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⬅️ Previous capture (2023-12-28)
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Background: I've been a desktop Linux user for the past 10+ years. I've had an ARM Chromebook for the last 6. My Chromebook is basically just a web browser/ssh terminal with a keyboard attached, I don't use it for anything else.
I'm thinking about replacing the Chromebook with a pinebook Pro, mostly in anticipation of chrome not allowing adblockers anymore, but also as part of a longer term goal of degoogling my life.
Does anyone have any experience with the pinebook? My main concern is longevity. I don't tinkering with the software to get things working (though I probably won't stray far from a basic Debian install anyway), and things like screen/keyboard/mouse quality I'm flexible on. But if it's a flimsy and isn't going to last for at least 6 years, or isn't actually very repairable, then I won't bother.
2023-12-03 · 2 months ago
I bought a standard pinebook back when they first came out, the plasic is cheap, so over time the hinges snapped through it. That and the solder joints on both the headphone jack and charging jack went kaput after awhile. I believe I got that back in 2017, and it would have lasted at least a yeaar or two before developing those issues. (though the headphone jack went first as I recall) Since it's been around five years they may have changed their materials since then but if not I wouldn't bother. Maybe try installing a different flavor of linux on an intel chromebook or other cheap laptop.
Edit: I just looked up the pro and it is made of metal, that would probably aleviate the concerns of the plastic connected to the hinges snapping. I might still be concerned about the solder joints, hough its probably worth getting a second opinion.
I have a desktop PC and that simplifies a lot of things, longevity wise. Laptops are just no that good on ergonomics and are more feeble by design.
👻 mediocregopher [OP...] · Dec 03 at 12:24:
Thanks @N10A, that doesn't inspire a lot of confidence, but I will keep my hopes up that someone comes in and says the metal chasis on the pro is a bit more durable.
I bought a Pinebook Pro when they first became available. It's been running Manjaro ever since. I did a lot of tinkering with it during the first six months or so, but it has been stable ever since. I had no problems with build quality, but some users reported breaking the screen hinge on some of the very early units off the production line. It is not a fast machine, but gets me through those times I have to be away from my desktop machine. The built-in speakers are nearly useless, but other than that I've been pretty happy with it.
@jdcard yeah they were really bad on the original pinebook too. Sucks that they put so little care into those espescially with how cheap audio is these days.
🐉 gyaradong · Dec 09 at 03:25:
hmm is reflashing linux on a chromium not possible?
👻 mediocregopher [OP...] · Dec 09 at 23:36:
It depends on the model. Older ARM models like mine don't make it easy.... Mine won't boot anything except signed ChromeOS. I could flash the firmware (after physically enabling R/W on the motherboard), but libreboot doesn't currently support my machine, and I haven't found any other alternatives.
There are compatibility lists that make it fairly easy to know what chromebook to buy.