Why a Chromebook? Why not a Windows PC?

I’ve spent some quality time with my new Chromebook this weekend and I’m still having a ton of fun with it. During that time I’ve also been thinking about why I was fascinated with a chromeOS device and never once considered a Windows PC. Although I am an avid Linux enthusiast, that has nothing to do with why I will never consider a Windows PC. The reality is that Windows is just awful.

Update issues

All of my kids use Windows PCs due to a school requirement and it is a constant problem. It runs fine on the hardware and apps open fine, but it feels like we are always fighting with it. Updates constantly revert settings and installs more MIcrosoft bloatware. A recent update removed all of the icons I placed in the taskbar so my kids can easily find the apps they need for school.

I have another child who has an update that is stuck and not only can I not figure out how to fix it, but it won’t install any updates unless this one is done. So, I’m going to have to reinstall Windows to fix it.

Then, my third grader is on hardware that is not supported by Windows 11 and I honestly don’t know what we are going to do. We might actually stay on unsupported Windows 10 as long as we can because replacing the computer with another Windows PC is just not going to happen. It is astounding I even have to think about throwing away perfectly good hardware just because Microsoft and their OEMs want more money.

Windows being Windows

I’ve also tried to use Windows recently and was constantly frustrated. Let’s be honest, chromeOS and Windows are more similar than they are different. The Linux environment in chromeOS is essentially WSL. Windows also has the ability to install Android apps. Hell, they even have useless A.I.. Windows has Copilot and chromeOS has Gemini. Any work you can do on a Chromebook you can easily do on a Windows PC.

The problem is Microsoft has gone too far with their bullshit. There is an endless amount of annoyances that have to be fixed before calling it a productive desktop. The Edge browser is unusable due to its overbearing built-in nonsense. This doesn’t even include Recall now rolling out.

Regardless of application support, there is no way I could use a Windows PC. I would literally choose to use anything else and if left with no choice, I wouldn’t use a computer. There are too many problems. Too many annoyances. Too much Microsoft bullshit.

I get that Google has many, many issues and using chromeOS has its own list of annoyances. But, using chromeOS I don’t feel like I’m fighting my computer just to do basic tasks.

This isn’t a hardware issue. There are plenty of small Windows laptops and there is even ARM-based options with an updated Snapdragon processor that is undeniably better than the Snapdragon 7 in this Chromebook I’m writing on now. But it would still run Windows and that is the biggest issue.

I can’t see ever using a Windows PC ever again.

- - - - -

Did you like this post? Give it an upvote by clicking on the arrows below! Sending me an upvote is like you and I giving each other a high five.

🙏 😎

If you enjoy the random stuff I write here, post to Mastodon, or watch on YouTube, and are feeling generous, I am open to tips of Ko-fi.