I don't get why some people complain about 32gb/4GB devices

Discussion

5,43GB music + 6,56GB roms (lots emulated games) + 397mb images = 12,38GB of local files and I still have 4GB left to add or install more stuff (I even have Collabora Office installed on Android which is 0,5GB)
Also my Chromebook runs very smooth with only 4GB of RAM and Android apps work perfect (ArcVM Android on ARM chipset here, not using Linux as I don't want/need it since PWA + Android fill all my needs).

These specs wouldn't be enough in any other OS but it works more than flawless in here to me. To make it better no fans, never gets warm and +10h battery life (ARM magic 😛).

EDIT: Since people seem to think I'm lying, I've been used to lag or that I even work for for Acer (LMAO it's a Lenovo device) I just recorded a video https://streamable.com/ftgia9

Just an advice: if you received ArcVM when you had Arc++ and never powerwashed your Chromebook since then, remove Android, restart the Chromebook and enable Android again. That should solve all your issues regarding to Android.

in chromeosby koken_halliwell

47%

15d

14d

LeakySkylight

15d

Just because it fulfills your needs, doesn't mean it it fulfills everyone's.

Anybody who needs local storage because they don't have 24/7 data access with lost of files will have a problem with it.

Bryanmsi89

15d

Glad this works for you, but a lot of people with similar-spec devices have not had such a positive experience. Especially with Android apps.

koken_halliwell

-2

15d

Well Android apps were made for ARM chipsets, if you want good android performance get an ARM Chromebook (also disable Android, restart and enable it again if you went from Arc++ to ArcVM and never powerwashed after the change)

s1gnt

15d

unfortunately it's not that simple and amd64 is better supported than arm64... the thing is apps were made for arm32.

Deep-Technician-8568

11d

Seems like you haven't used the original chromebook duet. It has an arm chipset with 4gb ram. With andriod apps enabled, it's practiaclly unsable due to how laggy it gets.

koken_halliwell

11d

So strange. Have you watched my video?

Deep-Technician-8568

11d

Have you not seen the tons of reddit posts on this sub regarding the complaints of arcvcm on the original lenovo duet? With andriod apps enabled, ram shoots up to 3.8gb with nothing open. Without andriod apps, it goes back down to 1.5gb. I know the processor of it is also another factor. The chromebook duet has a crap processor.

koken_halliwell

11d

Unused ram = wasted ram, specially on low ram devices. What matters is the performance. BTW try to disable Android, restart the Chromebook and enable it again.

Don't know why but the Arc++ leftovers on my device seemed to cause issues with the new ArcVM structure. By doing that I solved it. Again, check my video https://streamable.com/ftgia9

MrPumaKoala

15d

Like a lot of things, it depends on use case. For basic web browsing and some light Android app usage, 32GB of storage and 4GB of memory can be good enough. For use cases that involve multi-tabs, heavy Android app usage, linux app usage, and multi-tasking, the 32gb/4GB configuration is just tends to be inadequate. Of course, there are users that don't quite fit either of those two use cases, but their use cases do tend to lean towards one of the two aforementioned use cases. In your case, I think your use case leans more towards the camp of people who do basic web browsing and some light Android app usage.

Also, it's worth keeping in mind that the processor can play a role in the overall experience that can shape one's view towards 32gb/4GB Chromebooks. Since a lot of modern Chromebooks start off with configurations that come with 64GB of internal storage, it's likely that a fair portion of those complaining about 32gb/4GB Chromebooks are using older Chromebooks that come with older, less powerful processors. It's possible that those complaining about the 4GB memory are venting frustrations that have more to do with the Chromebook's outdated processor and less to do with the memory configuration.

That said, I'm not a fan of this configuration and would like to see manufacturers move away from it. 4gb/32GB might be enough for certain users for the time, but use cases and the overall OS can (and will) shift/change with time. I've been using ChromeOS regularly since 2016 and my experience is that ChromeOS has gotten more bloated with time. Older Chromebooks that were wicked fast back in the day can be a little sluggish when running the latest version of ChromeOS (and that's the case even after a powerwash). And that can't be helped since ChromeOS has made a lot of changes and added a lot of features over the last few years. The more complex things get, the harder it can be to get everything to run in an optimized fashion (especially so when dealing with old, not so powerful hardware). Now it's obviously nowhere near the bloat that comes with several years of Windows updates, but the ChromeOS of today does seem a lot heavier to run than it did a few years ago.

With all that in mind, I don't think it's a bad thing to try to be dismissive of the 4gb/32GB configuration while being in favor of a more powerful one. Considering the history and how ChromeOS is still developing, pushing for specs/configurations that are effectively future proofing the device seems like a positive thing. Personally, I'd like to see the standard configuration be 8gb of RAM and 128GB of storage.

High_Sierra_1946

14d

Chromebook plus.

Hopeful_Squash_4009

13d

Cheaper Chromebooks would do better with more ram/memory.

My Slim 3 wasn't bad with 4 GB and 64 GB. However I am heavy users of Chrome with multiple tabs and multi media playing.

Tabs would reload after 5 tabs and slowdown overall was noticeable

Otherwise I had no problems.

150c_vapour

15d

Nice try acer marketing team.

