Chromebooks

A

Alexander7

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I was wondering of getting a new laptop, and I have come across Google's Chromebooks.

They are very cheap and very tempting to buy instead of a normal laptop.

Have you had any experience with Chromebooks?

Shall I take the step and buy one?
 
If you're willing to take the risk, go for it.

Google tends to have good products and things but the thing is they have so much money that when they do make something that doesn't do well, they don't care. 😛
 
I have the Acer C720 Google Chromebook which cost $199, and it works pretty well for surfing the web, watching online video, e-mail, word processing, social networking, and playing web browser games.

I like the fast start up times, and the fast program start times because of the SSD drive. The keyboard, and screen are also pretty good for a budget laptop. Also, it is very quiet compared to other laptops because Chromebooks are usually fanless, or have a very slow turning fan, so it is almost silent.

If you operating system similar to Windows for doing task like video editing, photo editing, etc, you can install Ubuntu along side Chrome OS.
 
I was a Prefect at my school and got my hands on the Chromebooks they were about to bring out in the library. They do start up fast but ultimately it's just Chrome.
 
I kinda like chromebooks for portability and for their price. The problem with them is their screen size. I am a professional coder and the larger the screen size I get the better plus it's low clocked CPU performance is a huge no for me.
Though I think that it would be great for school use and taking notes, but wouldn't recommend it to anyone who will do some serious work with large processing power requirement or gaming.
 
Many Thanks guys for all your comments.

I have decided to take the risk, and I am going to buy my first Chromebook today.

I will let you know of what I think of it in a few days time.
 
BTW just read it on some site that Chromebooks beat Apple and samsung in the sale numbers
So you are on a side with a lot of people.
 
I read on PcWorld that Chromebooks are now about 20% of all commercial laptop sales according to http://www.pcworld.com/article/2082310/ ... books.html

I think the main reason for Chromebook being so popular is because many people need a reliable laptop which won't be unstable because of a virus infecting their PC, or a operating system or software update making the computer unstable which is more common in Windows. The free built-in apps like Google Chrome, Docs, Spreadsheets, Presentation, and Keep are usually good enough for most users everyday tasks.

Plus, many people already own, or have access to a Windows or Mac desktop for playing PC games like Call of Duty, and Battlefield along with more intensive tasks like 3D animation, and Photoshop.
 
I don't like the idea honestly, it may be good for some but it doesn't fit me, a gamer. 😛

Plus, no internet and you're pretty much without any functionality from what I've heard.
 
Shadowfire said:
I don't like the idea honestly, it may be good for some but it doesn't fit me, a gamer. 😛

Plus, no internet and you're pretty much without any functionality from what I've heard.
Click to expand...

I agree the Chromebook does not fit well with intensive PC Games, but most other laptops and desktops price in the $199-300 price range like Chromebooks will not be good for intensive gaming unless you build your own desktop from used, and refurbished parts bought on eBay.

There offline apps and games for Google Chrome, and Chrome OS which you can use offline after you download, and install them from https://chrome.google.com/webstore/cate ... bled?hl=en
 
I think its better just to buy a full laptop. Prices can be similar.
 
You can also install Ubuntu Linux on a Chromebook to turn it into a Full laptop with offline computing needs without the need to pay for a $99-199 Windows License like a Full Windows laptop because Ubuntu Linux is free for everyone to use for life.

[youtube]qOoCxrn5M9Y[/youtube]
 
froggyboy604 said:
You can also install Ubuntu Linux on a Chromebook to turn it into a Full laptop with offline computing needs without the need to pay for a $99-199 Windows License like a Full Windows laptop because Ubuntu Linux is free for everyone to use for life.

[youtube]qOoCxrn5M9Y[/youtube]
Click to expand...

Is it possible to run Java based games once the Ubuntu is installed on a Chromebook? Some of my games run on Java.
 
Beverly said:
Is it possible to run Java based games once the Ubuntu is installed on a Chromebook? Some of my games run on Java.
Click to expand...

Yes, there is OpenJDK which can run Java. You can also install the official version of Java from Oracle, but it would be harder than installing OpenJDK. Learn more at https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Java

You can learn to install Java at http://askubuntu.com/questions/48468/ho ... stall-java

[youtube]7XxIS2zVWHI[/youtube]

Once you installed Java, you should be able to play games like Minecraft, and Runescape which run on Java.
 
If you have a Chromebook, you need to get Linux on it, like froggy said, it's a great way to turn a Chromebook into a cheap, full featured laptop.
 
ChrUbuntu is worth checking out at http://chromeos-cr48.blogspot.ca/2013/1 ... -with.html if you want to more easily install Ubuntu on a Chromebook to use apps like Firefox, and Libreoffice in Ubuntu on a Chromebook. ChrUbuntu is simpler to install Ubuntu onto a Chromebook compared to other ways of installing Ubuntu on a Chromebook.

ChrUbuntu also supports the newer Haswell based Celeron CPU Chromebooks like the Acer C720 which is faster than older Chromebooks like the Cr-48 which was the original Google branded Chromebooks which people got for free to beta-test Chromebooks a few years a go.
 
karateninja said:
They are an interesting idea, but I'm perfectly fine with my Macbook Pro.
Click to expand...

lol. Well of course a Macbook would be preferred. But for 200-300 bucks Chromebooks are a good option, especially if you can get Linux to run on them.
 
It would be cool if there are Chromebook tablets since it would be cheaper like how you can buy a decent Android tablet for $150 these days.

A lot of people already have USB keyboards, and mouse, and there are inexpensive keyboard cases for tablets, so turning a Chromebook tablet into a laptop is inexpensive. A touchscreen keyboard is also good enough for browsing the web, and content consumption like Netflix, and YouTube.

The Pengpod tablet which dual-boots Ubuntu and Android on the same tablet are also worth checking out.

[youtube]rMo8cUCYCyY[/youtube]

I think the prices of the Pengpod are similar, and cheaper than a Chromebook, but maybe slower because it uses Mobile CPU, and does not use the Intel Celeron Haswell CPU, and Intel HD graphics like newer Chromebook.
 
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