Tag Archives: ChromeOS

[Editorial] Daily Driving the Chromebook Part 3: The Entertainment Powerhouse

May 27, 2022 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

The last round of this editorial series we explored the working capabilities of the Chromebook. We also compared it a little bit to Android tablets to find that the Chrome OS is plenty robust as a tablet as well. There are some workarounds that we must get to while working with the Chrome OS remotely and even at home. But all is good, we are happy with it so far and it looks like we can live with it at work.

There is an area where the Chrome OS lost out to both Apple’s MacOS and Microsoft’s Windows though. That area is gaming with the Chromebook. There is also a good reason we skipped entire weeks of the series. Steam has gone Alpha for Chrome OS. The bad news there is that not every Chromebook can support it. The good news is that the one we have, the Acer Chromebook Spin 713, can. So, we went on to try it out.

Android Games on Chrome OS

Before we get to Steam, we do want to explore the native gaming capabilities of Chrome OS. There is no better way to do it other than through the Google Play Store, obviously. To be fair, while we did want to try the likes of PUBG Mobile or Mobile Legends Bang Bang, we only managed to download and install Pokémon Unite.

At first it is a little odd, seeing a mobile game in a display that is many times the size of your smartphone. Playing it on a tablet is already a stretch, full screen on a laptop display is a whole other level. In this case we have a great 13.5-inch IPS display with a little over 2K resolutions on tap.

The game looks vibrant and beautiful on the display with so many colours on offer. You can see that the game is not really meant to be on such a large display though with some pixels popping up. Still, the game is rather pretty on the laptop.

The game is also made optimised for touch screens though, which also means you are also going to be using the touch screen control like you would on smartphones or tablets. Except, this thing weighs quite a lot more than a tablet, which also makes it a little unwieldy to play handheld. We put it on a table and turned it to a sort of tent, and off we go.

Playing Android games on the Chrome OS is not perfect though. Most of the time, games developed for smartphones are optimised for a smartphone or tablet’s SoC. In this case, because the main hardware is a little different, the experience can be different. While Pokémon Unite works smoothly, and can be enjoyable for short periods of time, other games may not launch or might not even run properly. We ran into a problem trying to launch Pokémon Unite the first few times we tried running it. The issue resolved itself somehow and we got solid sessions out of it.

Steam on Chrome OS? Really?

Steam on Chrome OS is something that has been dreamt of for a while now. Ever since Chrome OS gotten mainstream, many have asked the question on whether Chrome OS can even be a proper gaming machine. Most of them packs good enough hardware to at least run non-triple AAA titles, so why not?

The problem was, Steam was never available on Chrome OS before. Steam can run on most Linux interfaces though, with some tweaks. Even the upcoming Steam Deck is running on a version of Linux operating system. So why not on Chrome OS?

The problem is more complex than it looks. You technically can port Steam to Chrome OS. You can also try running Windows games on the Chrome OS. But you are going to have to compromise on the experience.

Before Steam was officially on Chrome OS (as we said, it is now on Alpha), the only workaround we saw to proper gaming with Steam on Chrome OS is to work with Steam Link. In that sense, you can technically play your PlayStation games on the Chrome OS with PlayStation’s Remote Play too. If not, the other alternative is cloud gaming, which we did not bother with. We did not try the PlayStation Remote Play too.

We tried Steam Link with the Chrome OS though. We figured out how to hook up our PlayStation DualShock 4 controller to the Chromebook via Bluetooth. We installed Steam Link from Google Play Store and we started gaming.

First, Steam Link

As mentioned, Steam Link is like PlayStation Remote Play. You need to have a Steam account, a gaming PC with Steam running, the Steam Link app from Google Play Store, a good and stable internet connection, a game controller, and you are good to go. In the case of the Chromebook, you can even use your keyboard as the game input, if you so want.

If you have used Steam Link on your Android smartphone, the experience on the Chrome OS is pretty much similar, albeit with a larger display available. Technically as well, with the Acer Chromebook 713, you get more resolutions to work with. Of course, the sort of resolution you get really depends on your host PC as well. In our case we successfully tested Need for Speed at 1440p resolution.

