OK, I need a portable dev machine. I thought about installing Ubuntu on my old 2008 Macbook Air (1,1), but the Ubuntu page itself says that it's a painful install.
How good would a chromebook be for, say, developing a small rails app?
Highly depends on your workflow and the hardware you've chosen. If you're developing locally and have the $249 Samsung Chromebook, it only comes with 2GB RAM and 16GB disk soldered onboard, so things are going to get pretty tight.
How good would a chromebook be for, say, developing a small rails app?