Any of you guys use a Chromebook?

[lambo]

So, I've been looking at replacing my current laptop. I'm planning on going with a custom desktop and then a smaller laptop to use for school stuff.

I'm having a hard time justifying spending $500-700 on a Windows laptop, because knowing myself, I don't think I would be happy with a bottom of the bucket spec'd Windows machine. This got me looking at Chromebooks as it's a much less needy OS but also less versatile... but also much cheaper.

Has anyone here used a Chromebook for a extended period of time? How was adapting from Windows to Chrome OS? Does the mostly cloud storage bother you? Or, do you carry around an external HD for storage needs? Is going from Google Docs to Office and back annoying at all? How is the performance for internet browsing on Chrome? I know Chrome tends to be a resource hungry application.

Thanks for any insight

[Massimo]

Probably want to look into it more.

You need to be connected to the internet to login.

Cannot connect any external devices that require drivers. e.g printers, cameras,

good because everything is stored on the cloud so no chance of you loosing that essay that took 1 year to write.

Really good for a family environment. Every member has a separate login. You can be the Parent of the other accounts and have really easy and good tools in restricting access times, internet usage etc etc

The big down fall for me is having to be connected to the internet other then that I recon they are great idea.

Also you can only install software available in Google play store.

I work for HP and have been supporting some of these from time to time.

[tspangle88]

I'm typing this on mine (Acer C720). I love it, but I basically just use it as a living-room surfing device. It replaced my tablet for that. It's nice to have a real keyboard, and it was only $200, so it was a win-win for me. But I wouldn't want to try and do much "real" work on it. You can't run Office or anything, you're stuck with Google Docs. I can't imagine trying to do anything like picture or video editing on it.

In short, it's a great addition if you also have a real computer, but it's not a substitute for a real computer.

[lambo]

Probably want to look into it more.

You need to be connected to the internet to login.

Cannot connect any external devices that require drivers. e.g printers, cameras,

good because everything is stored on the cloud so no chance of you loosing that essay that took 1 year to write.

Really good for a family environment. Every member has a separate login. You can be the Parent of the other accounts and have really easy and good tools in restricting access times, internet usage etc etc

The big down fall for me is having to be connected to the internet other then that I recon they are great idea.

Also you can only install software available in Google play store.

I work for HP and have been supporting some of these from time to time.

Interesting. The printer thing isn't an issue for me. I think the "always connected" thing probably wouldn't be an issue... but I wouldn't know until I had one.

Can you connect external hard drives?

As for the Google Play Store, as long as it has Google docs and Chrome, I don't think I would need anything else, especially with Spotify Premium.

I'll have to go to Best Buy tomorrow and play around with a couple.

[lambo]

I'm typing this on mine (Acer C720). I love it, but I basically just use it as a living-room surfing device. It replaced my tablet for that. It's nice to have a real keyboard, and it was only $200, so it was a win-win for me. But I wouldn't want to try and do much "real" work on it. You can't run Office or anything, you're stuck with Google Docs. I can't imagine trying to do anything like picture or video editing on it.

In short, it's a great addition if you also have a real computer, but it's not a substitute for a real computer.

I'm planning on building a desktop for any sort of powerhouse stuff. I also have school computers for running modeling and structure software. This would be a daily, document creating, browsing device. I guess the only issue I could foresee, is the Google Spreadsheet application. I haven't used it in depth and I use Excel quite a lot.

[Hooffenstein HD]

Google spread sheet app is garbage on my phone. Might be better on a decent sized screen though.

[bmwman91]

Check out the Surface 3 (the new non-Pro version just announced). It is like $350 and has hardware that is more than capable enough for general student usage. It uses an Intel processor, so it runs full Windows 8 not that RT BS from the original Surface. A MS retail store should have a demo unit, assuming the product is out...not sure if it is yet.

[lambo]

Check out the Surface 3 (the new non-Pro version just announced). It is like $350 and has hardware that is more than capable enough for general student usage. It uses an Intel processor, so it runs full Windows 8 not that RT BS from the original Surface. A MS retail store should have a demo unit, assuming the product is out...not sure if it is yet.

I was seriously considering that... But after buying the keyboard, which I would need, it would be almost $500. Not to mention the stylus that I would seriously want. I'd probably rather have a $600 laptop at that point.

