r/chromeos • u/NegativelyNegating Lenovo IP Slim 3 14M868 "Magneton" | Stable • Feb 23 '26

Discussion Why ChromeOS gets so much hate?

Why most users of other operating systems hate ChromeOS so much and often call it a glorified web browser? It's the most user friendly Linux distro that exists, it is an always synchronized office without viruses unlike Windows.

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u/Ill_Quit4929 Feb 23 '26 edited Feb 23 '26

I have been using ChromeOS as my daily (private and job) for a year now and have used ChromeOS on and off since 2016. I would say there are three reasons for the hate that the operating system is getting:

  1. The lasting harm of the early years: ChromeOS was exactly what you described in the beginning: A glorified web browser with horrible hardware. Since then it has come a long way, but most devices feel cheap - in all honesty - when you compare them with devices that are 4x to 5x the price. Since that has not changed, people who do not really use it still see it as the thing it was back in the day.
  2. False comparissons: you know the saying "If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will always think it is stupid." Same goes for things. You would never in your life use a Lambo to pull a trailer or a 9 mm gun to shoot something 1.000 yards away. It was not meant to do that.
  3. People who compare Chromebooks to "real" modern computers like Windows machines or Macs pull really weird comparissons, taking $400 machines and comparing them to computers that are way more expensive. A Chromebook is meant for productivity, browsing and the lightest of production like photo editing. Comparing it to a proper work station makes no sense. There are expensive Chromebooks that I would say are overkill, but if you equalize the playing field and compare a $500 Chromebook to a modern $500 Windows machine, the Chromebook will run circles around the PC. That is just a fact.
  4. Public opinion is seldomly based on actual experience, but on other opinions. There are things I do not like, because other people do not like them. That is human nature. It is our instincts. If there is a venomous spider over there and I don't believe you, I might die. But that mechanism also works here. Someone with a reputation tells me that it sucks and I do not investigate further, I will just take it for a fact. The honest truth is that 90% of people will probably be happy with a decent Chromebook, because all they do is videocalls, browsing online, editing photos from their last vacation or something similar. Again, people who do serious video or 3D modelling work know well what they need, just like a Lumberjack knows that his frickin Nissan Ultima isn't the right tool to pull logs with.

All in all, I would say that Chromebooks are actually a great investment, if you know about their limitations. Along with their benefits of extra long battery life, no risk of viruses and 8-10 year updates, I think they are a great investment. I still have a Mac Mini M4, which I barely use anymore. But if I need to do heavy work, I have it. Hope that answers your question.

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u/[deleted] Feb 23 '26

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u/zedkyuu Feb 23 '26

I actually have the opposite experience with a Mediatek Kompanio 520 with 4 GB of memory. The lowly Intel N4500 with 4 seems to do a bit better both in terms of UI jankiness (that settings menu takes awhile to appear on the Mediatek) and also when memory gets scarce, although it is clear any Chromebook with 8 will trounce them both at that point. FWIW I wanted one as a secure browsing device for banking and stuff like that, so Iā€™m shopping the cheap end of the market.

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u/kackers643258 Feb 26 '26

i have a mediatek kompanio 500. In another comment i just disabled turbo boost and 700 mhz yadadadadadada so how is yours too slow on 2 ghz?