Chromebooks...any good?

[lovecraft68]

I work on an HP all in one in my office, but my 7 year old lap top is getting to be the worse for wear and I'm thinking of getting a new portable machine to use outside on the deck or anytime I'm not home.

I like the chromebooks, but I'm not all that techy...anyone have one? Or heard good/bad things about them?

The one amazon has as highly recommended is a Lenovo, and I'm looking at the one with the 15" screen to be easier on my eyes.

https://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-Chrom...qid=1629643089&sprefix=chrome,aps,172&sr=8-11

 

[TadOverdon]

It's funny, I was looking at just this, online, this morning. I need something a little lighter and more casual than the thing I've been lugging around since 2014.

Apparently you can't install software like Word on Chromebooks? I think that'd be a problem for me.

 

[jehoram]

It's funny, I was looking at just this, online, this morning. I need something a little lighter and more casual than the thing I've been lugging around since 2014.

Apparently you can't install software like Word on Chromebooks? I think that'd be a problem for me.

There are probably Word work-alikes that are available for Chromebook.

 

[SyleusSnow]

I work on an HP all in one in my office, but my 7 year old lap top is getting to be the worse for wear and I'm thinking of getting a new portable machine to use outside on the deck or anytime I'm not home.

I like the chromebooks, but I'm not all that techy...anyone have one? Or heard good/bad things about them?

The one amazon has as highly recommended is a Lenovo, and I'm looking at the one with the 15" screen to be easier on my eyes.

https://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-Chrom...qid=1629643089&sprefix=chrome,aps,172&sr=8-11

When they were cheap, Chromebooks kind of made sense. But now you can get many windows laptops for the price of a similarly capable Chromebook.

Chromebooks are very limited in what they can run. Fine if Google Docs suits your needs (though the scaled-down web version of MS Word and a few other word processors are also available). Auto-backup to Google's cloud and their auto patching and other self-maintenance is convenient.

However, like all Google products, you have to assume no privacy. Every web site you visit, every email and everything you type is scrutinized to build a profile of you and target advertising at you. And it would be silly to assume Google isn't forced to monitor content and user behavior on behalf of the spooks and law enforcement. The average erotic story probably sets off any number of alarm bells.

 

[jaF0]

I can't see the point of anything that is supposed to be a laptop/notebook kind of thing with no hard drive and limited software compatibility.

I don't even like having to go to one of two or three places to get programs for phones and tablets.

I'm typing on a laptop that I got in 2010. It has two SSDs and a 17.3" LCD screen. I switched to this as a primary device after a desktop started giving me trouble. I use a wireless trackball and full sized USB keyboard.

I just can't imagine a smaller screen and KB with no internal storage.

But no, I've never used one, so no first hand experience.

 

[MillieDynamite]

My laptop is starting to show sings of an early demise. It's only 9 years old, but in laptop years that like 100 I guess. My dad's is also on it's last leg, her bought it 2009. We're looking at Acer's, as these were Acer's and have done well, lasted a good amount of time. Dad is getting one with the full keyboard, me I'm leaning to smaller scale.

When price is no object, you get what pleases you to have. Since price is an object for us, well stick with Acer.

 

[jaF0]

What I'd like to find is some sort of hybrid between a laptop and desktop. Small, flat and lightweight, low power consumption, two SSD bays (at least), capable of 16G Ram (at least), multiple video format outlets (VGA and HDMI at a minimum) to handle multiple LCD displays, lots of USB and other ports for add-ons.


This notebook sort of has that, but will only take 8G of RAM which was a lot then, but not much now.

 

[HectorBidon]

I had a Chromebook several years ago, so maybe things are different now. It really was set up so that all your files were saved in the Cloud. It was possible to download files to the computer itself, but this was often awkward and not very straightforward. One day the computer crashed with some kind of unrecoverable error. It told me I could reload the operating system. But, there was no way I could recover the files that I had stored on the computer. On a regular computer with a hard drive, you can usually remove the hard drive and get your files back. But my Chromebook didn't have a hard drive, and there was apparently no way to recover my files. Left a kind of a bad taste. So I guess a Chromebook is OK if you don't mind living exclusively on the Cloud, but don't trust it as a reliable depository for your stuff.

 

[TxRad]

Lenovo is good brand. Their designs may be on the older side but they are well made.

As for Chromebook.... If you love all things Google, go for it. By the way, if you save it to Google's cloud they think they own it. One of the reasons I dropped Google docs as a collaboration tool.

