Chromebooks are awful. And here are some examples why.

[Aquila]

For $199?

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lol, no. The cheapest Windows 8 or 8.1 laptop on Newegg is $299, the cheapest one with 500GB or more hard-drive is $319. That's a 50% - 60% markup and you can get a 3TB external hard drive for less than the difference if storage is the only concern. To break into the price range where the specs support the OS (in my opinion that's a minimum of 4GB ram and i5, bare minimum), NewEgg starts at $429. That's almost (not quite) two Chromebooks and a 1TB external hard-drive. It's a pretty huge difference when decent Chromebooks that do everything someone can want a Chromebook to do start at $199 and decent Windows laptops start at pretty close to 3 times that amount (minimum specs are not "decent", they're minimum).

They have completely different use cases, but a price difference of $400 is worth considering whether putting a shortcut to something on your "desktop" is worth $400. If you're a PC gamer, yes you need a desktop OS. If you're not, chances are you can do 90-95% of your work in the browser by just becoming aware of how much online functionality actually exists.

 

[A895]

lol, no. The cheapest Windows 8 or 8.1 laptop on Newegg is $299, the cheapest one with 500GB or more hard-drive is $319. That's a 50% - 60% markup and you can get a 3TB external hard drive for less than the difference if storage is the only concern. To break into the price range where the specs support the OS (in my opinion that's a minimum of 4GB ram and i5, bare minimum), NewEgg starts at $429. That's almost (not quite) two Chromebooks and a 1TB external hard-drive. It's a pretty huge difference when decent Chromebooks that do everything someone can want a Chromebook to do start at $199 and decent Windows laptops start at pretty close to 3 times that amount (minimum specs are not "decent", they're minimum).

They have completely different use cases, but a price difference of $400 is worth considering whether putting a shortcut to something on your "desktop" is worth $400. If you're a PC gamer, yes you need a desktop OS. If you're not, chances are you can do 90-95% of your work in the browser by just becoming aware of how much online functionality actually exists.

I found one for $199 on amazon but it had a 2nd gen Intel Pentium and 2 and half stars rating. I think some people need to face facts no laptop can touch Chromebooks on the performance for price factor. A $199 chromebook (Acer C720) gets you capable laptop than can handle most day to day stuff outside of heavy duty video and photo editing. I found out recently too that if you have a Skydrive account you have access to Microsoft office online for free! Meaning you can have office on a chromebook for free!

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[Aquila]

I found out recently too that if you have a Skydrive account you have access to Microsoft office online for free! Meaning you can have office on a chromebook for free!

Yes, it's not as robust as having the native app but it's the exact same web version that many Windows users utilize on the go when they only have their Office license on one machine, etc. It's lacking hardcore functionality, but I think it's a little more functional than Google Docs, especially if you're a power office user for enterprise. There are tons of things like that, including Photoshop (one of the ones MS points out), etc.

 

[A895]

Yes, it's not as robust as having the native app but it's the exact same web version that many Windows users utilize on the go when they only have their Office license on one machine, etc. It's lacking hardcore functionality, but I think it's a little more functional than Google Docs, especially if you're a power office user for enterprise. There are tons of things like that, including Photoshop (one of the ones MS points out), etc.

I know its not all the functionality but it's pretty robust.

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[Trojann2]

If you are someone who has a nice Windows gaming rig and also need a laptop to do word processing or web browsing, I honestly think there is nothing better than a Chromebook.
This is the exact setup that I have and I rarely need to power on my gaming rig for any tasks unless I actually want to game.

Chromebooks just make sense and aren't ridiculously priced for what you are able to do with them. Any of you that keep stating "A $299 windows laptop works great" are kidding yourselves and I wish that you would be stuck with one of those laptops for a year, and see if you'd still state that.

 

[Aquila]

If you are someone who has a nice Windows gaming rig and also need a laptop to do word processing or web browsing, I honestly think there is nothing better than a Chromebook.
This is the exact setup that I have and I rarely need to power on my gaming rig for any tasks unless I actually want to game.

