When ChromeOS first launched, it was thought of nothing greater than an working system constructed round an online browser. Throughout these first iterations, you could not do far more with the OS than use an online browser.
Today, ChromeOS is significantly better. You may set up Linux and Android apps, multitask, add printers, hook up with distant shares, and far more. However once you evaluate ChromeOS to MacOS, you possibly can see the place the working system falls brief.
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I’ve created 5 methods ChromeOS might evolve to rival Apple’s OS. Curious? Learn on.
1. Higher multimedia assist
It is pretty frequent data that, of all of the working methods in the marketplace, MacOS is hands-down the champion at handling multimedia. There’s hardly a file sort MacOS can’t open — and when it does, it performs that media to perfection.
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ChromeOS? Not a lot. In reality, ChromeOS struggles to play any media that can not be opened in a browser. For ChromeOS to be taken significantly, this situation wants to alter. The working system requires built-in, devoted apps that are not trapped throughout the browser and that open video and audio information. ChromeOS additionally wants to have the ability to open the information remotely and regionally.
It may be irritating once you obtain a multimedia file on a Chromebook, to seek out out it will probably solely be opened throughout the net browser. That situation could also be wonderful for some information, however Chrome is not all the time the best at dealing with higher-resolution video and audio. For customers preferring devoted apps, higher multimedia assist ought to be thought of a should.
2. Straightforward third-party browser set up
I am not an enormous fan of Chrome — it does not even rank in my high 5 net browsers: Arc, Opera, Firefox, Safari, Courageous (in that order). In case you’re savvy sufficient, you possibly can allow Linux assist on ChromeOS and set up Firefox. However that method does not all the time work as anticipated. You would additionally go the Android app route. However, once more, you will discover these browsers do not carry out properly.
I might like to see ChromeOS capable of set up any of the Chromium-based net browsers as native apps. That functionality would imply you could possibly set up Microsoft Edge, Vivaldi, Opera, Courageous, Arc, Ungoogled Chromium, and extra. You then would not must be so involved concerning the unending listing of zero-day vulnerabilities present in Chrome.
3. Higher {hardware}
Let’s face it, a comparability between Apple {hardware} and Chromebooks is not truthful. Apple laptops are gentle years forward of Chromebooks on about each conceivable degree. Certain, there are a number of Chromebooks that inch close to the standard of MacBooks, such because the HP Dragonfly.
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Nevertheless, each different Chromebook pales compared. At one level, Google had the Pixel Chromebook, which was stellar. Sadly, the Pixel Chromebook did not final lengthy. Google determined to scale down the standard of its in-house Chromebook and finally stopped making them altogether.
Shopping for a Chromebook immediately is a hit-or-miss proposition. You would possibly get a good show however a less-than-adequate keyboard. You would possibly get trackpad however tinny sound. The final Chromebook I had that was strong throughout the board was the 2015 Pixel Chromebook — that system was just like the Ferrari of Chromebooks on the time.
4. Higher printer assist
You may join your Chromebook to a printer if you recognize what you are doing, Nevertheless, it is not all the time simple. You may need to know your printer’s IP tackle or share it from one other machine. Even once you do get your printer related, it won’t all the time work as anticipated. I’ve had printers randomly vanish from Chromebooks or cease working (although they work on different machines on the community). Google wants to repair this situation.
I understand that printers are sometimes a ache. I labored as a distant assist engineer for an organization and handled printers as a result of that was the most typical downside. Nevertheless, the connection between Chromebooks and printers has all the time been irritating. Chromebooks want higher printer discovery and connection instruments.
5. Seamless integration with Android
The one factor that by no means fails to shock me is the poor integration between Android and ChromeOS. This connection ought to be a no brainer for Google. However, for no matter purpose, these two working methods do not all the time play properly collectively.
When your Android cellphone will get close to your Chromebook, magic ought to occur. Contacts ought to sync, notifications ought to be accessible on each gadgets, and sure directories ought to mechanically mount and be accessible from both OS. Google might take this integration one step additional and make it doable to plug your Android cellphone into your Chromebook as a single, highly effective OS. However no, Google appears content material with the restricted integration between the 2.
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For Chromebooks to meet up with MacOS, Google ought to concentrate on the entire method slightly than particular person options.
I understand most of this stuff I recommend will not occur quickly. However it will be nice if Google thought of these modifications for ChromeOS. Ought to the tech large combine a few these options, the working system can be exponentially higher than it already is.
Do not get me flawed, I like ChromeOS. It is easy, quick, and environment friendly. I’ve tried to get my spouse a MacBook however she makes it clear she prefers ChromeOS. So, bravo to Google for creating such an efficient platform. Nevertheless, that success doesn’t suggest the tech firm cannot enhance the OS.
