A simple OS for the masses (who don't need more than a browser), cheap, easy to replace and useful. As an aside, it played nice with my Android phone.

Due to its reasonable entry price I build an ecosystem for well under £1000. I guess this resonated with my philosophy: technology should be cheap, accessible and easy to use, with a low barrier for entry. My computing life at work is complicated so I enjoyed having a simple set up at home (although I still keep a Windows gaming rig).

Sure, the Chromebook was plagued by all the usual Google problems like lack of focus and so on. Google dipped in and out: they might release a Pixelbook, maybe even two and then nothing or maybe a Pixelbook a few years later but actually guys we'll give up oh wait here's a...um...Googlebook.

I fail to see the attraction of this device. When the price of a decent Chromebook approaches (and sometimes surpasses) that of a Macbook NEO (or even a decent second hand Macbook), what is the point of buying this device? At this price point I might as well go all in on Apple, since I know that at least they'll be consistent and good.

It was the same story with the Nexus and Pixel lines. Good mid range stuff initially, but ultimately sabotaged by premium prices that are not backed-up by solid hardware. Its a shame really.

But sadly they are building the perfect infrastructure to support a genuinely totalitarian state. If, in a future election somebody gets elected who wants to put this structures to use, I guess then we'll be in trouble!

Here's something similar from The Guardian, but without the ads:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jun/18/natural-...

But on a more serious note yes, I agree with you. Tablets - absolutely great for the use cases you mentioned, for everything else I want a proper keyboard, etc.

As an aside, I have been a firm ChromeOS user since 2013; since my computing life at work is pretty complicated, so I wanted to keep it really simple at home. For the most part, this setup worked just fine.

However, lately... I've found the Pixel line to be very underwhelming and expensive - add to that the ever increasing cost of Chromebooks... What can I say? Moving over to the Great Walled Garden of Apple makes sense. I'll probably buy one of these.

Also from the BBC, the 13 Minutes series (?): https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/w13xttx2

...and The Fall of Civilisations: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/fall-of-civilizations-...

...ocasionally a smattering of Dan Carlin's Hardcore History.

Really curious to see what other people are listening to.

I'm trying to be a bit more "intentional" with my podcasts, especially as its easy to amass a huge list of stuff and then not listen to 95% of them.

Edit: grammar

On an iPhone 13 with the latest version of iOS.

I’m very new to the Apple ecosystem so it could well be that it’s meant to work on a laptop/desktop rather than the mobile version.

I could of course be wrong: does anybody know better? Or is it a case of me being frazzled after work?

EDIT: some users have suggested upgrading to iOS 18.6 solves this problem. Doing it as we speak!

I don't have a background in coding, rather I'm just a humble engineering tech but this sounds like something I want to learn and sink my teeth into.

I have a tremendous amount of links - probably going back to the late 2000's and I've always relied on services like Pinboard, Raindrop and Delicious (!).

Once again thank you for the inspiration and the metaphorical kick up the backside!

Personally I have my doubts - as per Nursie: It's gone mate.

Returned the phone and got an iPhone 13 instead; and as painful as it was switching to iOS after 13 years of Android, I don't regret my decision. The iDevice comes with its own niggles, but at least I don't have to worry about battery life (yet). Maybe google will figure it out by the time the Pixel 8a comes out.

As to whether it's "good for you" or not... I suspect moderation is the key word here.

Equally I would want the current combatants to take a step back and have a grown up discussion about NATO expansion, security guarantees, ending the bloodshed - you know the boring nitty gritty stuff. I'm not dumb enough to cheer on a nuclear strike, regardless of who launched it.