Chromebooks - how do you use yours and why did you get it?

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Tangled Metal
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Chromebooks - how do you use yours and why did you get it?

Post by Tangled Metal »

I was looking for a replacement tablet for my son's that got damaged. Looked at curry's and argos for tablets and saw a cheaper chromebook 2 in 1. The tablets had 32gb memory and the chromebook 64gb with an inch bigger screen. It was £149 where the Samsung or lenovo tablets with half the memory were £179 - £240. Not sure it's a good option, it is probably a cheap and slow processing chromebook and the tablets are still better.

I'd prefer to find out why people who own a chromebook chose it? It's kind of a cut price laptop with software limitations by design it seems to me, but it does have advantages. Not sure I quite like the idea that you need Internet connection to use it in most uses through browser based apps. With iffy country Internet might occasionally lose connection and use ability. It's this that makes me think that if you want a laptop get a Windows one, if you want a tablet get a tablet not a halfway in between but still different.

One advantage of newer chromebooks is they can load android apps. That's good for son's games.

The other question is why did you get it? What feature made you decide to get one? Was it a good decision or any regrets?
Bonzo Banana
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Re: Chromebooks - how do you use yours and why did you get it?

Post by Bonzo Banana »

I got one for my mother, she had a windows 10 laptop before and was always crashing and needing updates and stuff. Just sucking up time when I got there and she was really only using the web browser for banking, shopping, news etc.

Now she just gets on with it and charging is like every other day rather than twice a day. It's super fast and efficient and very stable. I use Windows because I do PC gaming but god Windows is awful. We have run a few android apps on the chromebook. She has some smart scales that had an android app but the app wouldn't work on the chromebook and the scales went back.
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al_yrpal
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Re: Chromebooks - how do you use yours and why did you get it?

Post by al_yrpal »

Bought my last but one Chromebook in 2014, it becomes non supported in June so I have just bought a new one, an Acer Spin. You can use it as a laptop, a tablet (it has a touch screen) or 'tent' style for Zoom. I had a smaller cheaper Chromebook before that but passed that on to my grandson for Uni. I bought one for my grandaughter too. They both used them to complete their degrees.

I bought the Chromebook to escape all the slowness and hassle with Windoze. I should point out that I started and ran my own business supplying PCs as part of CAD and rapid prototyping systems for 15 years, so I was by no means Windoze illiterate.

For what I use it for its great. Boots up almost instantly, its quick, no 'IT' problems whatsoever. It integrates totally with my other Android devices. Silent, with more than 12 hours battery life.

The only limitation I ever experienced was the Chromebooks inability to run Photoshop and Lightroom. But, I am not into faking photos so that doesnt matter to me. If I need to tweak pictures there are free photo editors available. I suspect there are versions of Adobes' software for Chromebooks nowadays.

I have never paid for any Chromebook software whatsoever. Its always used in the home with fast internet so no limitations there. The android phone is fine away from home. With huuuge 32gb of internal storage no internet connection is not a problem anyway. Remember 100mb hard disks? :lol:

I appreciate there may be specialist Windoze software and games not available on Chromebooks but for my use the Chromebook is great. My new purchase makes my old Lenovo tablet redundant.

With a Google email address you can use any Chromebook as a guest without affecting the owners account in any way. Try one out.....

Al
Reuse, recycle, thus do your bit to save the planet.... Get stuff at auctions, Dump, Charity Shops, Facebook Marketplace, Ebay, Car Boots. Choose an Old House, and a Banger ..... And cycle as often as you can......
Tangled Metal
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Re: Chromebooks - how do you use yours and why did you get it?

Post by Tangled Metal »

Thanks. Might get one.
briansnail
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Re: Chromebooks - how do you use yours and why did you get it?

Post by briansnail »

What age is he? if in school or approaching Uni methinks Laptop is the way to go.Especially for essays and research.Chromebooks seems to be more orientated to entertainment.Its worth the extra money.Out of gratitude he will keep you in nice bikes when you retire.
Tangled Metal
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Re: Chromebooks - how do you use yours and why did you get it?

Post by Tangled Metal »

What device are they targeting for replacement in most households? Laptop or tablet?

We have laptops in w10 for work uses and my partner uses it for Internet browsing, shopping and banking. I use my tablet for most home use except work use. Our son uses tablet for Internet games, YouTube, etc. Would one work for everything except the more heavy duty work stuff?
Tangled Metal
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Re: Chromebooks - how do you use yours and why did you get it?

Post by Tangled Metal »

briansnail wrote: 17 May 2022, 8:07pm What age is he? if in school or approaching Uni methinks Laptop is the way to go.Especially for essays and research.Chromebooks seems to be more orientated to entertainment.Its worth the extra money.Out of gratitude he will keep you in nice bikes when you retire.
He's 9yo. He's interested in us getting one and he's wanted a computer for some time now. Admittedly a triple monitor gaming computer with RGB keyboard and mouse, plus phone and ps5. He's getting neither but a share of a chromebook might be OK.

School has a cabinet full of laptops and tablets. I've never heard of a primary school where every class has such a movable, secure cabinet of tech like that. Admittedly they're not the latest of kit but still good. He's quite proficient in using them and any tech.

Despite that I am probably looking for justification to get myself one when I know two laptops, two tablets and decent but 2 yo mobile is probably enough for any real need I have. Oh and two kindles, one with iffy battery though. Oh that's just my tech, my partner has desktop, laptop and work laptop. Son has tablet with cracked screen and Nintendo switch. Oh and don't get me on to my bike list, I've got a collection there too. :)
Jdsk
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Re: Chromebooks - how do you use yours and why did you get it?

