Recently, I learned to use the Zettelkasten note-taking method, and my daily use of Obsidian for note-taking has greatly increased. The iPad I usually use for reading can no longer meet my needs, so I am looking for a new device that can read books and conveniently take notes. Coincidentally, I've also been interested in ChromeOS during this time. After browsing on Xianyu, I found a 2017 PixelBook with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage for 500.
Appearance#
An elegant Google logo, metal on top and glass material on the bottom, personally I feel it looks better than Apple's large logo.
Ultra-thin
The charging cable is the original charger for the Switch, thicker than the lower half.
A simple C-side, and a screen bezel that can stop an aircraft carrier
An elegant iQIYI shape
The first impression of the hardware is that it is very thin, about the thickness of a pinky finger. The design style is extremely minimalist, with only ports, a keyboard, a touchpad, a screen, and speakers hidden in the hinge. There is no fan for cooling, and it runs very quietly. The metal body and latex palm rest provide a good texture, keeping hands warm in winter and not too hot in summer (unlike the MacBook). The fully foldable, touchscreen, 2K, 3:2 screen with aircraft carrier-level bezels automatically disables the keyboard when folded, and the latex palm rest also serves a non-slip function. It is rare to find such design and quality at this price point.
System#
In terms of system experience, this is my first time using ChromeOS. My previous stereotype was that it was a system for cheap machines to browse the internet. However, after experiencing it, I have a mixed feeling about its ecosystem. ChromeOS is based on the Linux kernel, with the Chrome browser as its core system, while also supporting Android applications and having a built-in Linux LXC container feature similar to WSL. In tablet mode, it feels like using an Android system, while in PC mode, it feels like using a browser, with many PWA applications and many functions implemented on the web. ChromeOS also supports Linux; I installed Arch and, with Crostini, can use yay to install applications, opening them on the desktop like desktop programs using Wayland.
This hybrid relationship creates a wonderful effect: functions not available in the browser can be compensated for by the Android ecosystem, and if the Android ecosystem lacks certain features, there is a powerful Linux environment behind it to fill the gap, allowing for more functionality through ADB operations on Android.
Complaints#
Due to the reasons above, my startup page is filled with PWAs, Android applications, and Linux applications. If you don’t open them, you can’t even tell which environment they will open in. This leads to a frustrating situation where I have to configure all three environments independently, and the sense of fragmentation is quite strong.
The first issue is with the input method. I am used to using double pinyin, but the system does not support it by default. On Android, I can use Gboard as the input method, but in the browser environment, Gboard cannot be used. Third-party input methods for this system can be installed via Chrome extensions, and more advanced settings can be configured in chrome://flags. I installed the Zhenwenyun input method extension in the browser, which can then be used in both Android and the browser, but there are still prominent bugs. In the browser environment, I can switch input methods with Ctrl+Space, but this does not work on Android. As for Linux, using double pinyin requires fcitx-rime, but I have to reconfigure fcitx5, which I really dislike doing...
Additionally, the entire system is primarily browser-centric, so without an internet connection, many functions are limited, and the network environment must have a "magic" connection; otherwise, the system cannot be activated. At home, I can configure a router with "magic," but when going out, I need an app for that. ChromeOS uses Android's "magic" tools to achieve global "magic," including in the Linux environment. This leads to a problem where the system's boot sequence is to start the system first, then initialize the Android environment, and finally start the Linux environment, so every time I boot up, I have to wait for the app to start before I can access the internet normally.
There’s also the extremely difficult-to-use touchpad; long-pressing to select is very hard, and using the touchscreen to select requires reaching out to the screen, which feels silly. Fortunately, this issue can often be resolved with Vimiumc, which allows for browser navigation using Vim-like commands. In a browser-centric environment with a terrible touchpad, this extension is very useful, but it also raises the bar for user proficiency.
The key layout is also quite different; the left-side Caps Lock key has become a key similar to the Windows Start key, while the key to the left of Alt, which originally served as the Start key, is now a helper key that doesn’t work in a non-English system... The F1-F12 keys have also been removed.
Summary#
In summary, at the price of 500, being able to buy a device with such design, decent quality, and a touchscreen is quite good value for money. The ChromeOS system is also quite novel, using a low-power CPU, with a battery life of over 7 hours, not generating much heat, and being silent. It is very suitable for light daily use. It can also utilize the Linux environment to write simple code with NeoVim, download useful tools from Gnome, and can even be used as an Android tablet. The device's multiple forms can well meet my needs for reading, note-taking, and watching iQIYI, and it can also serve as a remote machine for playing galgames and doing some work. However, it does require a relatively high level of user capability; without a good network environment, you cannot activate it, and without Linux experience, the system's functionality is limited to Android and the browser. If you don’t know Vim, you will have to endure the terrible touchpad and choose between using a mouse or the touchscreen to select text.
Finally! This machine crashes when starting Arknights! 😭 I feel like it's due to the 8GB memory being overloaded! 😭