There is a noticeable black bar, just because of the aspect ratio difference between the host PC and the Chromebook. It does not take away too much from the immersion or the gaming experience from the Chrome OS though. If you have a stable LAN connection on both devices, gaming on the Chromebook feels as natural as gaming on a proper gaming PC. In this case, you can easily pull up titles like GTA V, or Horizon Zero Dawn, use your Chromebook’s keyboard, attach a mouse device and play your games like they should be played.

Then, We Tried Steam

Steam is technically still in its Alpha build for Chrome OS. To install Steam on Chrome OS takes a little bit of tinkering on Chrome OS’s settings itself. It required us to turn set the firmware settings to Developer Mode, which also means while you are getting the latest build of Chrome OS, there is a chance that it may be a little unstable.

With a guide, the process is not too difficult as well, should be easy and quick enough to follow even for beginners. Still, you still want to be cautious to ensure you do not brick your device. As with anything that is experimental and in their Alpha builds, you want to take some caution.

Once you get into the installation window though, the installation process feels and looks pretty much like you get on a regular PC. Even the Steam interface is exactly what you get on a PC, so you should be quite familiar with it. Of course, the difference is that you must start thinking about how much games you can install in the smaller storage space that the Chromebook has. In this case as well, we did not bother installing games like GTA V, because while the Chromebook might be able to run the game with little issues, you might not get a very good experience out of it. We stuck to Two Point Hospital, Undertale, and This War of Mine.

Two Point Hospital launched, but it took a rather long time to do so. It also froze in the loading screen before it even gets to the main menu. After a while, it just crashed together with Steam.

Then we tried Undertale which launched quickly. We could not get the window to resize or get it to post full screen to take advantage of the vast display of the Chromebook 713. The miniscule window means that we might not be able to enjoy the game very much, so we quit.

This Was of Mine took a little longer to launch than Undertale. It works in the most part, but it did not offer very high FPS count. Graphics look good though, but because we tried to put the game to full screen, it got confused a little and the windowing messed up and we could not accurately click anything to play the game. It was bad, but there is potential to make the device enjoyable.

The Other Stuff

Apart from gaming, the display is good for other stuff too. You can easily enjoy a good movie from Netflix or Amazon Prime Video if you so want to. You have the resolution, might as well put it to good use somewhere. At the same time, because they use clear glass on the display, colours pop and look rather vibrant.

To be fair, it does not really matter what Chromebook you get, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and even Disney+ apps will easily work on them. If you prefer the web experience, just pop open Google Chrome and get to the said portals and you are good to go. The limitations are mostly on the hardware end, so it really depends on which Chromebook you got.

For the Acer Chromebook Spin 713, while the display is gorgeous, the speaker experience is not the best. The dual speakers sound very tiny and unimpressive at all. We had to connect our Bluetooth speakers to it just to get a decent sound performance. That, or we resorted to using headphones. Since it is so similar to Android, you can even connect your wireless headphones and work with the accompanying smartphone app with it. The Sony headphones app is a good example of that.

So, is Chrome OS a Valid Gaming Platform Now?

While Steam Link ran nicely on the Google Chromebook, Steam itself is still a little choppy. Certain games might not launch at your first try. Some games will refuse to launch at all until you restart your Chromebook. Some of them launches, but never got anywhere past the loading screen. Their FPS count was rather low too when they launch (except for Undertale). In short, there is still a lot to do for the Chrome OS to be a gaming contender.

More on Part 4

We have covered the working and gaming aspects of the Chrome OS. So far, while we question the gaming aspect of it, we are sold with using the Chrome OS as an entertainment platform, especially when it comes to streaming contents. 4K contents, while a little over the top, shines on the display of this Chromebook. Yes, the speakers are not great, but that is a simple fix.

We are quite sold with it being our primary remote working platform too. If you have read our part 2 of the editorial series, you would find that there are plenty of features on Chrome OS that could benefit a remote working environment. Phone Hub, while is not the most comprehensive phone companion app on a computing device, works well enough that it is currently, in our books anyway, the best Android companion app you can find today. The simplicity in its approach is also key to why we like it so much.

