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Chrome OS is designed to run applications that are off-topic on Super User (web apps, plus it can run Android apps). Aside from the browser incorporated into the OS, it can run some lightweight installed apps (to the extent they fit; they're largely web apps modified to run locally). However, the target niche for which Chrome OS was created is web apps.

The target platform it is designed around is minimalist hardware. The configuration is typically similar to an (off-topic) Android tablet with a keyboard, although there are some models that might be considered notebooks.

So Chrome OS can be used to run some installed apps on hardware that is not precluded from being in the notebook class. However, the usage, and typical configuration, for which it is targeted is running off-topic apps on off-topic hardware.

The tag wiki summary doesn't mention anything about Chrome OS, itself, being off-topic.

Should scope be driven by:

• the target usage and platform (probably off-topic),
• the highest potential usage and platform (perhaps on-topic),
• the usage and platform specific to the question (e.g., local apps on-topic, web apps off-topic, notebook on-topic, tablet off-topic, OS questions?),
• or would it be on-topic because it is about computer hardware/software as generally described in the help center and not specifically excluded?

The primary purpose of Chrome OS is to run applications that are off-topic on Super User (web apps, plus it can run Android apps, both off-topic).

The devices it runs on (Chromebooks), are designed to be used primarily while connected to the Internet, with most applications and data residing online. Their hardware configuration is typically similar to an (off-topic) Android tablet with a keyboard.

Chrome OS is capable of running some lightweight installed apps (to the extent they fit in what is typically minimal storage capacity), and there are some Chromebooks that could be considered notebooks. However, the design purpose is running off-topic apps, and the typical hardware configuration is similar to off-topic hardware.

The tag wiki summary doesn't mention anything about Chrome OS, itself, being off-topic. For that matter, netbooks do not appear to be off-topic. Virtually everything Android is off-topic (OS, applications, hardware), and it is not due to the existence of the Android SE site. So I'm trying to clarify the boundaries of Chrome OS being on-topic.

• Apps

  Web apps and Android apps are off-topic. What about the non-Android installed apps? What about the incorporated browser (is it a completely standard Chrome implementation)?

• Hardware

  If notebooks, sub-notebooks, and netbooks are on-topic and Android tablets are not, where do at least low-end Chromebooks fall in terms of scope?

• OS

  Are questions about Chrome OS, itself (user interface, utilities, interfacing with other devices, system maintenance, etc.), on topic?

Chrome OS is designed to run applications that are off-topic on Super User (web apps, plus it can run Android apps). It can also run some lightweight installed apps (to the extent they fit; they're largely web apps modified to run locally). However, the target niche for which Chrome OS was created is web apps.

The target platform it is designed around is minimalist hardware. The configuration is typically similar to an (off-topic) Android tablet with a keyboard, although there are some models that might be considered sub-notebooks.

So Chrome OS can be used to run some installed apps on hardware that is not precluded from being in the sub-notebook class. However, the usage, and typical configuration, for which it is targeted is running off-topic apps on off-topic hardware.

The tag wiki summary doesn't mention anything about Chrome OS, itself, being off-topic.

1. Should scope be driven by:

   • the target usage and platform (probably off-topic),
   • the highest potential usage and platform (perhaps on-topic),
   • the usage and platform specific to the question (e.g., local apps on-topic, web apps off-topic, sub-notebook on-topic, tablet off-topic, OS?),
   • or would it be on-topic because it is about computer hardware/software as generally described in the help center and not specifically excluded?

2. If at least some Chrome OS questions would be on-topic, what would be an example of such a question?

Chrome OS is designed to run applications that are off-topic on Super User (web apps, plus it can run Android apps). Aside from the browser incorporated into the OS, it can run some lightweight installed apps (to the extent they fit; they're largely web apps modified to run locally). However, the target niche for which Chrome OS was created is web apps.

The target platform it is designed around is minimalist hardware. The configuration is typically similar to an (off-topic) Android tablet with a keyboard, although there are some models that might be considered notebooks.

So Chrome OS can be used to run some installed apps on hardware that is not precluded from being in the notebook class. However, the usage, and typical configuration, for which it is targeted is running off-topic apps on off-topic hardware.

The tag wiki summary doesn't mention anything about Chrome OS, itself, being off-topic.

Should scope be driven by:

• the target usage and platform (probably off-topic),
• the highest potential usage and platform (perhaps on-topic),
• the usage and platform specific to the question (e.g., local apps on-topic, web apps off-topic, notebook on-topic, tablet off-topic, OS questions?),
• or would it be on-topic because it is about computer hardware/software as generally described in the help center and not specifically excluded?

Chrome OS is designed to run applications that are off-topic on Super User (web apps, plus it can run Android apps). It can also run some lightweight installed apps (to the extent they fit; they're largely web apps modified to run locally). However, the target niche for which Chrome OS was created is web apps.

The target platform it is designed around is minimalist hardware. The configuration is typically similar to an (off-topic) Android tablet with a keyboard, although there are a few models that might be considered sub-notebooks.

So Chrome OS can be used to run some installed apps on hardware that is not precluded from being in the subnotebook class. However, the usage, and typical configuration, for which it is targeted is running off-topic apps on off-topic hardware.

The tag wiki summary doesn't mention anything about Chrome OS, itself, being off-topic.

1. Should scope be driven by:

   • the target usage and platform (probably off-topic),
   • the highest potential usage and platform (perhaps on-topic),
   • the usage and platform specific to the question (e.g., resident apps on-topic, web apps off-topic),
   • or would it be on-topic because it is about computer hardware/software as generally described in the help center and not specifically excluded?

2. If at least some Chrome OS questions would be on-topic, what would be an example of such a question?

Chrome OS is designed to run applications that are off-topic on Super User (web apps, plus it can run Android apps). It can also run some lightweight installed apps (to the extent they fit; they're largely web apps modified to run locally). However, the target niche for which Chrome OS was created is web apps.

The target platform it is designed around is minimalist hardware. The configuration is typically similar to an (off-topic) Android tablet with a keyboard, although there are some models that might be considered sub-notebooks.

So Chrome OS can be used to run some installed apps on hardware that is not precluded from being in the sub-notebook class. However, the usage, and typical configuration, for which it is targeted is running off-topic apps on off-topic hardware.

The tag wiki summary doesn't mention anything about Chrome OS, itself, being off-topic.

1. Should scope be driven by:

   • the target usage and platform (probably off-topic),
   • the highest potential usage and platform (perhaps on-topic),
   • the usage and platform specific to the question (e.g., local apps on-topic, web apps off-topic, sub-notebook on-topic, tablet off-topic, OS?),
   • or would it be on-topic because it is about computer hardware/software as generally described in the help center and not specifically excluded?

2. If at least some Chrome OS questions would be on-topic, what would be an example of such a question?