Difference between revisions of "Buyer's Guide"

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= Buyer's Guide =
 
  
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The ideal Chromebook model will vary from person to person. Here are a few of our favorites, along with the specs that make them interesting.
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Choosing a Chromebook can be confusing. There are dozens of models, and a variety of configuration options for most of them.
  
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Some links on this page are affiliate links. Any funds collected benefit the GalliumOS Project and are used in accordance with the purposes outlined on our [https://galliumos.org/donate Donations Page].
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GalliumOS is supported on most Chromebook models (see [[Hardware Compatibility]]), but we've prepared this guide to help you choose the model that best fits your needs. Here are a few of our favorites, along with the specs that make them interesting.
  
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Many manufacturers also sell refurbished models at significant discounts from MSRP. These should be as good as new, but generally have a much shorter 30-day warranty (typical retail warranty is 1-year).
 
  
 
== Chromebooks ==
 
== Chromebooks ==
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|-
 
|-
 
! scope="col"| Model
 
! scope="col"| Model
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! scope="col"| Hardware ID
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! scope="col"| HWID
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! scope="col"| Processor
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! scope="col"| CPU Core
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! scope="col"| Display
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! scope="col"| Configurations (Display, CPU, RAM, Disk)
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! scope="col"| Memory
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! scope="col"| Upgradable?
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! scope="col"| Disk
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! scope="col"| Notes
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! scope="col"| Configurations
 
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! scope="col"| Comments
 
 
|-
 
|-
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| '''Acer CB5-571 / C910'''
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| '''Acer<br>Chromebook 15<br>CB5-571 / C910'''
 
| YUNA
 
| YUNA
 
| Broadwell
 
| Broadwell
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| 15" 1920xXXXX
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|  
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| soldered
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• [http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00T03KR8I 15.6" 1366x768, Celeron 3205U, 2GB, 16GB]<br>
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| SSD, upgradable
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• [http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00T03KQ34 15.6" 1920x1080, Celeron 3205U, 2/4GB, 16/32GB]<br>
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| Celeron<br>Core i3<br>4GB/32GB<br>2GB/16GB
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• [http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00X5X30V0 15.6" 1920x1080, Core i3 5005U, 4GB, 32GB]<br>
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| • great performance<br>• excellent display
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• [http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00X5X2Z66 15.6" 1920x1080, Core i5 5200U, 4GB, 32GB]
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|
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<span style="padding:0.15em 0.2em 0em 0.2em;background-color:#ffaaaa">✘ RAM</span><br>
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<span style="padding:0.15em 0.2em 0em 0.1em;background-color:#aaffaa">✓ SSD</span> (42mm M.2)
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|
 
|-
 
|-
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| '''Toshiba Chromebook 2 CB35'''
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| '''Dell<br>Chromebook 13'''
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| LULU
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| Broadwell
 +
|
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• [http://www.amazon.com/dp/B015ROJKKO 13.3" 1920x1080, Celeron 3205U/3215U, 4GB, 16GB]<br>
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• [http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01609VJG8 13.3" 1920x1080, Core i3 5005U, 4/8GB, 16/32GB]<br>
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• [http://www.dell.com/us/business/p/chromebook-13-7310/pd?oc=bto006c731013us&model_id=chromebook-13-7310& 13.3" 1920x1080, Core i5 5300U, 8GB, 32GB]
 +
|
 +
<span style="padding:0.15em 0.2em 0em 0.2em;background-color:#ffaaaa">✘ RAM</span><br>
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<span style="padding:0.15em 0.2em 0em 0.1em;background-color:#aaffaa">✓ SSD</span> (42mm M.2)
 +
|
 +
|-
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| '''Toshiba<br>Chromebook 2<br>CB35'''
 
| GANDOF
 
| GANDOF
 
| Broadwell
 
| Broadwell
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| 13" 1920xXXXX
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|  
−
| soldered
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• [http://www.amazon.com/dp/B015806LMM 13.3" 1920x1080 Intel Celeron 3215U]<br>
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| SSD, upgradable
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• [http://www.amazon.com/dp/B015806LSQ 13.3" 1920x1080 Intel Core i3 5015U]
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| Celeron<br>Core i3<br>4GB/32GB<br>2GB/16GB
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|
 +
<span style="padding:0.15em 0.2em 0em 0.2em;background-color:#ffaaaa">✘ RAM</span><br>
 +
<span style="padding:0.15em 0.2em 0em 0.1em;background-color:#aaffaa">✓ SSD</span> (42mm M.2)
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
  
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== SSD Upgrades ==
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Many manufacturers also sell refurbished models at significant discounts from MSRP. These should be as good as new, but generally have a much shorter 30-day warranty (typical retail warranty is 1-year).
 +
 
 +
== Storage Upgrades ==
 +
 
 +
=== Replacement SSDs ===
 +
 
 +
Some models have removable, upgradable SSDs: All (known) Haswells except LEON, and all Broadwells except SAMUS.
 +
 
