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Comment by dferlemann | Hacker News Reader

I don't get it anymore... 8-16 GB RAM for what? I have not used Chromebook. Do you all use it for gaming? For serious computation? with only 32-64 GB SSD?

For this price, it would be nice to be able to upgrade SSD though. Then I will also want to install a Linux distro or Windows on it.

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It's made ONLY to use complex web apps, with the data stored on the server. So the SSD is essentially just for web caching / local web storage, and the RAM is for Chrome processes, basic OS use, and additional caching.

> 8-16 GB RAM for what?

For a ton of Chrome tabs.

> only 32-64 GB SSD?

You're expected to store all data on Google servers.

> For a ton of Chrome tabs.

Or one Facebook tab.

You'll want the 16 GB version if you ever run facebook and g+ at the same time.

Chrome tabs crash once more than a GB or two have been allocated:

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/22264966/chrome-memory-li...

Did you not notice that it has a built in SD card slot if you want more storage?

Also, ChromeOS will happily use 8-16GB of RAM if you have enough browser tabs open and stuff running in the background.

> Did you not notice that it has a built in SD card slot if you want more storage?

Wish Google would adopt that attitude for their Nexus line as well...

I got a Toshiba Chromebook 2 (4 GB RAM, 32 GB storage, decent screen, but an anemic processor), thinking it could replace an old MacBook we use for web, email, and music. The email didn't work so well, because we couldn't easily see multiple accounts at once. I put in an SD card full of music, but the players I tried were all terrible.

I can see wanting 8 GB of RAM, but I'd need Crouton to make use of 16 GB.

The Chromebook hardly stores any files locally, that's why the SSD is so small. But if you have a lot of tabs open, especially with developer tools, it's not impossible to use up 8GB of RAM.

> I don't get it anymore... 8-16 GB RAM for what?

So they can run our online 3D modeling and rendering webapp: https://Clara.io ;)

32-64 GB of SSD is plenty enough for a serious work environment (unless you're not into photo-video editing), and you probably run heavy computations that require high sustained CPU load on a server / cloud anyway.

True - it is enough for most people. And those who need more can upgrade. Many chromebook users upgrade the NGFF drive.... its a big seller on Amazon.

Methinks it's for people who are going to put Linux on it.

I have the same question. it seems that all chrome apps are 32bit applications. what could use 16gb memory?

I feel that this notebook will sell better if it had ubuntu installed and 256gb ssd.

> it seems that all chrome apps are 32bit applications.

> what could use 16gb memory?

4+ simultaneous processes.

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