conclusion, to make a Chromebox to be close to as useful as an AIO Windows based computer, it will cost about as much as the Windows based AIO. Chromebooks are perfect for those who need a laptop, but unfortunately are not as good as many Samsung tablets. I do feel Chrome OS has a place for those who want to avoid virus infection to their computer and don't care for touchscreen interface. It is a lower cost computer that has restrictions, but would be a better alternative to purchasing a new lower end Windows based computer.
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