Advice on buying Chromebook?

ChrisJJ · 30 January 2015 at 3:56PM

I'm considering buying a Chromebook. Not sure yet though, and wondered if anyone on here who has experience of such a device can give me the benefit of their experience?

I'm technologically un-savvy, and don't do much with my (now poorly) pc other than surf the net and watch catch up TV.

Any advice gratefully received!

Thank you.

mrochester · 30 January 2015 at 4:08PM

You'd probably be better off with a cheap Windows laptop. £150 gets you a Windows 8.1 laptop these days.

EssexExile · 30 January 2015 at 5:03PM

I'm not tech savvy either but our little Samsung Chromebook is great. It's running windows 7 & is getting on a bit now but it's been no trouble.

John_Gray · 30 January 2015 at 5:08PM

Best to say what you actually want to do, and someone will say if a Chromebook can do it!

My only experience is that printing to networked printers is a bit of a pig.

Inner_Zone · 30 January 2015 at 5:12PM

EssexExile wrote: »

I'm not tech savvy either but our little Samsung Chromebook is great. It's running windows 7 & is getting on a bit now but it's been no trouble.

Surly a Chromebook runs Chrome OS?

[Deleted User] · 30 January 2015 at 5:34PM

Don't! (unless you plan to work for Google one day). It's a closed box, you can only run Chrome OS and you have to make do with that. Probably you could run some sort of Linux, but if you have come here to ask, it's probably not for you. (Sorry I don't want to sound arrogant).

EssexExile · 30 January 2015 at 7:08PM

Inner_Zone wrote: »

Surly a Chromebook runs Chrome OS?

I told you I wasn't tech savvy! It says chromebook on the box so that's what I assumed it was, it's just a little laptop.

steviebabes · 30 January 2015 at 7:17PM

I have a HP chromebook and its fine for browsing & all the catchup channels. Good battery life, brilliant screen and keyboard. Instant start up/shut down. Think they are about £150 now, I paid £179 6 months ago. I've installed a few Chrome apps such as UA spoofer for ebay and banking websites. It's just as quick as my win 8.1 machine with 8gb of ram.

topsales · 30 January 2015 at 7:18PM

If all you want is to surf and watch TV a Chromebook would be perfect. I have a Samsung which I have been using for the past couple of years and is perfect for a non techie. Can use Google docs if you want to do any documents, prints to my wireless printer - wouldn't use anything else now!

mrochester · 30 January 2015 at 7:58PM

I think we're missing the point here that you can get a Windows 8.1 laptop for the same price as a Chromebook which'll be infinitely more familiar and useful for the OP.

steviebabes · 30 January 2015 at 8:17PM

mrochester wrote: »

I think we're missing the point here that you can get a Windows 8.1 laptop for the same price as a Chromebook which'll be infinitely more familiar and useful for the OP.

The OP just wants to use it for browsing & catchup TV so there isn't a familiarity issue. Chrome looks and feels just like Chrome on my windows laptop. I'm not sue you can get a new windows 8.1 laptop for a similar price. You would need to pay over £300 to get a similar performance to a Chromebook. There is also the freedom from malware/viruses to consider. It also runs cool and silent.

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Advice on buying Chromebook?

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