I've updated my Holiday Films 2024 watch list with Home Alone 3 (1997) and Ernest Saves Christmas (1988). Short synopsis on both— PASS.

Current status.
Don’t ask.

MintBook

A 2024 take on the tiny netbooks of the past.

After some searching, I managed to find and secure what has quickly become my tiny little netbook of 2024. It feels like I took a trip to the past and brought back some of the best features of old tech—updated just enough for today.

Last month, when I reflected on the value of tiny little netbooks from years ago, I imagined what a 2024 version might look like for me. At the time, I didn’t think I’d actually purchase a tiny laptop so quickly—or end up using it as much as I currently am. 1

Since most of my writing, web browsing, and general online activities now happen on this underpowered machine, I thought it might be worth sharing how I arrived at daily driving such a device.

Sourcing a Device

I started by scouring Facebook Marketplace, eBay, and Kijiji for used Chromebooks under $100. I knew that to get the small form factor I wanted without spending much, I’d likely need an older education model with an 11" screen.

Initially, I looked for models with 8GB of RAM and an upgradable hard drive, but most were well beyond my budget. Sticking to my goal, I opted for a 4GB RAM + 32GB eMMC storage model with a microSD card slot for additional storage.

After finding a device that met my specs and price point, I confirmed that it could run a different operating system. One of the appeals of older Chromebooks is their ability to swap out Chrome OS for a Linux distro—if the right model is selected. A quick check on MrChromebox.tech confirmed I could flash the BIOS. That sealed the deal, and the Buy It Now button was clicked.

The device cost me $32 before shipping.

Even if this experiment was short-lived, I figured I’d get my money’s worth.

The Setup

When it arrived, I:

  • unpackaged it immediately and marvelled at its $32 beauty,
  • gave the exterior a thorough cleaning,
  • opened it up to disconnect the battery 2,
  • cleaned the surprisingly tidy internals,
  • followed the MrChromebox.tech guide, and
  • flashed the BIOS.

With the prep done, I installed a lightweight Linux distro for low-spec machines. After testing a few, I landed on Lubuntu. 3

Setting up the device—including installing key apps like Brave, QOwnNotes, and Apostrophe, along with custom keybindings—took me about 60–90 minutes.

In no time, I had turned an old education-focused Chromebook into my 2024 netbook.

Why This Tiny Machine Works for Me

This tiny, portable, and affordable device has exceeded expectations. It’s my daily companion and sees more use than my iPad Pro or ThinkPad T480s. Why? It fits everywhere—from my leather satchel to my GORUCK GR1. No more swapping devices just to change bags.

What Surprised Me Most

  1. Battery life: It’s incredible. I rarely power it off and only charge it when the battery is completely drained. Even with frequent use, I get an estimated 13–18 hours of battery life per charge.
  2. Desktop versatility: Plugging the MintBook (yes, that’s what I’m calling it) into my docking station transforms it into a desktop setup. Linux Mint handles dual displays far better than Windows, and I’ve noticed no performance drop.
  3. Expandable storage: By remapping /home directories to the SD card, I’ve essentially eliminated concerns about running out of space. With media files and regular text documents easily accessible, the 32GB eMMC drive is no longer a limitation.

What Could Be Better

  1. Lubuntu: Never again. It’s ugly and unintuitive, even for a lightweight distro. Mint is far better.
  2. The touchpad: Garbage. It’s functional but clearly a cost-saving measure. Thankfully, the keyboard is surprisingly decent.
  3. The missing DELETE key: This is a Chromebook quirk that still frustrates me. I’ve yet to map a workaround for it.

Final Thoughts

This device won’t win awards, but it does exactly what I need.

For under $50, it’s an absolute steal—perfect for reading, writing, project planning, and most browser-based activities. While it struggles with large datasets or too many browser tabs, that’s a trade-off I’m fine with.

It’s not quite on par with the best computer I’ve ever owned, but for the price, I’m not complaining.

Would I recommend this to others? Only if they can set realistic expectations. If you’re good with “just enough,” this device more than delivers. For me, it’s been a revelation.

  1. Pssst… this is being typed on my 2024 netbook.

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  2. Disconnecting the battery disables write protection, which is necessary to flash the BIOS.

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  3. Lubuntu didn't last. I tried Pop!_OS next, but ultimately switched to Linux Mint. Lubuntu was too bare-bones and required constant tweaking. Pop!_OS was functional but sluggish on this device. Mint, as always, struck the perfect balance of functionality, stability, and ease of use. It’s my go-to when I want a polished experience out of the box.

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Anyone thinking that moving to BlueSky or Threads will end up any different than the downfall of Twitter is dead wrong.

Remember, the fellow who started Twitter and sold it to the highest bidder also started BlueSky. And, the folks who run Threads also run the most detrimental-to-your-health platform in the history of the internet.

History repeats itself because we're collectively stupid and allow it to repeat.