brent You used all apps from the cloud and saved your life to the cloud. Conceptually I was revolted. This isn't computing.
It isn't traditional computing, in the sense that operating systems like Windows, macOS and Linux are designed around locally installed applications and locally stored data. Chrome OS is somewhat akin to what we used to call "thin client" computing, in the sense that a Chromebook is designed around remote (these days, cloud-based) installed applications and remotely stored data. To my mind, the two models reflect a differing philosophy on how to access applications, services and data.
Both computing models are probably adequate to meet most needs of an "ordinary home desktop user", in the sense that both models work well for web browsing, web-based shopping, banking and so on, social media, e-mail, messaging, streaming media, word processing/spreadsheets, video chat and remote collaboration, and basic photo and video editing.
I don't own or use a Chromebook, so my experience is limited, but I have a friend at the railroad who uses a modern Chromebook instead of a traditional laptop, and he gets along just fine with the "thin client" model. My husband uses something of a hybrid model using Windows 10, doing most of his work and storing his data online, and that seems to work well for him. My guess is that the "thin client" model would work for a high percentage of "ordinary home desktop users", and the fact that almost all kids are using school-supplied Chromebooks these days suggests to me that the consumer computing market is headed in the "thin client" direction.
But to each his own. I prefer the traditional computing model, and I would never, under any circumstances, lock myself into the Google ecosystem.
What impresses me about Chrome OS is that the UI layer is well-designed and intuitive, the kernel and OS layers are stable and trouble-free, updates are automatic and invisible, and users don't need to know anything about the plumbing to be productive or use ChromeOS long-term. Android, iOS, macOS and Windows 11 meet that "easy to use, hassle-free" standard as well. although imperfectly. I would like to see Linux desktop rise to that level, because that is what most consumers want and need.
