Acer Chromebook 15 i5 Initial Impressions

Chuckn2x · May 5, 2015, 12:39am

Just got my Acer Chromebook 15 i5 today, and I gotta say that this thing is pretty nice. The screen blows any sub $600 laptop I’ve seen out of the water, and it’s wicked fast (Never owned an SSD before. Thought my HDD was fast enough, but I don’t think I’ll be able to go back.) Set up Crouton, and transitioning between ChromeOS and Linux is instantaneous, with almost no noticeable performance hit. I really like the texture on the top the laptop, and the build quality is pretty good for plastic. Unfortunately, the palm rest and trackpad seem to pick up oil pretty easily. The battery seems to last around 6 hours on the i5 version, compaired to the 9 hours on the Celeron. Other than those two issues, I’m really impressed.

TL;DR:
Pros:

Great screen
Good build quality
Decent battery life
Really quick (5-7 second boot)

Cons:

Track pad and palm rest get dirty quickly
Only 4GB of Ram and 32 GB of storage
Only 2 USB ports
Chrome tramp stamp on top (May not be an issue for you, but I find it tacky)

Overall, I’d recommend it to anyone. An i5 is probably overkill, and will cost you some battery life, but I’d pick one up if you want a decently spec’ed laptop for under $500.

swick · May 5, 2015, 1:55am

Doesn't work with seabios which makes it impossible to boot a "normal" linux so you're stuck with chroot. The acer c720 is still the best linux chromebook imo.

VXAce · May 5, 2015, 3:11am

I am 100% interested in more of what you have to say. Especially your experience with Crouton, specifically battery life impact and usability.

Chuckn2x · May 5, 2015, 3:36am

https://plus.google.com/wm/1/+HughGreenberg/posts/K1zkNxyknZg . Apparently someone got it working.

Chuckn2x · May 5, 2015, 3:37am

Will update after a few days' use. Writing this because their really isn't a whole lot out there about this device.

Hitemlow32 · May 5, 2015, 7:17am

So I have owned two chromebooks, the Samsung 550 and the new Toshiba chromebook 2. And i'm not going to say that they are bad, but.... I have had my Ubuntu crouton corrupt 3 different times the most recent time being a few days ago on the Toshiba. It happens every so often when you do a new chrome OS update. And as far as I know your screwed and just have to reload the os. I was using mine in school learning to program in C. I can still access all of my files through chrome OS but its still a huge pain in the ass. I just picked up a dell xps 13 DE so i'm just sticking with this now, Yes I know it is expensive....

Chuckn2x · May 5, 2015, 11:06am

Hmm. I just ran an update on Chromeos with Crouton installed, and nothing seems to be corrupted. Only time will tell...

Hitemlow32 · May 5, 2015, 6:40pm

This last time it was 5 and a half months before it happened. I had just stated thinking it was just the old one...

Chuckn2x · May 5, 2015, 8:06pm

Did another update and it screwed it up. Fortunately, all I had to run was sudo sh ~/Downloads/crouton -u -n precise and it's working fine now.

Chuckn2x · May 5, 2015, 8:09pm

I'm sure things will improve over time. It works perfectly fine for me right now, but maybe I'll feel differently later on.

Hitemlow32 · May 5, 2015, 8:24pm

crosh> shell
chronos@localhost / $ sudo startunity
Entering /mnt/stateful_partition/crouton/chroots/trusty...
Unknown username "whoopsie" in message bus configuration file