[emerson.]

I'm in for more info on a chromebook too. I have and upcoming deployment and my current laptop is garbage. I only need it to surf forums, netflix, check email, basically anything I'd ask of my phone. The only down side I see for me is Skype capability, which may have changed but the last time I looked there was no support for it

[Das Delfin]

I work at a store. We sell laptop batteries. The chromebook battery is much smaller than normal laptop batteries, which means it dies sooner. And it's internal, which means non-replaceable. So a chromebook would last max 2 years. Most people come in after one year of ownership and aren't happy with "well buy a new laptop or spend the same amount having the battery replaced, you dumb ass broke motherfucker (sic)."

That being said, my gf's work gave her one and it's nice. Light and simple, no CD drive. I wouldn't do it if it were my only computer, even if the battery wasn't an issue.

[Massimo]

Interesting. The printer thing isn't an issue for me. I think the "always connected" thing probably wouldn't be an issue... but I wouldn't know until I had one.

Can you connect external hard drives?

As for the Google Play Store, as long as it has Google docs and Chrome, I don't think I would need anything else, especially with Spotify Premium.

I'll have to go to Best Buy tomorrow and play around with a couple.

Yeh can use and external hdd it dose not require a driver install for that.

I work at a store. We sell laptop batteries. The chromebook battery is much smaller than normal laptop batteries, which means it dies sooner. And it's internal, which means non-replaceable. So a chromebook would last max 2 years. Most people come in after one year of ownership and aren't happy with "well buy a new laptop or spend the same amount having the battery replaced, you dumb ass broke motherfucker (sic)."

That being said, my gf's work gave her one and it's nice. Light and simple, no CD drive. I wouldn't do it if it were my only computer, even if the battery wasn't an issue.

They are designed with very low spec and power consumption priority as most of the intensive work is performed at the server level. Hence the reason why the battery is small. As far as longevity goes most laptop battery will start to die after a few years.

[GAbOS]

If you cannot justify a laptop, C.Book or tablet. Your needs do not seem high at all and the highest I see your list, storage, is only necessitated by a lack of resource management on your part.

That being said.
Chrome Book+USB Drives (plural and cheap but understand the tech to buy smart)
Tablet/Phone and online storage management

Doc exchanging is not the issue either. Using the right device for the need is.

[jakeb]

I had a chromebook and it didn't do what I wanted...mostly the way it displayed pdfs. I sent it back and bought an ASUS ultrabook. Intel i3, no cd drive and 13" screen. It's been perfect for a small lightweight laptop.

My wife has a Samsung chrome book and it's been great for 2-3 years.

[lambo]

If you cannot justify a laptop, C.Book or tablet. Your needs do not seem high at all and the highest I see your list, storage, is only necessitated by a lack of resource management on your part.

That being said.
Chrome Book+USB Drives (plural and cheap but understand the tech to buy smart)
Tablet/Phone and online storage management

Doc exchanging is not the issue either. Using the right device for the need is.

Maybe I should clarify what i mean by "justify". Since I'm going to be building a desktop for games/non-school related modeling/photo editing/possibly video editing, I don't need a powerhouse of a laptop that I currently have. The difference between a 500 and 300 dollar laptop is the difference between a gtx 980 and a gtx 970 for the desktop, or the difference between a 700 dollar and 300 dollar laptop is the difference between an i5-4690K/gtx980 and an i7-4790k/gtx980.

That's what I meant by justify.

I had a chromebook and it didn't do what I wanted...mostly the way it displayed pdfs. I sent it back and bought an ASUS ultrabook. Intel i3, no cd drive and screen. It's been perfect for a small lightweight laptop.

My wife has a Samsung chrome book and it's been great for 2-3 years.

That's what I would really want. 13" screen, i3, 8gb ram, no disk drive for under $500. That would be perfect. But they don't really exist. Closest I have found is this: http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops...01C9:00011F90:

[travish325]

I'm in for more info on a chromebook too. I have and upcoming deployment and my current laptop is garbage. I only need it to surf forums, netflix, check email, basically anything I'd ask of my phone. The only down side I see for me is Skype capability, which may have changed but the last time I looked there was no support for it

Don't lie, you just want it for the gay porn videos of dudes Fucking each other in jeeps and ducatis.