Im looking at buying a Chromebook laptop as im a big google fan but are they any good?
what are the pros and cons?
what are the pros and cons?
Chromebooks any good?
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As pointed out, there are many threads here about Chromebooks. At the moment, the new HP Chromebook 11 has just come out and is an excellent machine worth considering. Not only does it look great, but performs great too.
Having a Chromebook will be living life in a browser, but if you think about it, most people spend their whole lives just in a web-browser so it's no big deal. Thankfully you're tied into Google's ecosystem, with Google Drive, Documents and Chrome, and the numerous extensions that make life inside that browser quite comfortable.
As a freelance writer, I've been living life in a browser these last few weeks for a few articles I'm writing. This one here shows how things are going so far. I've been doing all my usual work this way, and so far not come across any stumbling blocks.
If you're looking for cons of a Chromebook, then if you need a particular type of software for high-powered work then check there's a web equivalent first, my article lists a few which perfectly do the job that I need them to do.
I say embrace the future, as a laptop for the masses, they're perfectly equipped to do what most people need. Just make sure you have an internet connection.
Mark
Having a Chromebook will be living life in a browser, but if you think about it, most people spend their whole lives just in a web-browser so it's no big deal. Thankfully you're tied into Google's ecosystem, with Google Drive, Documents and Chrome, and the numerous extensions that make life inside that browser quite comfortable.
As a freelance writer, I've been living life in a browser these last few weeks for a few articles I'm writing. This one here shows how things are going so far. I've been doing all my usual work this way, and so far not come across any stumbling blocks.
If you're looking for cons of a Chromebook, then if you need a particular type of software for high-powered work then check there's a web equivalent first, my article lists a few which perfectly do the job that I need them to do.
I say embrace the future, as a laptop for the masses, they're perfectly equipped to do what most people need. Just make sure you have an internet connection.
Mark
Good points:
Not Windows 8.
Less expensive than Windows laptops.
Less complicated than Windows.
Should be more reliable than Windows.
Automatic updates.
Interchangeable (zero setup if you switch to a different Chromebook, just log in).
Proper keyboard (although small screen implies small keyboard).
Larger screens than on tablets.
Bad points:
Only available with relatively small screens at the moment (this is likely to improve in the future as manfacturers switch production from Windows laptops to Chromebooks).
Can't run Skype.
Printing is fiddly, you can't just plug in a printer.
Reduced functionality when there is no internet connection (this has improved; you can now continue to edit current documents etc).
Ongoing subscription cost for Google Drive after the initial period.
Can't install Windows EXE programs.
I'm not sure whether Adobe Flash Player can be used or not.
Not suitable for anyone who is paranoid about Google
Not Windows 8.
Less expensive than Windows laptops.
Less complicated than Windows.
Should be more reliable than Windows.
Automatic updates.
Interchangeable (zero setup if you switch to a different Chromebook, just log in).
Proper keyboard (although small screen implies small keyboard).
Larger screens than on tablets.
Bad points:
Only available with relatively small screens at the moment (this is likely to improve in the future as manfacturers switch production from Windows laptops to Chromebooks).
Can't run Skype.
Printing is fiddly, you can't just plug in a printer.
Reduced functionality when there is no internet connection (this has improved; you can now continue to edit current documents etc).
Ongoing subscription cost for Google Drive after the initial period.
Can't install Windows EXE programs.
I'm not sure whether Adobe Flash Player can be used or not.
Not suitable for anyone who is paranoid about Google
Originally Posted by John259:
“Good points:
Bad points:
Can't run Skype. - But can run Google equivalent
Ongoing subscription cost for Google Drive after the initial period. You get 15GB free and all documents created using Google Docs do not use the allowance
Not suitable for anyone who is paranoid about Google - lol”
“Good points:
Bad points:
Can't run Skype. - But can run Google equivalent
Ongoing subscription cost for Google Drive after the initial period. You get 15GB free and all documents created using Google Docs do not use the allowance
Not suitable for anyone who is paranoid about Google
- lol”
Just a few comments on that.
Mark
Originally Posted by noise747:
“One big can, it is Google spyware”
“One big can, it is Google spyware”
Grow up......
I got the Mrs the Samsung one that was on offer on amazon a few weeks ago and she absolutely loves it. Ditched her ipad 2 for it.
Looks good, nice and fast, light as hell and battery lasts for ages.
I would recommend one.
I have 2 samsung ones. I bought one then liked it so much I bougfht another. Lift the lid, its on, close the lid to finish. Battery lasts ages. Surprisingly fast response, ideal for internet, email, facebook etc.
I have a desktop but rarely use it now. I have Win 7 on one hard drive and Win 8.1 on another. Both take too long to boot and update etc.
I have a desktop but rarely use it now. I have Win 7 on one hard drive and Win 8.1 on another. Both take too long to boot and update etc.
Originally Posted by Stiggles:
“Grow up......
I got the Mrs the Samsung one that was on offer on amazon a few weeks ago and she absolutely loves it. Ditched her ipad 2 for it.
Looks good, nice and fast, light as hell and battery lasts for ages.
I would recommend one.”
“Grow up......
I got the Mrs the Samsung one that was on offer on amazon a few weeks ago and she absolutely loves it. Ditched her ipad 2 for it.
Looks good, nice and fast, light as hell and battery lasts for ages.
I would recommend one.”
They are known for doing their own little research about their users.
Originally Posted by IvanIV:
“They are known for doing their own little research about their users.”
“They are known for doing their own little research about their users.”
As does every company on the planet. It's just he is a little on the paranoid side and thinks everyone spies on him and everyone is out to get him. He also hates everything new tech wise and never sees the point in it.