In the next part of the editorial, we are wrapping up our entire month of experience with the Chromebook and the Chrome OS. We will tell you if the Chrome OS is worth a daily drive or not, in our books anyway. We will also break down things we like about the Chrome OS and things we do not like so much with the platform.

In this case, stay tuned, maybe you might want to consider getting a Chromebook after this too. After all, it is the cheaper alternative compared to most Windows laptops packing the same hardware. In the meantime, let us know what you think about PC gaming on Chrome OS.

Computers, Lifestyle, News

[next@acer 2022] The Chromebook Spin 714 and Chromebook Tab 510 Announced – The Better Chromebook Got Better

May 19, 2022 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

The Chrome OS is seeing a sort of resurgence lately. This has nothing to do with our very own editorials regarding the hardware that is the Chromebook Spin 713 though. It was not entirely because of the whole pandemic situation either that saw the drastic spike in demands for PCs, Macs, and Chromebooks. It was more because the Chrome OS is a genuine choice in the computing world now.

What is there not to like? They are cheaper than their Windows counterparts. Chromebooks comes in all shapes and sizes that are mostly thin and light. They are also very simple to operate with and works well with your smartphone.

Acer’s Chromebook Spin 713 was one of the most premium Chrome OS alternatives that you can find in the market. The convertible also featured a very heavy-duty construction with MIL-STD 810H certification. It is also one of the most powerful Chromebooks you can find in the market currently. So powerful in fact that you can technically play games on it with Steam’s Alpha build. We will be going through that soon.

Of course, when Acer says there is a new one, we are naturally excited. Welcome to the Acer Chromebook Spin 714. To be fair though, there are actually little differences between the new premium Chromebook compared to the older one.

Acer Chromebook Spin 714

Source: Acer
Source: Acer
Source: Acer
Source: Acer
Source: Acer

The Chromebook Spin 714 followed the recipe that was the Chromebook Spin 713. There are small design differences that makes the new one stands out just a little more with some subtlety as well. It is striking yet understated, we like it. Of course, you still see the Chromebook branding that is expected of any Chromebook.

It now comes with a 14-inch display with 100 sRGB colours. The slightly larger display boasts either a WQXGA (2,560 x 1,600) or WUXGA (1,920 by ,1200) resolutions. Instead of the older 3:2 aspect ratio, it is a more regular 16:10 display. The panel is still protected by Corning’s Antimicrobial Gorilla Glass. The glossy finish also helps with clarity and vivid colours of the display.

The webcam that comes with the new Chromebook Spin 714 is not a regular 720p webcam that most Windows PCs come with. Instead, you get a premium Full HD webcam experience with the Chromebook that should be a large improvement over most Windows laptops. At the same time, there are two microphones flanking the webcam for better voice capturing for a much better video conferencing experience.

Of course, the 2022 model of Chromebook packs a modern powerhouse in Intel’s 12^th generation Core processors (up to Core i7) that now takes advantage of the big-small architecture that is made popular in smartphones. It could also mean a huge boost in terms of performance for the Linux based interface. It is also an Intel Evo certified platform, just to make the deal sweeter.

It also packs all the modern gizmos you can ask for in a modern laptop. You get WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, backlit keyboard, DTS Audio, full-sized HDMI port, and two Thunderbolt 4 ports (USB Type-C) for extra versatility. You can even opt for a fingerprint sensor for fast and secure logins.

Acer Chromebook Tab 510

Source: Acer
Source: Acer
Source: Acer
Source: Acer
Source: Acer

While the military standard build of the Chromebook Spin 714 may mean that it’ll survive hard knocks and drops, it may not fit in well in rough environments on the field. It might be a little cumbersome too. That is where you have the Acer Chromebook Tab 510 Chrome OS tablet. You can even opt it with LTE connectivity as well, if you are constantly on the field.

It is a much more compact device with a 10.1-inch IPS display. The panel boats WUXGA (1,920 by 1,200) resolution with 16:10 aspect ratio. It is also protected by Corning’s Antimicrobial Gorilla Glass to not just protect from bacteria and germs, but also from scratches and bumps it might face in the field.

