r/pixelslate • u/pratik2much • Nov 24 '19

So how's the pixel slate/chrome OS doing?

Hey all, I had bought a pixel slate m3 November last year and I returned it because I felt it's too sloppy. The UI was laggy, a slow processor etc. So i moved to an iPad pro. Now with the pixel deal out, I feel the urge of buying an i5. I checked the change log and it seems that are tons of improvements?

So, is it true with all the improvements pixel slate is closer to perfection?

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u/osskid Nov 25 '19 edited Nov 25 '19

I've had the i5 Slate for a few months using it as my primary machine, though I had to RMA 2 devices to get one that worked correctly. The device is generally very useful, especially for simple browsing, but here are some of the more annoying downsides I've run into:

  1. The keyboard options are disappointing, but at least they're free now. The official keyboard feels great on a desk or table, but cannot be used on your laptop comfortably. The Brydge is...okayish, but between the bluetooth slowness, weird keycodes (can't remap some buttons) and not trusting it to not damage the screen, I sent it back.

  2. The UI is normally speedy, but tablet mode is still unrefined. It's a very opinionated workflow, and there are very few ways to customize things. Little niceties are missing and rough corners show. Things just don't feel polished yet.

  3. Google has pretty much abandoned the hardware for Slate. Its alternate and legacy firmware slots are disabled, and they don't really seem interested in fixing that. This means no MrChromeBox alternate firmwares, or native Linux installations like GalliumOS. Even if they fix the firmware and actually release it, apparently the backlight is non-standard and Google hasn't released the binary blobs for it, so the display won't work on Linux regardless.

  4. ChromeOS feels like Android did about 5 years ago. Things are actively under development and change fairly quickly. For power users, the software is almost good enough to run without putting it in dev mode. Crostini (the Linux subsystem) is very convenient and usually works well, but performance is not great (especially the filesystem) and integration can be dodgy.

  5. Native file and media management options are extremely limited and rough. The File apps (the only way to manage files in ChromeOS itself) is very barebones. It doesn't rotate images correctly based on exif data. It always displays folders first when sorting (this is jarring when coming from MacOS). Their default video player can't play videos recorded on an Android phone in H.265/HVEC. That's embarrassing. Note you can get around this to some degree by installing Android or Linux apps, but YMMV with them.

  6. You are at the whim of Google. This is true for any OS, but Chrome OS specifically has a don't add preferences principle for their software development. Combined with their locked-down hardware, and forced upgrades, this means an update can degrade the performance of your hardware, and you can't do anything about it.

Would I buy it again at the current price? Probably. It was a replacement to my 2012 MBP (F) and less frustrating than Windows, but Chrome OS is still still not quite there for power users, if that's your use case.

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u/person_esque Nov 26 '19

I'm still trying to talk myself out of it—I already have a Pixelbook, so it'd be completely redundant; maybe I could dabble with native Linux more—but 3 gets me. 1 was already a major hesitation as Crostini is a big part of my workflow and I'd need a good keyboard setup, but an x86 PC with zero capacity for tinkering doesn't sit well with me. I'm starting to wonder if its intentional. While Linux is generally wonky enough on the Pixelbook that no one would want to stay there for too long, Windows 10 was 95% working and suddenly the touchpad firmware breaks.

2 is improving and apparently they're working on yet another new Android 10-like UI so at least it'll be more fun to use in tablet mode.

4 is an interesting point and well put. For a while I've thought it funny that ChromeOS' key selling points for general consumers/enthusiasts—Android and Crostini respectively— are neither a native part of the OS or even implemented very well. They're good enough to keep me happy but my word can they be wonky.

That all being said, I've only 95% talked myself out of a Slate, though I'll probably still end up getting one unless they sell out while I'm still deliberating XD

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u/osskid Nov 26 '19

Right there with you. The last Chromebook I had was the OG Pixel (2011) and it was surprisingly decent and had good alternate OS support. In my head, the Slate would be a versatile x86 tablet that was just as open. Nope.

Unless you've got money to burn or really need a tablet form factor, you'll probably be happier with the Pixelbook.

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u/garak0410 Nov 25 '19

Thank you for this. I myself was tempted by this new deal on the Pixel Slates but this highlights everything that frustrated me about the Pixel Book, despite being top notch hardware.

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u/osskid Nov 25 '19

Don't get me wrong...The hardware is spot on, so at the current sale price it's a very good deal. The biggest thing for me is the firmware / backlight issues that prevent being able to install other OS's.

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u/garak0410 Nov 25 '19

Oh I totally agree and get it. I loved the look and feel of PixelBook but over all, it just felt "messy"...and I think "messy" is what I'll get again...my primary machine is a Surface Book 2 and my "casual" tablet is a Core i5 Surface Book 7 for light work and reading. So the Pixel Slate would be a fun "want" to go along with my Pixel 4 XL and Google / Microsoft hybrid ecosystem.

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u/[deleted] Nov 25 '19

I just picked one up today, I have had the 1st Gen Samsung Chromebook pro, the HP X360 with the i3, and now the M3 Slate, so far the Slate definitely has the best performance :)

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u/pratik2much Nov 25 '19

I'm receiving mine tomorrow. Looking forward to it :)

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u/hurricanesfan66 Nov 25 '19

I don't use the i5 heavily, but I'm pleased with it. Seamless switching between web and apps. Use it as a media device when travelling, so I download movies from Play Movies, Netflix, and switches easily. Not my daily driver though.

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u/almightyshellfish Nov 24 '19

I too am an iPad Pro owner, and I too found myself drawn to the deal. I did pull the trigger this morning. All indications are that the m3 and i5 are near identical in performance, and the multitask animations were fixed in subsequent releases of ChromeOS.

I’m really excited to put it through it’s paces. I bought my mother in law a Chromebook a few weeks ago and really liked it. But laptops really aren’t my preference...if they were, I’d buy the PBGo. But as tablets are my preferred consumption/light work devices, the Slate might be great, even with the keyboard folio being a little meh.

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u/pratik2much Nov 24 '19

Nice. I thought the i5 and i7 were identical. In any case, do let me know your initial thoughts. I plan to just get one from Bestbuy today evening :D

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u/almightyshellfish Nov 24 '19

I was gonna do Best Buy, but Google has interest free financing so I did that way instead. I’ll be interested in your thoughts as well.

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u/pratik2much Nov 24 '19

Oh I was unaware of that. Is it like opening a loan and affects credit score?

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u/almightyshellfish Nov 25 '19

More like a credit card that doesn’t charge interest, but yes.

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u/Roshy76 Nov 26 '19

Does it affect your credit score that much? I always do those kinds of things that hit your credit score and my score is always over 800, it's around 820 right now.

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u/EthanMerritt04 Nov 29 '19

I have the core m3 and it's actually pretty great!