LeakySkylight

15d

Lol yes! They would have gotten away with it to if it weren't for you pesky kids!

koken_halliwell

14d

My Chromebook is a Lenovo 300e 2nd Gen FFS

Adorable-Leadership8

15d

32gb? ChromeOS takes 15gb

Linux? Forget it if ur installing some games from the play store

4gb? Cant use android apps with the chrome browser open

8gb ram if u want to use multitask with arm apps

koken_halliwell

-7

15d

I have 0 lag on my 4gb Chromebook using Android and several browser tabs open. Looks like your Chromebook needs a powerwash or something. ChromeOS takes 12,5GB on my device BTW.

Typing this while playing NDS games on my Chromebook and 0 lag/issues.

Adorable-Leadership8

15d

Ur using arm no wonder why it doesn't 'lag' its basically a android device with a kb atp

x84 cpu = Linux proformance

Arm cpu = android proformance

koken_halliwell

-1

15d

Yes that's one of the reasons I chose this Chromebook besides battery life and no heat, I already have my Windows PC to use desktop apps.

What I've always felt funny are people who bought a x86 Chromebook and complain about Android on their Chromebook. Go ARM and you'll have 0 issues.

Adorable-Leadership8

15d

some people want to run linux on their cbs and they go for x86 which means its much worse if u go for a 32/4gb model, i have one given by my school and it takes 18gb system, like what; i pwrwshed my cb 2 mts back

and linux cant rly run well with chromeos and both emulated linux (at least i think its emulated)

[Image]

s1gnt

15d

it's not emulated, it runs under hypervisor.

i812XL

12d

So your low spec Chromebook works great, because you use a Windows PC for desktop apps. Got it. 🙄

Independent_Dress723

14d

Are using browsing text websites with no js etc.? While 4GB devices are okay and well usable (better without android) your claims are far fetched.

Hopeful_Squash_4009

13d

In his defense websites as long as it was under 5 tabs and depending on which sites, browser performance was excellent.

YouTube works great no problems there. But as I said multi tasking isn't as smooth as it would be with 8 GB.

I doubt any ARM based Chromebook is playing Asphalt 9 at 60 fps or running Switch games.

Independent_Dress723

13d

Your points are correct. I have acer 314 with 32GB (special)/4GB.. General surfing/videos all ok. But usual situation is that suddenly you get a 10 page document - open in Google docs. Then the whole machine shows the pain.

Again it is perhaps the EMMC. I have used flex in dell latitude 11inch 3180 that also has an old Celeron with 4GB RAM but has an SSD. And it was more responsive.

Pretty sure when the browser writes cache to EMMC all goes slow.

koken_halliwell

14d

I just recorded a video since everyone seems to think I'm lying dunno why, it's in the main post.

Independent_Dress723

14d

Private video. Not visible.. nice.

I think 4GB RAM devices work but really are not practical.
🎤🫳

koken_halliwell

14d

https://streamable.com/ftgia9 this should work. If I had to buy a new Chromebook I'd obviouly go for a 8gb one but as you see I have no issues on my 4GB chromebook. I'd go ARM again for sure though.

VastEmergency1000

14d

I use a lot of large PDFs and photo editing. 4gbs won't cut it.

s1gnt

15d

It doesn't run smoothly, it's just you got used to it.

Seaoliverrrrr

14d

i have a 4/32 Chromebook and the 32 is just not enough for me

InspectorRound8920

15d

It depends on the user. For the not so savvy tech users, it's simply easier to have more storage

High_Sierra_1946

13d

Research your requirements before purchasing FTW.

Fighterhen63

15d

Well, when you are trying to use linux and your chromebook decides it wants to use up 13 gb of system files and you are left with 19 gb and you can only use abt 9-10 gb for linux or even other apps on android (w/ the amount of bloutware) It can be really annoying and also the fact they are making the storage eMMC is also really annoying bc you can't replace it easily. So you are kinda screwed (If you don't have anyone computer ofc)

sparkyblaster

14d

I have used flex on 2gb of ram and it was fine. Granted it's not my main device. It also doesn't have android app support which helps a lot. I tried one of those weird ones that has android app support and was a lot heavier but also who knows what else they did.

I have a pixelbook with 16gb of ram and although I use more than 8gb, I think I'd be better off with less ram so that tabs are forced to go to sleep which would help a lot with battery life.

Talamis

14d

32gb is nothing if you have to work with it or manage photos in 2024.
even 128gb is getting filled with photos and storage for Datasheets and plans.

32gb is if you have everything in the cloud.

SweatySource

14d

They work pretty smooth lags here and there but not as fast as higher end devices. It is noticable but not frustrating and annoying enough when running Windows but again if you compare it side by side with a higher end Chromebook obviously you will notice the speed differenes.

Hawkeyes207

14d

I always buy phones with the smallest storage option that's available. I use Google Cloud that's 2TB for everything even ROMs can be directly played from the cloud as for RAM I wouldn't go lower than 8GB. My Acer 516GE is 8GB and is perfect and I actually prefer it over Windows or MacOS.

me_so_ugly

12d

Have the mrchromebox bios installed. Use chromeos for android stuff and xubuntu Linux off my ssd for everything else. Lenovo 16 “gamming” Chromebook 8gb ram. Love this thing to tinker with. Does everything I need it to. Only complaint I have is each time I power off and on I loose root in my android container and have to rerun everytime but it’s all good

Billh491

Google Workspace Administrator K12

15d

Every kid in my school has a chromebook with these specs and we have no issues at all.

hoosiertailgate22

11d

Honestly I watched the video and thought YouTube was slow as fuck. Not waiting that long on 2024

koken_halliwell

11d

I had a NDS and PSP emulators running games on the background. It never slows otherwise.