X.Org X Server 1.15.1
Release Date: 2014-04-13
X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0
Build Operating System: Linux 3.2.0-76-generic x86_64 Ubuntu
Current Operating System: Linux localhost 3.10.18 #1 SMP Mon Apr 27 10:22:23 PDT 2015 x86_64
Kernel command line: cros_secure console= loglevel=7 init=/sbin/init cros_secure oops=panic panic=-1 root=/dev/dm-0 rootwait ro dm_verity.error_behavior=3 dm_verity.max_bios=-1 dm_verity.dev_wait=1 dm="1 vroot none ro 1,0 2506752 verity payload=PARTUUID=d29dfd99-1252-5f49-98fa-73224f08a523/PARTNROFF=1 hashtree=PARTUUID=d29dfd99-1252-5f49-98fa-73224f08a523/PARTNROFF=1 hashstart=2506752 alg=sha1 root_hexdigest=2de16046c315b8b0e81a61d989f79c9189aba764 salt=b11b51a44510126239ddb3a066c6f30c21a1257cc79637dcb30d6d0e342f9507" noinitrd vt.global_cursor_default=0 kern_guid=d29dfd99-1252-5f49-98fa-73224f08a523 add_efi_memmap boot=local noresume noswap i915.modeset=1 tpm_tis.force=1 tpm_tis.interrupts=0 nmi_watchdog=panic,lapic
Build Date: 12 February 2015 02:49:29PM
xorg-server 2:1.15.1-0ubuntu2.7 (For technical support please see http://www.ubuntu.com/support)
Current version of pixman: 0.30.2
Before reporting problems, check http://wiki.x.org
to make sure that you have the latest version.
Markers: (--) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting,
(++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational,
(WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
(==) Log file: "/var/log/Xorg.1.log", Time: Tue May 5 16:19:04 2015
(==) Using system config directory "/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d"
(EE)
(EE) Backtrace:
(EE) 0: /usr/bin/X (xorg_backtrace+0x48) [0x7f151bd81848]
(EE) 1: /usr/bin/X (0x7f151bbd8000+0x1ad539) [0x7f151bd85539]
(EE) 2: /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libpthread.so.0 (0x7f151acd4000+0x10340) [0x7f151ace4340]
(EE) 3: /usr/bin/X (0x7f151bbd8000+0xb57a6) [0x7f151bc8d7a6]
(EE) 4: /usr/bin/X (xf86BusProbe+0x9) [0x7f151bc61099]
(EE) 5: /usr/bin/X (InitOutput+0x74d) [0x7f151bc6f6fd]
(EE) 6: /usr/bin/X (0x7f151bbd8000+0x59bab) [0x7f151bc31bab]
(EE) 7: /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so.6 (_libcstart_main+0xf5) [0x7f1519714ec5]
(EE) 8: /usr/bin/X (0x7f151bbd8000+0x451ee) [0x7f151bc1d1ee]
(EE)
(EE) Segmentation fault at address 0x0
(EE)
Fatal server error:
(EE) Caught signal 11 (Segmentation fault). Server aborting
(EE)
(EE)
Please consult the The X.Org Foundation support
at http://wiki.x.org
for help.
(EE) Please also check the log file at "/var/log/Xorg.1.log" for additional information.
(EE)
(EE) Server terminated with error (1). Closing log file.
/usr/bin/xinit: giving up
/usr/bin/xinit: unable to connect to X server: Connection refused
/usr/bin/xinit: server error
Not unmounting /mnt/stateful_partition/crouton/chroots/trusty as another instance is using it.
chronos@localhost / $ crosh> shell
bash: shell: Read-only file system
chronos@localhost / $ chronos@localhost / $ sudo startunity
bash: chronos@localhost: command not found
chronos@localhost / $ Entering /mnt/stateful_partition/crouton/chroots/trusty...
bash: Entering: command not found
chronos@localhost / $ Unknown username "whoopsie" in message bus configuration file
bash: Unknown: command not found
chronos@localhost / $
chronos@localhost / $
chronos@localhost / $ X.Org X Server 1.15.1
bash: X.Org: command not found
chronos@localhost / $ Release Date: 2014-04-13
bash: Release: command not found
chronos@localhost / $ X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0
Unrecognized option: Protocol
use: X [:] [option]
-a # default pointer acceleration (factor)
-ac disable access control restrictions
-audit int set audit trail level
-auth file select authorization file
-br create root window with black background
+bs enable any backing store support
-bs disable any backing store support
-c turns off key-click
c # key-click volume (0-100)
-cc int default color visual class
-nocursor disable the cursor
-core generate core dump on fatal error
-dpi int screen resolution in dots per inch
-dpms disables VESA DPMS monitor control
-deferglyphs [none|all|16] defer loading of [no|all|16-bit] glyphs
-f # bell base (0-100)
-fc string cursor font
-fn string default font name
-fp string default font path
-help prints message with these options
-I ignore all remaining arguments
-ld int limit data space to N Kb
-lf int limit number of open files to N
-ls int limit stack space to N Kb
-maxvt int maximum switchable VT, -1 to permit any
-nolock disable the locking mechanism
-nolisten string don't listen on protocol
-noreset don't reset after last client exists
-background [none] create root window with no background
-reset reset after last client exists
-p # screen-saver pattern duration (minutes)
-pn accept failure to listen on all ports
-nopn reject failure to listen on all ports
-r turns off auto-repeat
r turns on auto-repeat
-render [default|mono|gray|color] set render color alloc policy
-retro start with classic stipple and cursor
-s # screen-saver timeout (minutes)
-seat string seat to run on
-t # default pointer threshold (pixels/t)
-terminate terminate at server reset
-to # connection time out
-tst disable testing extensions
ttyxx server started from init on /dev/ttyxx
v video blanking for screen-saver
-v screen-saver without video blanking
-wm WhenMapped default backing-store
-wr create root window with white background
-maxbigreqsize set maximal bigrequest size
-dumbSched Disable smart scheduling, enable old behavior
-schedInterval int Set scheduler interval in msec
-sigstop Enable SIGSTOP based startup
+extension name Enable extension
-extension name Disable extension
[+-]accessx [ timeout [ timeout_mask [ feedback [ options_mask] ] ] ]
enable/disable accessx key sequences
-ardelay set XKB autorepeat delay
-arinterval set XKB autorepeat interval