 

[lovecraft68]

Lenovo is good brand. Their designs may be on the older side but they are well made.

As for Chromebook.... If you love all things Google, go for it. By the way, if you save it to Google's cloud they think they own it. One of the reasons I dropped Google docs as a collaboration tool.

Yes! As soon as I saw it mentioned further up about the cloud, I checked into that. I'm aware of their tiny tiny little TOS print, so that's made it a no go. That and office doesn't work with it.

I'm now looking at Lenovo laptops because as you said they're a good brand.

 

[lovecraft68]

Thank you everyone for your replies. Everything you all said jived with what I dug up on my own, and I don't think its a good fit for me.

 

[SamScribble]

After almost 30 years of Toshiba, I switched to a Lenovo. Mine is a couple of years old now. No complaints. It does what it says on the tin.

 

[litfan10]

I had a Lenovo and it was great for the money. No probs.

I am a long time HP user. I prefer desktops for my writing because of the keyboard (I use a honking huge-ass ergonomic beast of a keyboard), and I like to use Scrivenors as my writing program which comes across better in a bigger screen.

 

[jaF0]

It became Lenovo after China bought IBM devices.

"Lenovo acquired IBM's personal computer business in 2005, including the ThinkPad laptop and tablet lines."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lenovo


Warm Fuzzies do not abound.

 

[ScrappyPaperDoodler]

Little late, but I'd say Chromebooks are great if you've got a school/workplace that's heavily invested in that ecosystem. If mobility is the big thing, the new iPads are a little pricey but they can easily replace a laptop when coupled with a nice keyboard and mouse, unless you need to run particular software. Not for everyone, but my work allows for it and I found it to be a good switch.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Lenovo is good brand. Their designs may be on the older side but they are well made.

As for Chromebook.... If you love all things Google, go for it. By the way, if you save it to Google's cloud they think they own it. One of the reasons I dropped Google docs as a collaboration tool.

Google Doc does let you save to you device as apposed to the cloud. It will also read from your device. I have Google Cloud disabled on all my android devices. All two of them.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

If you own an Android phone you have a Chromebook in your hand. Minus the mobile phone transceiver. Or a table with Android as the operating system.

And there is a MS Word for Android.

 

[jsmiam]

I’ll share a Lenovo story, being very careful to be factual. During a certain era a few years ago in my fact based world, certain specific models had a problem that often could be easily fixed by a specific series of power button presses. Before I discovered that, I had tried Lenovo support. They said they would fix it if I bought a service plan of some kind. They did NOT tell me the power button press solution.

FYI, all laptops are more susceptible to hardware problems. And of course, screens break if you drop them. And drops aren’t covered by standard warranties. It’s a common pain point that applies to all the brands.

However, not all laptop companies have support lines that intentionally withhold easy fixes to common problems.

Separate topic, I do suggest doing a search on “most reliable laptops 2021”. Pick the well known source. It fluctuates year by year.

 

[BuckyDuckman]

I like Lenovo computers. I use one for work and it's a nice form factor with good reliability. However, do remember a smattering of news stories from a couple of years ago that Lenovo computers came with spyware loaded on them. If you're China-adverse, maybe not the best brand? IDK. YMMV. Do your own research.

 

[gordo12]

I work on an HP all in one in my office, but my 7 year old lap top is getting to be the worse for wear and I'm thinking of getting a new portable machine to use outside on the deck or anytime I'm not home.

I like the chromebooks, but I'm not all that techy...anyone have one? Or heard good/bad things about them?

The one amazon has as highly recommended is a Lenovo, and I'm looking at the one with the 15" screen to be easier on my eyes.

https://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-Chrom...qid=1629643089&sprefix=chrome,aps,172&sr=8-11

I bought my wife a Lenovo about 6 months ago. Here's what I don't like about it. My Logitech wireless keyboard has the qwerty keyboard centralized and a slanted lip. My hands/wrists are comfy when I type. The number panel etc is far over to the right. I seldom use it so it's in a good spot. The Lenovo has a wide flat section in front of the keyboard (about 3 1/2 inches or 10 cm). It's not comfy for typing. The keyboard is spread out and centralized together. That means I'm typing to the left of the computer just to access the keyboard, and avoid the numerical pad while looking at the central part where the screen is.

I'm also concerned about the upgrade to Windows 11. I can't find out whether hers is going to qualify. I've already been told my 7-year-old desktop won't, despite having been top of the line in 2014. It's been acting up lately so I'll be replacing it. NOT with a laptop.