Powering the tablet is a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 Compute Platform system on a chip (SoC). Because it is an SoC with built in modem, you get to opt for an LTE enabled version to keep you going in the field without WiFi. At the same time, the efficiency of the SoC means that the tablet can go on up to 11-hours in continuous use from a single charge. You also get a 5-Megapixel front facing camera and 8-Megapixel rear camera for all kinds of work needs.

The entire tablet is built with durability and ruggedness in mind. It is of course certified with MIL-STD 810H standards. The chassis is built to withstand high impacts. It is reinforced and comes with shock-absorbing corner bumpers just to ensure that it can stand the impact of being dropped from 122cm.

Price and Availability

The Acer Chromebook Spin 714 will be available starting August 2022 at US$ 749.99 onward. There will be an enterprise edition of the Chromebook Spin 714 too available starting August 2022 at US$ 1,099.99. The Acer Chromebook Tab 510 will be available starting July for US$ 399.99.

All the new Chromebooks comes with USI stylus support. Unfortunately, the styli are not included with the new Chromebooks. There are also no mentions on its official availability and pricing for the local market currently. More information on the new Chromebooks can be found on their website.

Computers, Editorial, Lifestyle

[Editorial] Daily Driving the Chromebook Part 1: Introducing the Acer Chromebook Spin 713. Wait, Why Chrome OS?

April 22, 2022 Darwin Sucipto 1 Comment

When you go out to buy a laptop, there is usually two options for you to pick from. You can either go with Windows laptops, which will open yourself up to a world of options. You can also go for the Mac option, which would simplify your options but at a higher cost. There is a third option though – Chrome OS.

At this point, we see many question marks on many people’s heads. “Why a Chrome OS?” you may ask. It is an odd choice in the sea of choices in the market, an unpopular one. But at the same time, we think it could be a sound and sensible one.

While the Chrome OS is regarded as the simplest of operating systems (OS), it is still a valid operating system you can choose when you buy a laptop for work. The education sector loves Chromebooks because they are rather cost effective and simplistic in nature. It is fuss free to work with, a perfect introduction into the world of computing.

Chrome OS is and can be so much more than just a laptop made for the school. It can be a rather simple way for organizations to manage their work devices. It is an inexpensive solution for enterprises looking to equip their employees for their digital transformation. They can be premium machines that fulfill all sorts of needs too, except for gaming.

So, we wondered; what is it like to live with a Chromebook? Is the Chromebook worthy to be a daily driver? Is the Chrome OS even the right platform to begin with when it comes to corporate use?

The Hardware

We are very lucky to get our hands on the Acer Chromebook Spin 713. Thanks to the support of Acer, we did not have to fuss over choosing the right Chromebook to work with. It is also the most premium Chromebook you can find in their line-up of Chromebooks.

The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 is nothing like a budget Chromebook made for the school. It still can take scrapes and bumps with MIL-STD810G certification. It is an MYR 3,799 convertible. It is also a rather powerful Chromebook.

It packs Intel’s 11^th Generation Core i5-1135G7 processor, something you generally find on thin-and-light Windows notebooks. It has 8GB of RAM and 256GB in storage. Acer advised us against opening the guts of the notebook to replace or upgrade anything within the Chromebook in fear of bricking the unit, so we will comply with their requests for now.

It is a convertible, so it also comes with a glass protected touch display that measures in at 13.5-inch with 2,256 by 1,504 pixels on tap from the IPS panel. Yes, it is a 3:2 aspect ratio display, quite odd. The dual speakers leave a little more to be desired, but you can plug your headphones in with the AUX jack, or connect your Bluetooth enabled gear to the Chromebook.

Aside from the AUX jack, you have two USB Type-C ports, both Thunderbolt ports thanks to Intel. The Chromebook charges via USB Type-C too. There is another USB port beside a MicroSD card reader, a Type-A for convenience. There is also a full-sized HDMI port for extra versatility.

