Chromebook

DeanoVilla

DeanoVilla

One Bloody Number
Need to get the girls cheap laptops for their school work. Just needs to be able to browse the web, write/edit documents in word, maybe a bit of artwork for Sophie.... you know basic stuff.

Is a Chromebook a good choice for that? I realise they don't have Windows OS, but I'm lead to believe you can still use MS Word and the like on them if you download from the appstore. is that correct?

Any disadvantages to a Chromebook over a standard Windows based laptop?

It's certainly the cheaper option but i don't really want to buy it only to find out they can't do something they need to do on it.
 
Is it good? Would it do the job for a couple of teenagers wanting to do homework?

When I say wanting to do homework what I actually mean is we want them to do homework, in reality they will probably be used for Youtube and iPlayer.
 
You can't use Word on them but Google Docs is compatible if a little more basic. The same applies to Google Sheets and Excel.

They are cheap and quick macines though that will do most of what most people need but it often means getting used to working in a different way. If you are dependent on Windows proprietory software then they are no use at all.
 
They are great for what they are, but there are limitations. It's not MS Word, but Google Docs that you use to edit documents. It's ok, but not as fully functioned as Word.

You are also limited for things like games and other programs.

If you want to experiment, try using a computer in Chrome only. That's basically what a Chromebook is. The apps are the same, and it should give you a good idea of what you can do.
 
Villan Of The North - 11/1/2017 09:11

You can't use Word on them but Google Docs is compatible if a little more basic. The same applies to Google Sheets and Excel.

They are cheap and quick macines though that will do most of what most people need but it often means getting used to working in a different way. If you are dependent on Windows proprietory software then they are no use at all.
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Jinx!!!!!!!
 
Ok, I get you don't have MS Word... but you have the ability to open, edit and save word documents in Google Edit?

So they could start a piece of homework at school in word, save it to the cloud, open it in Google Edit at home, finish it off, save it to the cloud, open back up in Word at school and print off?

Correct?
 
Personally I would say get one decent Windows laptop between them (Intel i5 processor) and install open office on it for free and then just set it to save in word format. Not convinced by Chromebooks, and they have very limited storage.
 
I have have a Chromebook and think its the best thing since sliced bed . I use Google mail and google doc's at work and once you get used to them they are fine . The whole of JLR uses Google doc's .
Not sure if that helps but as you know I'm very difficult to please and Chromebooks please me !
 
Right... I bought a nice laptop and mom had it !
:21:

I was using a tablet but with the arm issues of last year it was suggested that might be part of the repetitive strain.

So I went half way house and got a chrome book. It's only for the lounge when I'm relaxing and wanting to surf around.

I'd not want to work on it really, it is limited as the guys above say.

You do have to learn a slightly different way of opening and saving things and it's not always that instinctive...

They are good that they fire up straight away but I find if I have too many internet windows open the whole thing freezes plus it can slow up.

I'd not recommend them I don't think. Ok if you just want to lightly surf the internet or don't do a great deal on computers but they are limited
 
DeanoVilla - 11/1/2017 11:12

Ok, I get you don't have MS Word... but you have the ability to open, edit and save word documents in Google Edit?

So they could start a piece of homework at school in word, save it to the cloud, open it in Google Edit at home, finish it off, save it to the cloud, open back up in Word at school and print off?

Correct?
Click to expand...

Google Edit?

 
The Fear - 11/1/2017 11:28

Right... I bought a nice laptop and mom had it !
:21:

I was using a tablet but with the arm issues of last year it was suggested that might be part of the repetitive strain.

So I went half way house and got a chrome book. It's only for the lounge when I'm relaxing and wanting to surf around.

I'd not want to work on it really, it is limited as the guys above say.

You do have to learn a slightly different way of opening and saving things and it's not always that instinctive...

They are good that they fire up straight away but I find if I have too many internet windows open the whole thing freezes plus it can slow up.

I'd not recommend them I don't think. Ok if you just want to lightly surf the internet or don't do a great deal on computers but they are limited
Click to expand...

Whe nit comes to overloading them the same applies to Chromebooks as does to any computer, they are limited by their processor, RAM and storage space. There are various specifications of Chrom,ebook available but going for a higher spec one might defeat the purpose when you are looking for a more affordable option.

Chromebooks are excellent kit IF they fullfill your requirements in terms of functionality.

Our IT department (national company) don't use anything else but they don't fully recomend them to end users just yet as funtionality is limited for what we do.


 
I meant Google Docs, not Google Edit.

I think No.1 priority is that they can work on both MS Word at school and Google Docs at home and the saving, retrieval, editing and printing is all pretty seemless.

if thats the case I think its a good option.

if they are going to struggle to pick up their homework on the school computers and print it off then its not worth it.
 
Test wasn't very successful.

Fear created a doc on his chrome book and emailed it to me as a .gdoc

I tried to open it in MS Word and it just opened a doc containing URL's and header information.

Not what I want at all really. Need it to be as seemless as possible.

Laptop it is then... now just got to find a cheap one.
 
Having said that... do they really need to use MS Word at all?

Nothing stopping them using Google Docs at school as well surely?

Just save everything to GDrive and access it from home and school.

 
DeanoVilla - 11/1/2017 12:06

Having said that... do they really need to use MS Word at all?

Nothing stopping them using Google Docs at school as well surely?

Just save everything to GDrive and access it from home and school.
Click to expand...

If the school is ok with that, then fine. Are there any restrictions on their network to things like GDrive?

Google Docs can open Word docs, but not sure if it still saves it as a .docx file. As I say, get into chrome and try the apps out properly.
 
Reviving an old thread here....

So, my laptop has gone off for repair via the insurance company. I don't hold out a great deal of hope.

My question would be: Having thought about what I actually use my laptop for, I basically just surf the web, post witty and/or insightful comments on Vital, check/compose emails, and write a bit. The bulk of serious stuff is done in my Mac, so I don't need an especially hi-spec, powerful portable machine. Is there any reason then not to get a Chromebook as opposed to a MacBook/laptop replacement?

MacBooks come in at close to a grand these days, and although I detest Windows machines, I reckon I could tolerate a Chromebook running Chrome OS for the fairly basic tasks I do on the laptop. It's not really a question of money, but surely spending £200 ish on a Chromebook is a sensible way to go?

And if the consensus is that Chromebooks are fine for my purposes, anyone have any thoughts or recommendations on which ones to consider?

Thanks in advance, you fine folks :14:
 
I have an asus one... used pretty much exclusively for web browsing, on here, emails.

I have found it slightly fiddly at times when saving an image from google drive to upload elsewhere but for the money I think just to tinker on mate, they make sense.

It is nice it starts straight away, as said, if it is for as above, nothing too rigorous, then for the price they are pretty handy.
 
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