Device Dependent Usage
-modulepath paths specify the module search path
-logfile file specify a log file name
-configure probe for devices and write an xorg.conf
-showopts print available options for all installed drivers
-config file specify a configuration file, relative to the
xorg.conf search path, only root can use absolute
-configdir dir specify a configuration directory, relative to the
xorg.conf.d search path, only root can use absolute
-verbose [n] verbose startup messages
-logverbose [n] verbose log messages
-quiet minimal startup messages
-pixmap24 use 24bpp pixmaps for depth 24
-pixmap32 use 32bpp pixmaps for depth 24
-fbbpp n set bpp for the framebuffer. Default: 8
-depth n set colour depth. Default: 8
-gamma f set gamma value (0.1 < f < 10.0) Default: 1.0
-rgamma f set gamma value for red phase
-ggamma f set gamma value for green phase
-bgamma f set gamma value for blue phase
-weight nnn set RGB weighting at 16 bpp. Default: 565
-layout name specify the ServerLayout section name
-screen name specify the Screen section name
-keyboard name specify the core keyboard InputDevice name
-pointer name specify the core pointer InputDevice name
-nosilk disable Silken Mouse
-flipPixels swap default black/white Pixel values
-allowMouseOpenFail start server even if the mouse can't be initialized
-ignoreABI make module ABI mismatches non-fatal
-isolateDevice bus_id restrict device resets to bus_id (PCI only)
-version show the server version
-showDefaultModulePath show the server default module path
-showDefaultLibPath show the server default library path
-novtswitch don't automatically switch VT at reset & exit
-sharevts share VTs with another X server
vtXX use the specified VT number
-keeptty don't detach controlling tty (for debugging only)
-nohwaccess don't access hardware ports directly

Fatal server error:
Unrecognized option: Protocol

Please consult the The X.Org Foundation support
at http://wiki.x.org
for help.

