Thoughts on a ChromeBook

Forums › Chromium OS and Google Chrome OS › Thoughts on a ChromeBook

E3xtc

773 posts

Ultimate Geek

#258718 17-Oct-2019 08:19

Hello,

So I am thinking of getting a Chromebook for home (not school use). Main use would be for some online work (eg website/browser, social media admin (apps/browser based), and using google suite (eg slides, sheets, etc), a bit of basic image editing and no doubt email).

Would love for a touch screen...probably something around the 14" screen size and ideally around (ie not much more) the $500 mark.

What are peoples experiences, opinions, thoughts, ideas?

Cheers

jonathan18

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#2338610 17-Oct-2019 09:17

Have you had a search for previous threads, as there are a number on here that are worth reading.

Here's one I started when going through the same exercise:

https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=37&topicid=236075

And here's another from another member who was looking to get one; I see I posted in this highlighting some of the issues with my Chromebook:

https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=129&topicid=240330

If my Chromebook died tomorrow I don't think I'd buy another; I almost always elect to pick up the HP X360 instead of the Asus. I also think one can find a decently-performing Windows-based laptop (with SSD and 1080 screen) for not that much more money than a quality Chromebook - they're rare but do come up, and it'll come with far fewer compromises than a Chromebook (eg, full Microsoft Office).

E3xtc

773 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2338630 17-Oct-2019 09:39

Yeah I did - but most of them are sort of old (in the sense of technology time :) ) - but will give them a read nonetheless.

jonathan18

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#2339664 17-Oct-2019 10:55

Given you were asking for general feedback (not specific recommendations) and given that CromeOS is automatically and regularly updated so older devices generally can perform the same functions as newer ones (unless the device is so old so as to not get certain features), the comments in those threads are still relatively pertinent!

E3xtc

773 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2339688 17-Oct-2019 11:54

Yeah so have read through those threads and there is not really much in there. Some people saying they are awesome. Others saying its not for them. I think for what I am doing, they might be well suited. For me it will be a secondary device also.

Off to Amazon by the looks of things and to maybe hold off for some Black Friday deals or the like :\

rhy7s

623 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2339748 17-Oct-2019 13:22

They're great as a lightweight low hassle device for web tasks and the occasional Android app. I don't like the expiry policy https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/6220366?hl=en - if Neverware's still around when it comes to that time you could run CloudReady on it, or switch to Linux. For more heavy duty tasks, I'd recommend ex-lease business grade Windows laptops.

E3xtc

773 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2339749 17-Oct-2019 13:24

But the expiry date is just when patches/updates are applied though right? So the device will continue to function. Much in the same way that any other OS manufaturer will drop support of legacy devices - although the 6.5 years for a Chromebook does seem pretty short...but it should still continue to function afterwards 🤷

rhy7s

623 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2339751 17-Oct-2019 13:29

Yeah, it will still work. In education it's a hassle when they fall out of management. I just think it's very arbitrary compared to being able to run stuff going on 20 years old in Windows and Linux.

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E3xtc

773 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2339993 18-Oct-2019 08:38

The thought of running a 20 y/o laptop makes me want to run and hide tbh :) And in all fairness the price point of a Chromebook is easily obtainable for a few hundred dollars (certainly less than $1000), whereas the Windows laptops are usually > $1000, so theoretically you could buy a couple of Chromebooks in the lifespan of a normal Windows Laptop and still be about even albeit on newer hardware.... seems like its just a matter of use case and willingness to switch hardware on a more regular cycle. Hmmm.

jonathan18

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#2340016 18-Oct-2019 09:30

For the purposes you want to use a laptop, I'd not imagine there's any need to spend anywhere near $1k on a Windows machine - for example, here's an Acer 14" Windows laptop with 1080 screen for $749 from JB:

https://www.jbhifi.co.nz/computers-tablets/laptops/acer/acer-swift-1-sf114-32-p6yd-14-laptop/367318/

My sister bought a variant of this for exactly the same kinds of things you would do and she says it's performed perfectly.

I spent $65 more on my Asus C302 Chromebook than the Acer above, and while the build of this will be superior and it's a 360-type device, I still wouldn't buy it next time.

But, sure, you seem sold on them as a device, so go for it!

One thing: just like cheaper Windows laptops, very few have quality and/or 1080 screens, so that's something to watch out for.