It's quite funny
I've had two, the original Samsung model from a few years ago and the more recent silver Samsung edition. They're great laptops which I'd be happy to recommend. They're also good for technophobes who don't want to deal with antivirus, system updates etc and just want something simple to browse the web.
FWIW The Verge has a fairly detailed review of the Acer C720 Chromebook:
http://www.theverge.com/2013/10/23/4...omebook-review
http://www.theverge.com/2013/10/23/4...omebook-review
well in the end i got the Acer C720 and have to say its very good so far.
but the only little moan about it that i have is that you cant set the screen to go off say if not used for 5 mins.
also there is no way of checking how much space is left on it.
apart from that im very happy with it.
but the only little moan about it that i have is that you cant set the screen to go off say if not used for 5 mins.
also there is no way of checking how much space is left on it.
apart from that im very happy with it.
Originally Posted by i love sky:
“well in the end i got the Acer C720 and have to say its very good so far.
but the only little moan about it that i have is that you cant set the screen to go off say if not used for 5 mins.
also there is no way of checking how much space is left on it.
apart from that im very happy with it.”
“well in the end i got the Acer C720 and have to say its very good so far.
but the only little moan about it that i have is that you cant set the screen to go off say if not used for 5 mins.
also there is no way of checking how much space is left on it.
apart from that im very happy with it.”
For disc space, apparently typing this into the omnibox works:
chrome://quota-internals
As for the power management (screen sleep times etc.) settings:
http://blog.projectz.me/2013/03/17/c...he-sleep-time/
Originally Posted by scooby1970:
“Just a few comments on that.
Mark”
“Just a few comments on that.
Mark”
You actually get 100 GB of free storage for 2 years. After the 2 years is up you can still access anything you have stored within the 100 GB but you cannot add to it if there is any space left.
Originally Posted by mred2000:
“For disc space, apparently typing this into the omnibox works:
chrome://quota-internals
As for the power management (screen sleep times etc.) settings:
http://blog.projectz.me/2013/03/17/c...he-sleep-time/”
“For disc space, apparently typing this into the omnibox works:
chrome://quota-internals
As for the power management (screen sleep times etc.) settings:
http://blog.projectz.me/2013/03/17/c...he-sleep-time/”
Many thanks for that.
ive had a look at it for the power management settings and i cant work out how to do that.
is there not another way of doing it?
also whats the omnibox?
Originally Posted by i love sky:
“Many thanks for that.
ive had a look at it for the power management settings and i cant work out how to do that.
is there not another way of doing it?
also whats the omnibox?”
“Many thanks for that.
ive had a look at it for the power management settings and i cant work out how to do that.
is there not another way of doing it?
also whats the omnibox?”
There might be apps that provide a front-end for power management settings in ChromeOS but I've not looked for any.
The OmniBox is basically the address bar... what you type web addresses in to...
when there's a decent RAW photo editor in the cloud, I'll get one. Right now though I need Lightroom, and thus Windows (or Mac I guess)
Originally Posted by paulbrock:
“when there's a decent RAW photo editor in the cloud, I'll get one. Right now though I need Lightroom, and thus Windows (or Mac I guess)”
“when there's a decent RAW photo editor in the cloud, I'll get one. Right now though I need Lightroom, and thus Windows (or Mac I guess)”
Pics.io looks promising, and Google look to be making moves in that direction by making RAW uploads into G+ possible. Think Google's buying of Nik has helped make that happen, a lot of tech commentators are saying it's only a matter of time before they have online RAW editing.
ETA: Oh, seems they have some editing capabilities but I've not given it a go yet:
http://www.androidcentral.com/google...-camera-models
http://www.stuckincustoms.com/2013/0...now-on-google/
Each time i turn it on i have to keep putting in my google password.
So is there anyway of turning that off?
So is there anyway of turning that off?
Originally Posted by i love sky:
“Each time i turn it on i have to keep putting in my google password.
So is there anyway of turning that off?”
“Each time i turn it on i have to keep putting in my google password.
So is there anyway of turning that off?”
Don't think so, it's only like logging into every other OS out there...
Originally Posted by mred2000:
“Don't think so, it's only like logging into every other OS out there...”
“Don't think so, it's only like logging into every other OS out there...”
In windows you don't have to have a password if not wanted (with the chance of security problems of course, But at least you have a choice)
I believe you also don't need to have one for Macs either.
You do not need to turn it off. You close the lid and it sleeps. You open the lid to wake ir; no password required.
Originally Posted by Toen:
“You do not need to turn it off. You close the lid and it sleeps. You open the lid to wake ir; no password required.”
“You do not need to turn it off. You close the lid and it sleeps. You open the lid to wake ir; no password required.”
Yep. I never turn my laptop off, but always just put it to sleep. Then again, it's hooked up to the mains.
Originally Posted by Stiggles:
“Grow up......
I got the Mrs the Samsung one that was on offer on amazon a few weeks ago and she absolutely loves it. Ditched her ipad 2 for it.
Looks good, nice and fast, light as hell and battery lasts for ages.
I would recommend one.”
“Grow up......
I got the Mrs the Samsung one that was on offer on amazon a few weeks ago and she absolutely loves it. Ditched her ipad 2 for it.
Looks good, nice and fast, light as hell and battery lasts for ages.
I would recommend one.”
Just making people knows that you are followed where ever you go by google and there is no way to get out of it. All your documents are scanned by google, your web browsing is followed by Google.
The idea of the machine is good in that it is a light weight machine, that is simple to use, and have a keyboard, but too much google for me.
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