chronos@localhost / $ Build Operating System: Linux 3.2.0-76-generic x86_64 Ubuntu
bash: Build: command not found
chronos@localhost / $ Current Operating System: Linux localhost 3.10.18 #1 SMP Mon Apr 27 10:22:23 PDT 2015 x86_64
bash: Current: command not found
chronos@localhost / $ Kernel command line: cros_secure console= loglevel=7 init=/sbin/init cros_secure oops=panic panic=-1 root=/dev/dm-0 rootwait ro dm_verity.error_behavior=3 dm_verity.max_bios=-1 dm_verity.dev_wait=1 dm="1 vroot none ro 1,0 2506752 verity payload=PARTUUID=d29dfd99-1252-5f49-98fa-73224f08a523/PARTNROFF=1 hashtree=PARTUUID=d29dfd99-1252-5f49-98fa-73224f08a523/PARTNROFF=1 hashstart=2506752 alg=sha1 root_hexdigest=2de16046c315b8b0e81a61d989f79c9189aba764 salt=b11b51a44510126239ddb3a066c6f30c21a1257cc79637dcb30d6d0e342f9507" noinitrd vt.global_cursor_default=0 kern_guid=d29dfd99-1252-5f49-98fa-73224f08a523 add_efi_memmap boot=local noresume noswap i915.modeset=1 tpm_tis.force=1 tpm_tis.interrupts=0 nmi_watchdog=panic,lapic
bash: Kernel: command not found
chronos@localhost / $ Build Date: 12 February 2015 02:49:29PM
bash: Build: command not found
chronos@localhost / $ xorg-server 2:1.15.1-0ubuntu2.7 (For technical support please see http://www.ubuntu.com/support)
bash: syntax error near unexpected token (' chronos@localhost / $ Current version of pixman: 0.30.2 bash: Current: command not found chronos@localhost / $ Before reporting problems, check http://wiki.x.org bash: Before: command not found chronos@localhost / $ to make sure that you have the latest version. bash: to: command not found chronos@localhost / $ Markers: (--) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting, bash: syntax error near unexpected token--'
chronos@localhost / $ (++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational,
(++) from command line, (Markers: (--) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting,) notice, (II) informational,
bash: syntax error near unexpected token from' chronos@localhost / $ (WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown. bash: syntax error near unexpected tokenwarning,'
chronos@localhost / $ (==) Log file: "/var/log/Xorg.1.log", Time: Tue May 5 16:19:04 2015
bash: syntax error near unexpected token Log' chronos@localhost / $ (==) Using system config directory "/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d" bash: syntax error near unexpected tokenUsing'
chronos@localhost / $ (EE)
bash: EE: command not found
chronos@localhost / $ (EE) Backtrace:
bash: syntax error near unexpected token Backtrace:' chronos@localhost / $ (EE) 0: /usr/bin/X (xorg_backtrace+0x48) [0x7f151bd81848] bash: syntax error near unexpected token0:'
chronos@localhost / $ (EE) 1: /usr/bin/X (0x7f151bbd8000+0x1ad539) [0x7f151bd85539]
bash: syntax error near unexpected token 1:' chronos@localhost / $ (EE) 2: /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libpthread.so.0 (0x7f151acd4000+0x10340) [0x7f151ace4340] bash: syntax error near unexpected token2:'
chronos@localhost / $ (EE) 3: /usr/bin/X (0x7f151bbd8000+0xb57a6) [0x7f151bc8d7a6]
bash: syntax error near unexpected token 3:' chronos@localhost / $ (EE) 4: /usr/bin/X (xf86BusProbe+0x9) [0x7f151bc61099] bash: syntax error near unexpected token4:'
chronos@localhost / $ (EE) 5: /usr/bin/X (InitOutput+0x74d) [0x7f151bc6f6fd]
bash: syntax error near unexpected token 5:' chronos@localhost / $ (EE) 6: /usr/bin/X (0x7f151bbd8000+0x59bab) [0x7f151bc31bab] bash: syntax error near unexpected token6:'
chronos@localhost / $ (EE) 7: /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so.6 (_libcstart_main+0xf5) [0x7f1519714ec5]
bash: syntax error near unexpected token 7:' chronos@localhost / $ (EE) 8: /usr/bin/X (0x7f151bbd8000+0x451ee) [0x7f151bc1d1ee] bash: syntax error near unexpected token8:'
chronos@localhost / $ (EE)
bash: EE: command not found
chronos@localhost / $ (EE) Segmentation fault at address 0x0
bash: syntax error near unexpected token Segmentation' chronos@localhost / $ (EE) bash: EE: command not found chronos@localhost / $ Fatal server error: bash: Fatal: command not found chronos@localhost / $ (EE) Caught signal 11 (Segmentation fault). Server aborting bash: syntax error near unexpected tokenCaught'
chronos@localhost / $ (EE)
bash: EE: command not found
chronos@localhost / $ (EE)
bash: EE: command not found
chronos@localhost / $ Please consult the The X.Org Foundation support
bash: Please: command not found
chronos@localhost / $ at http://wiki.x.org
bash: at: command not found
chronos@localhost / $ for help.

(EE) Please also check the log file at "/var/log/Xorg.1.log" for additional information.
bash: syntax error near unexpected token (' chronos@localhost / $ (EE) bash: EE: command not found chronos@localhost / $ (EE) Server terminated with error (1). Closing log file. bash: syntax error near unexpected tokenServer'
chronos@localhost / $ /usr/bin/xinit: giving up
bash: /usr/bin/xinit:: No such file or directory
chronos@localhost / $ /usr/bin/xinit: unable to connect to X server: Connection refused
bash: /usr/bin/xinit:: No such file or directory
chronos@localhost / $ /usr/bin/xinit: server error
bash: /usr/bin/xinit:: No such file or directory

Chuckn2x · May 5, 2015, 8:30pm

sudo sh ~/Downloads/crouton -u -n precise . Did you run that?
(Replace Precise with whatever version you are running)

Hitemlow32 · May 5, 2015, 8:44pm

Yes it did nothing. I'm not trying to start anything here, it works great for a few months then you have to re load croton. Just don't depend on it.

Chuckn2x · May 10, 2015, 2:03am

Got Ubuntu 15.04 installed by removing write-protection and flashing the bios. I can now boot straight into 15.04 with the 3.19 kernel.