Post by Jdsk »

Tangled Metal wrote: 16 May 2022, 11:11pmNot sure I quite like the idea that you need Internet connection to use it in most uses through browser based apps. With iffy country Internet might occasionally lose connection and use ability.
The major Google programs now run offline and resynchronise when a connection is established.

Jonathan
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al_yrpal
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Re: Chromebooks - how do you use yours and why did you get it?

Post by al_yrpal »

briansnail wrote: 17 May 2022, 8:07pm What age is he? if in school or approaching Uni methinks Laptop is the way to go.Especially for essays and research.Chromebooks seems to be more orientated to entertainment.Its worth the extra money.Out of gratitude he will keep you in nice bikes when you retire.
Entertainment? The main buyers and users of Chromebooks are schools and colleges! Great value and zero hassle and maintenance.

Squarely aimed at academia!

Al
Reuse, recycle, thus do your bit to save the planet.... Get stuff at auctions, Dump, Charity Shops, Facebook Marketplace, Ebay, Car Boots. Choose an Old House, and a Banger ..... And cycle as often as you can......
Jdsk
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Re: Chromebooks - how do you use yours and why did you get it?

Post by Jdsk »

I know that you wanted to hear about personal experiences, but from what you've added I'd now recommend that you list the intended uses:
* For him and for you
* How much it will be carried around and used in informal places
* Any particular software or software compatibility that's needed, such as Office or collaborative games or what the school requires
* Anything beyond casual editing of photos, video or audio.

And how you feel about Google as a company.

Jonathan
Tangled Metal
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Re: Chromebooks - how do you use yours and why did you get it?

Post by Tangled Metal »

YouTube, Internet, email and probably office type basic work. Google docs or apps it allows to save as ms office file formats for later work in a Windows/work computer. No photo editing aside from rotate, crop and compress. Oh, for tablet beating it needs to cope with android games too.

I think that's nothing behind what a chromebook can do.

No issues with Google.i don't think any tech company is better or worse than each other by significant levels. Possibly wrong but if we want the modern online world then you've got to give something commercial to the companies in exchange. Your data is possibly just one of those transactions we've already agreed to.
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al_yrpal
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Re: Chromebooks - how do you use yours and why did you get it?

Post by al_yrpal »

Nothing to be worried about there, I think you will be delighted, I was.... Its just a pity that my perfect 2014 Chromebook is now junk. It served me well. Its going on Facebook market place for £50 to be hopefully recycled by someone who can put Linux on it and find a use for it.

Al
Reuse, recycle, thus do your bit to save the planet.... Get stuff at auctions, Dump, Charity Shops, Facebook Marketplace, Ebay, Car Boots. Choose an Old House, and a Banger ..... And cycle as often as you can......
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Re: Chromebooks - how do you use yours and why did you get it?

Post by Bonefishblues »

al_yrpal wrote: 17 May 2022, 10:33pm
briansnail wrote: 17 May 2022, 8:07pm What age is he? if in school or approaching Uni methinks Laptop is the way to go.Especially for essays and research.Chromebooks seems to be more orientated to entertainment.Its worth the extra money.Out of gratitude he will keep you in nice bikes when you retire.
Entertainment? The main buyers and users of Chromebooks are schools and colleges! Great value and zero hassle and maintenance.

Squarely aimed at academia!

Al
My daughter will use one when she goes to secondary school in September.
Jdsk
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Re: Chromebooks - how do you use yours and why did you get it?

Post by Jdsk »

Jdsk wrote: 17 May 2022, 10:37pm I know that you wanted to hear about personal experiences, but from what you've added I'd now recommend that you list the intended uses:
* For him and for you
* How much it will be carried around and used in informal places
* Any particular software or software compatibility that's needed, such as Office or collaborative games or what the school requires
* Anything beyond casual editing of photos, video or audio.

And how you feel about Google as a company.
Tangled Metal wrote: 17 May 2022, 11:07pm YouTube, Internet, email and probably office type basic work. Google docs or apps it allows to save as ms office file formats for later work in a Windows/work computer. No photo editing aside from rotate, crop and compress. Oh, for tablet beating it needs to cope with android games too.

I think that's nothing behind what a chromebook can do.

No issues with Google.i don't think any tech company is better or worse than each other by significant levels. Possibly wrong but if we want the modern online world then you've got to give something commercial to the companies in exchange. Your data is possibly just one of those transactions we've already agreed to.
Thanks.

I'd check explicitly with his school.

But apart from that I wouldn't expect many surprises, and the many published lists of advantages and disadvantages should cover your uses.

Jonathan
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mjr
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Re: Chromebooks - how do you use yours and why did you get it?

Post by mjr »

Jdsk wrote: 17 May 2022, 10:32pm
Tangled Metal wrote: 16 May 2022, 11:11pmNot sure I quite like the idea that you need Internet connection to use it in most uses through browser based apps. With iffy country Internet might occasionally lose connection and use ability.
The major Google programs now run offline and resynchronise when a connection is established.
But, more usefully, most Android and Linux apps can be installed on them and work fine offline. And, as someone already hinted, you can often escape the Google monopoly by installing Linux instead of ChromeOS as the main software, but of course then the whole thing behaves differently.
MJR, mostly pedalling 3-speed roadsters. KL+West Norfolk BUG incl social easy rides http://www.klwnbug.co.uk
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