Setting up Chrome OS

Our focus isn’t too much on the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 though. This four-part editorial will focus on the Chrome OS. We will be working exclusively on the Chromebook for four continuous weeks. We still go back to our main Windows rigs for video editing. Everything else will be done on the Chromebook and Chrome OS though. In fact, this article is mostly typed and edited on the Chromebook itself.

While we are aware of Google Chrome OS, we are rather new to the interface. We expected some learning curve; there are some, though not as steep as we expected it to be. There are a few major differences in the interface that we will talk about in the coming weeks. Before we get into any of that, we must set up the Chrome OS first.

Its first boot leads us to a very familiar set-up screen. Obviously, you do not get a Windows style or Mac style set-up. It is even simpler than what we expected, to be fair. If you already have a Google Account in the first place, that is really all you need to get going. Within five minutes, we are ready to work with the Chromebook.

First Impressions – Picking Up the Clues

We see a familiar desktop home screen, a welcome at least coming from the Windows ecosystem. Except, we were a little disappointed when we found out that we cannot put anything on the home screen. You can only change the wallpaper of your home screen. We sort of expected a more Android like experience, especially with widgets. Sadly, it is what it is.

The icon on the interface is digitally enlarged to fit eh 13.5-inch display by default. The resizing is clearly a nod to optimising the touch interface for users. We changed the icon sizing to smallest the system allows us to, just because.

Touch Optimised, Simple, Clean

While it is a touch sensitive display, Android gesture controls do not work with Chrome OS, at least not when you are in laptop mode anyway. I must remind myself that I am not using an Android tablet here, just plain ol’ Chrome OS with no overlays. At the same time, you are going to get the same Chrome OS from any Chromebooks you pick up off the shelf. You get different specifications, sure, but they are essentially still the same interface with no extra bloatware.

Apps Matters

We were excited to look through Google Play Store for app downloads and were not too disappointed with it. Most apps made for the smartphone and tablet works. Some of them even allows you to pick between a smartphone or tablet interface, and even change the window size on the fly. The Chrome OS allows you to fully multitask in differently sized windows with the help of a mouse and keyboard.

Like Android, But Unlike Android

Very much like Android tablets, not all the apps that is made for the smartphone works or is available to download. Not all the Android apps that is available for the Chrome OS works flawlessly too, sadly.

The Chrome OS is naturally always on standby. That also means that, by default at least, you only need to unfold your Chromebook and Chrome OS is ready for you instantly.

While there is no special arrangement for the keyboard, there are a few subtle differences between the keyboard on a Chromebook and a Windows laptop. For one, there is no Caps Lock key on the Chrome OS. In its place is a large ‘start’ button to launch the ‘shelf’. There are no function row keys (F1-F12) to be found on the Chromebook either, you hardly ever need them anyway.

Chrome on Chrome OS

Plenty of the apps you may not find on the Google Play Store on the Chromebook can be used on the browser. Obviously, the apps need to have the browser variants of their apps to work. Some of the ‘apps’ on your Chromebook will still lead you to the webpage. Apps like YouTube, for example, can only be used on the web. We will talk about working with Microsoft 365 a bit more in the coming weeks.

This effectively means that two sorts of app store are at your disposal. You have the Google Play Store, which we have already talked about. Then there is the Google Chrome Web Store for you to install plugins on Chrome itself.

More On Part 2

We are also still exploring Chrome OS and still getting to know the system. In the coming parts we will also be talking about updating your Chrome OS and its development support in the future. A lot of things we have covered today are rather on the surface and introductory.

There are still plenty to explore on the Chrome OS. Phone Hub for example, has more to be explored. We have not even started on the stylus experience on the Chromebook.

Getting it up and running was not just simple, it was quick. We did not install everything we wanted nor did a deep search of what we wanted to install on the device, but there is plenty on offer with the device. We think that the plugins on Chrome browser could be a lot of help in making the Chromebook feels like a regular working PC. Gaming is one thing we look forward to talk about in the coming weeks.

Do comment below if there is anything specific that you want to find out about the Chromebook. Of course, comment if there is anything you would like us to do or try on the Chromebook. We will do our best to accommodate and try out everything you recommend and suggest to us.

techENT