Is a Chromebox Coming Your Way?

This sounds like a grand idea. I am at the point in my life (85) where I need to do personal and family things on the computer, and use it for some reading and recreation, and use it as a source of family entertainment such as movies and documentaries.

HOWEVER...I found the abrupt way Chrome 'enhanced' its bookmark functions very disturbing. I had my bookmarks organized to meet my needs, and could readjust as needed. Then a new version appeared. That version is not intuitive. I was able to revert to the former layout for my current bookmarks (although how long that will last I do not know) -- but new bookmarks do not always appear where I think I have assigned them. There are bookmarks I have created that I can only access from the bookmark manager. Those problem bookmarks are listed as being in the file I assigned for them, but they do not show up when I list the contents of the file.

For this reason, I'm not ready to look at a Chromebox as my primary internet tool. In fact, I'm already thinking of switching my browser back to Firefox or waiting for Edge to come out.

Do I really want another OS? The simple answer is NO!
Windows 8.1 works with a 'classic front end' which makes it almost the same as 7.
I have used linux and Ubuntu was 'almost' the same for browsing and other basic stuff.
I use an android tablet for ebooks and checking email/browsing BUT it is nowhere near as functional as 7 or linux.
If a chromebox is similar to android AND needs constant connection to the internet it would be a nightmare for me.
As for size - I have a zotac ZBOX used for basic functions on and off the net and it's only 5"x5"x2" and was a similar price including 8.1 and a 500GB drive (OK on offer at amazon but...)
All in all a ChromeBox seems more trouble than it's worth before thinking about bang for buck.

Won't work for me. I have too many applications that require Windows and must reside on my local machine. In addition I have to store a lot of related modified data. while I use a heavily protected web backup system the computing I do must be done locally. Given the privacy requirements I must meet in my work I don't see the "cloud" as a viable option. I would be held responsible by law even for a "cloud" security lapse or breach over which I had no control.

My biggest problem with Chromebook/Chromebox is peripherals. Other than printers that are designed for Google Cloud Print, you can't hook your local printer to them. Connecting any existing scanner you might have to them is currently impossible. (There are test versions of the Chrome system that are trying to attach SANE [Scanner Access Now Easy] scanners, but so far not much luck.) I've even read about many wireless keyboards and wireless mice that won't work on Chrome devices. Until Chrome gets its act together with peripherals, I'm not ready for Chrome.

I use the Internet for e-mail and Facebook. I also use MSWord documents and MSExcel 2010 for mailing lists, both of which I transmit by email to others. I also scan in music, news paper articles, etc. which I transmit via e-mail to others.

I have Windows, having been forewarned against Windows 8. Windows 7 will be automatically updated for many years in the future. Since I am so submersed in MS, I doubt that I would like to learn a whole new program, such as ChromeBox. Time will tell whether I'll stay with Windows 7 or transition to Windows 10.

It seems that all these new programs are designed only as money makers, not customer convenience.

The Chrome Browser gets infected with malware. What makes you think that the Chrome OS is immune to malware? Any software and all hardware is subject to study and with time WILL get infected with all sorts of malware. Yes both the hardware and software will get infected. If the devices in secure government telephones can get intrusions then the Chromebox will have a similar fate. Only fools and dreamers can think otherwise.

Not really comfortable with the cloud so Chrome is out for now. Like what I hear so far about Windows 10 and will wait to hear how that's working out. If that's a bust will look more seriously into Linux.

Why bother with Chromebox? Refurbished Lenovo, HP and Dell compact desktops are widely available now, with Windows 7 pre-installed, for less than $150. So do we really need to get caught up in Google's tentacles?

These compacts come with dual core processors, memory expansion capability, PCIE and PCI expansion slots and lots of USB ports. With these babies, you can run most of your older and current Windows apps - and still have the flexibility to work the "cloud", if you so desire.

EDITOR'S NOTE: There is no option without tentacles.

I think Dell shot themselves in the foot by not providing an HDMI port....

I am already using linux mint 17.

I cannot find a workable solution for extracting compressed files using the Chrome OS. My wife is blind and listens to books downloaded from the Library of Congress as zipped files, which are then extracted to a special USB cartridge and played in a special player. The extension to Google Chrome browser might work for small files but not for large files made up of many parts. Perhaps a way will be developed that is effective as the ones used in Linux and Windows.

We just bought a new PC, and as usual, have had nothing but trouble with it in the less than 2 months we have owned it. If this article had appeared 3 months ago, we probably would have gotten a ChromeBOX instead.

The day google takes over all the internet and computers will be the day I will no longer have one.There is nothing it can do that a regular good computer can and I don't need the cloud at all.I want mine where I can see it,dump it,or just fill the hard drive to the limit.Thank you,but no thanks.

As usual, it's different strokes for different folks. The same sort who can live with the limitations of a tablet will probably find Chromebooks/boxes just fine for them. These things just seem to have too many limitations to be useful for a "content creator" like myself. Yes, Google Drive is a nice thing when collaborating with multiple "creators" as I do for our business documents, but the "extras" one gets with a standard Windows PC are a must for us.

Plus none of my MMORPGs work on anything but Windows, or Mac (and maybe Linux).

Add to that the lack of wi-fi connections (especially dependable and/or secure ones) most places I go and ChromeWhatever is a dud.

Maybe someday...