Chromebooks?

[TwinCities]

Anyone here have/use a Chromebook on a regular basis? Decent experience? I'm heavily tied into Google services so thought about getting one for doing light work from home in the evenings.

[Babaganoosh]

Bought one when they first came out. Hate it. It's useful now only because I installed Linux on it.

[kane]

I thought about getting one, but changed my mind for two reasons. At the time there was no Office 365 and as far as I knew Office wouldn't run on the Chromebook. Also, I wanted a laptop I could play DVDs and Blu Ray discs on which wasn't an option.

However, if I just needed something to take with me when I travel that I can check email with, surf the web and do basic things I might think about it because they are cheap.

[Wilbo]

I have one of these and love it. I use it to sit in my recliner at night and tinker with. Has Windows 8.1, 32 gig solid state hard drive and 2 gigs of ram. Has like 8 hour battery life and is nice and light. It can run photoshop and Office with no problems. I like that you can install programs on it, unlike a Chromebook.


Buy HP Stream 13-c077nr Signature Edition Laptop - Microsoft Store


https://www.dealscube.com/index.php?... XBoC-Zzw_wcB

[Chosen]

Never seriously thought of buying Chromebook...

[TwinCities]

I wouldn't use it as a full-time computer obviously as it is lacking, but I would likely use it as an iPad replacement to sit on the sofa with and putz around. I'd at least be able to easily edit documents and spreadsheets on the thing too with Google Docs if I needed to.

[okok]

I got one for my wife 2.5 years ago and it is AWESOME.

I have done close to ZERO tech support.

The only issue is that she needs to use Excel for work sometimes.

Huge value for $250 bucks if the main uses are web, email, and Chrome apps. SO much better than getting a virus-magnet Windows laptop for twice the price.

EDIT: That HP Stream looks pretty cool. I don't think there was anything that nice at that pricepoint 2.5 year ago. Still concerned about virus bullshit though :D.

[mineistaken]

Correct me if I am wrong, but is it just for "apps" and stuff?
I would better get netbook for full experience.

[mineistaken]

Originally Posted by Babaganoosh

Bought one when they first came out. Hate it. It's useful now only because I installed Linux on it.

That turns it into a real computer?

[mineistaken]

Originally Posted by TwinCities

I wouldn't use it as a full-time computer obviously as it is lacking, but I would likely use it as an iPad replacement to sit on the sofa with and putz around. I'd at least be able to easily edit documents and spreadsheets on the thing too with Google Docs if I needed to.

Well then go for it, definitely better than tablet.

[kane]

Originally Posted by mineistaken

Correct me if I am wrong, but is it just for "apps" and stuff?
I would better get netbook for full experience.

These days, if I understand correctly, you an actually do a lot on them. Microsoft recently released a version of Office online that works on Chromebooks and they can run any Chrome addons. There is even an android emulator so you can run android apps.

The real downside of them is that there is still a lot of software out there that can't run on the Chrome OS so don't be expecting to play a lot of games or things like that. To me they basically seem like a tablet that has a keyboard attached.