Chromebook

madlyn

I have just received this, https://www.qvcuk.com/product.729383.html
My old laptop was nearing the end and I don't really need all the bells and whistles, so I gave this a go.
Apart from the difference in size I'm getting on ok with it, but I could do with a couple of bits of advice.
Cloud storage for photos, how do I use/access it.
I have a couple of excel and word files on my old laptop, how do I get them off there and onto the chromebook and are there any tutorials about for the google version of office that the chromebook has?

flaneurs_lobster

Do you have an existing Google account, perhaps one that you have used for an Android phone? If you use that to log on to the Chromebook then you will have access to the same Google Drive storage as the phone, including your photos and any other files that have been saved/backed up.

Easiest way to get files from PC to Chromebook is to copy them onto/from a USB stick. Try opening them with Google Docs/Sheets or you can use the online versions of Microsoft Office if you use an Outlook login.  

madlyn

I do have a Gmail account, the photos on my phone are saved to a memory card I put in the phone. Cannot ever remember saving or backing up on my phone though.

flaneurs_lobster

Good test then, change backup options on phone (take the card out first just in case) to save to Google account online. Take some shots, check backup has run, then see if you can access them in the cloud using the Chromebook, use the Google Photos app.

madlyn

Would the Google photos app already be on the chromebook or do I need to download it?

flaneurs_lobster

It's an online service, open Chrome browser and go to "photos.google.com"

flaneurs_lobster

Sorry, just realised that I am using terms like "app" and "online service" interchangeably. Chromebooks come with very few installed programs (or apps), maybe a "Files" app to browse the local drive and one or two others. The various icons on the desktop are usually shortcuts to web-based services (Photos, Docs, Maps, Drive etc). You can, of course, add extra programs either from the Chrome Store (there's an icon) or from the Google Play Store. Not all apps from the playstore will install, if they do then they might not work well in the Chromebook environment. 

Doshwaster

One of the problems with Chromebooks (at least those running ChromeOS) is that even though they are supposed to support Android apps, many are not designed or tested on the wide variety Chromebooks out there so may not work well on devices with a bigger screen, keyboard and trackpad/mouse. Often you are better using a website rather than the mobile app version of a service.

I still think Chromebooks have their niche as a cheap secondary device (I use mine a lot in the kitchen) but you shouldn't expect it to be a full replacement for a "proper" Windows or Mac computer. 

madlyn

Having had it for just under a week, apart from the size difference I am doing the same on it as I was on my laptop.
Still getting used to the google version of office, but for me it is fine.

GDB2222

Doshwaster said:

One of the problems with Chromebooks (at least those running ChromeOS) is that even though they are supposed to support Android apps, many are not designed or tested on the wide variety Chromebooks out there so may not work well on devices with a bigger screen, keyboard and trackpad/mouse. Often you are better using a website rather than the mobile app version of a service.

I still think Chromebooks have their niche as a cheap secondary device (I use mine a lot in the kitchen) but you shouldn't expect it to be a full replacement for a "proper" Windows or Mac computer. 

I'm surprised how expensive Chromebooks are. The ones with a FHD screen seem to cost around the same as a 'proper' windows laptop. The OP spent £400, which is well into 'proper' laptop territory.

flaneurs_lobster

Why are you surprised? Chromebooks and laptops are a keyboard, screen, processor and a hard drive in a hinged case.

The quality of each of those components is going to have a greater influence on the cost than the OS it runs.