Does anyone use a Chromebook?
Does anyone use a Chromebook?
I am looking to buy a new laptop/notebook and I'm thinking about a Chromebook.
They seem to offer everything that I need in that I will use it mostly online and, apart from the odd bit of word-processing, I surf the net, stream music, tv and films online, send emails....the usual sort of stuff. I use android-based tablets and phones, and Chrome is the search enging I use anyway. They also seem fairly light, which is useful as I travel a lot.
They don't stock them in the shops in Berlin so I can't get to try one out so if you use one, how do you find it?
They seem to offer everything that I need in that I will use it mostly online and, apart from the odd bit of word-processing, I surf the net, stream music, tv and films online, send emails....the usual sort of stuff. I use android-based tablets and phones, and Chrome is the search enging I use anyway. They also seem fairly light, which is useful as I travel a lot.
They don't stock them in the shops in Berlin so I can't get to try one out so if you use one, how do you find it?
Here we go again........
- French Cricket
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I use one, but as a secondary machine to the bigger Windows laptop I have. I use it for travelling, and when I'm over at our other cottage, and I have to say I love it. The biggest plus is the battery life - mine has around 8 hours; it's very light and very fast. The downside is that it's only useful for online kind of stuff - any work with files (other than Google docs) and photos can't be done, and there's effectively no storage capacity, which means using externals. The sound and graphics are basic too.
I'd never be able to use it as an 'only' machine, but as a second notebook it's fantastic - far, far better than a tablet. I'm putting Chromebooks in our guest accommodation next year too, pre-linked to all the house and local information.
I'd never be able to use it as an 'only' machine, but as a second notebook it's fantastic - far, far better than a tablet. I'm putting Chromebooks in our guest accommodation next year too, pre-linked to all the house and local information.
I bought one a few months ago for Mrs E-r and its a beautifUl machine. Its light, battery lasts all day, SIMPLE - so very little to go wrong.
The only downside is for those who are long in the tooth with Microsoft. There is no Word/Excel/Powerpoint etc. Its all Google docs online. No Skype, you have to use Google meetings, no Internet Explorer yay! You need to get used to doing everything in the cloud, and this means having and always-on good quality Internet connection.
So for email, browsing, searching and shopping I'd thoroughly recommend it. Go out and buy one NOW. If you need to do more, then just think about it a tiny bit more.
The only downside is for those who are long in the tooth with Microsoft. There is no Word/Excel/Powerpoint etc. Its all Google docs online. No Skype, you have to use Google meetings, no Internet Explorer yay! You need to get used to doing everything in the cloud, and this means having and always-on good quality Internet connection.
So for email, browsing, searching and shopping I'd thoroughly recommend it. Go out and buy one NOW. If you need to do more, then just think about it a tiny bit more.
** Richard
PIMS: Holiday Rental Management system
They say we learn from our mistakes. That makes me a genius !
PIMS: Holiday Rental Management system
They say we learn from our mistakes. That makes me a genius !
- NeatandPicky
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Love mine too. PC has been getting slower and slower (new one arriving today, hopefully) so I use the Chromebook for most things (surfing, email, website and listing updates, LMH, PIMs, social media). Also have tablets and smart phone, and use cloud-based applications like DropBox, Google Docs, Google Drive, Evernote to keep my files synced across them.
Completely agree with previous comments - you still need a PC for Office-based applications, but so much can be done on the web with Chrome and Chrome extensions.
Completely agree with previous comments - you still need a PC for Office-based applications, but so much can be done on the web with Chrome and Chrome extensions.
- NeatandPicky
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- French Cricket
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Thank you all for your replies.
It's interesting to hear that, as a rule, you seem to like them as secondary machines. That defeats the object for me really as I'm looking for a replacement laptop as mine is reaching the end of its life. I already have a tablet but, to me, it isn't much more than a toy, albeit a useful one. I'm wondering whether a Chromebook is a sort of halfway house between a tablet and notebook.
Thanks again for your thoughts, I appreciate them.
It's interesting to hear that, as a rule, you seem to like them as secondary machines. That defeats the object for me really as I'm looking for a replacement laptop as mine is reaching the end of its life. I already have a tablet but, to me, it isn't much more than a toy, albeit a useful one. I'm wondering whether a Chromebook is a sort of halfway house between a tablet and notebook.
Thanks again for your thoughts, I appreciate them.
Here we go again........
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