TLDR;
Linus and David go back-to-school shopping for Chromebooks, driven by Linus's daughter's need for one and a general curiosity about the current state of these devices. They explore retail options, purchase the Asus CX34 and HP X360, and compare their features, performance, and overall value. The video also touches on the broader Chromebook market, Google's Chrome OS Flex, and the implications of Steam ending support for Chrome OS.
- Linus and David purchase Chromebooks for back-to-school.
- They compare the features and performance of the Asus CX34 and HP X360.
- The video discusses the current state and future of the Chromebook market.
We need Chromebooks 🙁 [0:00]
Linus is prompted to buy a Chromebook because his daughter wants one like her peers. He acknowledges that Chromebooks have evolved and hopes they've improved since he last considered them. David mentions the wide range of Chromebooks available at various price points. They plan to go back-to-school shopping to find suitable devices, with Linus setting a target price range of £300 to £400 Canadian.
How is retail these days? [1:12]
Linus outlines his criteria for a Chromebook, including meeting the school's minimum specifications and his own preferences for build quality, performance, and battery life. He reminds viewers that the prices are in Canadian dollars and discloses his investment in Framework, a laptop manufacturer. They examine available models, noting the absence of a desired Asus CX34 on display. Linus expresses a preference for a touchscreen, while David highlights the Lenovo Slim 3's touchscreen but raises concerns about its MediaTek processor and the bilingual Canadian keyboard layout.
We bought THESE Chromebooks [7:00]
David acquired the Asus CX34 for $399 Canadian, while Linus purchased the HP X360 for $599. Linus acknowledges that spending this much on a Chromebook feels excessive, especially when refurbished MacBooks are available. He justifies his purchase by noting that Google guarantees 10 years of updates on Chromebooks from the release of a new model. They unbox the Chromebooks, examining their build quality and features.
Testing them out [11:14]
Linus and David begin testing the Chromebooks, starting with a web browser benchmark to assess performance. They compare the loading speeds and note that both are adequate for browsing. They then evaluate the speakers, with Linus bringing in DMS for a blind test. DMS prefers the speakers on the Asus Chromebook. Linus also observes that the Asus has better black levels due to its screen.
How do they Perform? [15:00]
The video assesses the performance of the Chromebooks using Speedometer 3.1, a browser performance test. David's Asus Chromebook, with a theoretically better chip, performs faster, scoring 21.2 compared to Linus's HP Chromebook at 13.7. However, they question whether this difference would be noticeable in typical browser use. The discussion shifts to gaming, noting that Steam for Chrome OS will stop receiving updates next year, which is a setback for Linux gaming on Chromebooks.
How did we do? [16:45]
Linus expresses that Chromebooks are in a weird spot, as Google has tried multiple times to upmarket these things, but they've remained pretty stagnant both in terms of performance and in terms of public perception. Despite rumours, Linus doesn't think they're going away altogether. David introduces Chrome OS Flex, which allows users to install Chrome OS on Windows and Mac laptops. They encourage viewers to share their thoughts on their Chromebook picks and experiences with Chrome OS Flex in the comments.