 +
* '''MyDigitalSSD''': https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NY4VIPA
 +
* '''Transcend''': http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KLTPUG4
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* '''ZTC''': https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YDHKIMG
 +
 
 +
=== Low-profile USB drives ===
 +
 
 +
These drives are very fast (be sure to use a USB3.0 port if possible), very small (almost unnoticeable), and can be left installed permanently. They can get fairly warm on continuous access (due to speed and small size), but this is considered normal.
 +
 
 +
* '''Samsung''': http://www.amazon.com/dp/B017DH3O5A
 +
* '''Lexar''': https://www.amazon.com/dp/B012PKV7RC
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* '''SanDisk''': http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BGTG2A0
 +
 
 +
Some interesting comparison data here: http://www.everythingusb.com/mini-drives.html
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 +
=== Fast SD cards ===
 +
 
 +
SD cards are generally not as fast as USB devices on Chromebooks, because the card reader is on a USB2.0 bus instead of USB3.0 (some exceptions in newer models). On some models, a fully-inserted SD card still extends outside the body of the machine, which is inconvenient (and fragile) and not preferred for "permanent" installation. Check to see if this applies to your model before making a decision.
  
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Many (not all) models have removable, upgradable SSDs.
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* '''PNY''': http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00WWBCQEI
  
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== Miscellaneous ==
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== Disclosures ==
  
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Other items of interest. Low-profile USB drives, ...
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We have no relationships with any manufacturers or vendors that might influence our recommendations, or any content on this (or any other) page. Some links on this page <strike>are</strike> might, in the future, be affiliate links. If you purchase a Chromebook by following an affiliate link, a small percentage (generally 4%) of the purchase price will go to the GalliumOS Project. This does not affect your purchase price in any way. Any funds so collected will be used in accordance with the purposes outlined on our [https://galliumos.org/donate Donations Page]. Thank you for your patronage!

Latest revision as of 00:24, 5 September 2017

Choosing a Chromebook can be confusing. There are dozens of models, and a variety of configuration options for most of them.

GalliumOS is supported on most Chromebook models (see Hardware Compatibility), but we've prepared this guide to help you choose the model that best fits your needs. Here are a few of our favorites, along with the specs that make them interesting.


Chromebooks

Model HWID CPU Core Configurations (Display, CPU, RAM, Disk) Upgradable? Notes
Acer
Chromebook 15
CB5-571 / C910 		YUNA Broadwell

• 15.6" 1366x768, Celeron 3205U, 2GB, 16GB
• 15.6" 1920x1080, Celeron 3205U, 2/4GB, 16/32GB
• 15.6" 1920x1080, Core i3 5005U, 4GB, 32GB
• 15.6" 1920x1080, Core i5 5200U, 4GB, 32GB

✘ RAM
✓ SSD (42mm M.2)

Dell
Chromebook 13 		LULU Broadwell

• 13.3" 1920x1080, Celeron 3205U/3215U, 4GB, 16GB
• 13.3" 1920x1080, Core i3 5005U, 4/8GB, 16/32GB
• 13.3" 1920x1080, Core i5 5300U, 8GB, 32GB

✘ RAM
✓ SSD (42mm M.2)

Toshiba
Chromebook 2
CB35 		GANDOF Broadwell

• 13.3" 1920x1080 Intel Celeron 3215U
• 13.3" 1920x1080 Intel Core i3 5015U

✘ RAM
✓ SSD (42mm M.2)

Many manufacturers also sell refurbished models at significant discounts from MSRP. These should be as good as new, but generally have a much shorter 30-day warranty (typical retail warranty is 1-year).

Storage Upgrades

Replacement SSDs

Some models have removable, upgradable SSDs: All (known) Haswells except LEON, and all Broadwells except SAMUS.

Low-profile USB drives

These drives are very fast (be sure to use a USB3.0 port if possible), very small (almost unnoticeable), and can be left installed permanently. They can get fairly warm on continuous access (due to speed and small size), but this is considered normal.

Some interesting comparison data here: http://www.everythingusb.com/mini-drives.html

Fast SD cards

SD cards are generally not as fast as USB devices on Chromebooks, because the card reader is on a USB2.0 bus instead of USB3.0 (some exceptions in newer models). On some models, a fully-inserted SD card still extends outside the body of the machine, which is inconvenient (and fragile) and not preferred for "permanent" installation. Check to see if this applies to your model before making a decision.

Disclosures

We have no relationships with any manufacturers or vendors that might influence our recommendations, or any content on this (or any other) page. Some links on this page are might, in the future, be affiliate links. If you purchase a Chromebook by following an affiliate link, a small percentage (generally 4%) of the purchase price will go to the GalliumOS Project. This does not affect your purchase price in any way. Any funds so collected will be used in accordance with the purposes outlined on our Donations Page. Thank you for your patronage!

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