Chromebooks just make sense and aren't ridiculously priced for what you are able to do with them. Any of you that keep stating "A $299 windows laptop works great" are kidding yourselves and I wish that you would be stuck with one of those laptops for a year, and see if you'd still state that.

Shortly that's going to more or less be my setup: POS windows desktop, mid-high range windows/linux laptop, Chromebook and PS3. Even now, the Chromebook is my go to device for almost everything that I want to do.

 

[A895]

Shortly that's going to more or less be my setup: POS windows desktop, mid-high range windows/linux laptop, Chromebook and PS3. Even now, the Chromebook is my go to device for almost everything that I want to do.

My setup is the opposite. I have a Mac 2011, HP Split X2, and a Xbox 360. My Split X2 is my go to device. I would get a chromebook but I have no real reason to buy one. I get all day battery life with my X2 already if anything though a chromebook is lighter. My laptop is over 4lbs.

Sent from my XT1060 using AC Forums mobile app

 

[Aquila]

My setup is the opposite. I have a Mac 2011, HP Split X2, and a Xbox 360. My Split X2 is my go to device. I would get a chromebook but I have no real reason to buy one. I get all day battery life with my X2 already if anything though a chromebook is lighter. My laptop is over 4lbs.

Sent from my XT1060 using AC Forums mobile app

The chromebook does take some time away from my nexus 7. Need more time to make sure that my gadgets feel loved.

XT1060. Through spacetime.

 

[A895]

The chromebook does take some time away from my nexus 7. Need more time to make sure that my gadgets feel loved.

XT1060. Through spacetime.

Or you can sell what you don't use that much. It seems the chromebook feels a need the nexus 7 doesn't fulfill.

via VZW Moto X

 

[JeffDenver]

That processor and windows, don't mix at all. I wouldn't give that machine to my worst enemy least of all anyone in my family. I would give someone a chromebook before those any day.

I have been using these cheap laptops for about 6 months now...I don't see anything that a Chromebook would do better. Except maybe battery life. And they will run actual PC apps. I can run Photoshop CS2 on these things and it works well. I can run Office aps and Outlook, and they work well.

Probably because they still have a lot of RAM. Most of them have 4 gigs upgradable to 8.

 

[JeffDenver]

Every time I say this on the forums all the chromebook fans jump at me. Chromebooks are pointless. Like OP stated, you can get a decent laptop (obviously not a gaming one if that your thing) for about the same price as a chromebook. Newegg has a ton of pretty damn good laptops for just a little more with 500-750GB hard drives.

I have found they can even play some games decently. But I would never buy a laptop for gaming.

 

[Geodude074]

For $199?

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What Chromebook costs $199? I can't find a Chromebook anywhere for $199.

I do however see a range of Chromebooks from $219 to $350. (Excluding the $1299 Chromebook Pixel, of course).

If a consumer is suckered into buying a Chromebook for $350 and expecting it to perform as their only PC, they're going to be sorely disappointed.

 

[JeffDenver]

If you are someone who has a nice Windows gaming rig and also need a laptop to do word processing or web browsing, I honestly think there is nothing better than a Chromebook.
This is the exact setup that I have and I rarely need to power on my gaming rig for any tasks unless I actually want to game.

Chromebooks just make sense and aren't ridiculously priced for what you are able to do with them. Any of you that keep stating "A $299 windows laptop works great" are kidding yourselves and I wish that you would be stuck with one of those laptops for a year, and see if you'd still state that.

Exactly...Chromebooks only make sense if you can afford more than one laptop. That was my whole point.

Most people won't buy more than one laptop though, especially people who are on such a tight budget that they are looking at a $199 Chromebook in the first place.

 

[Geodude074]

So I won't consider refurbished (probably a personal failing of mine) and have been computer shopping for a few months now and the price range for solid windows laptops (latest gen i5 or i7, decent ram, reputable company) that I've been able to find at major retailers (best buy, staples, amazon, etc) have all been around $600-1200. I'm sure there are finds out there that are better priced, but I haven't come across any that don't have a major downside to them as well (materials, size, reviews about keyboard, etc).

With Windows, you HAVE to invest in specs because of how heavy it is and how easily it gets bogged down. My current PC (Asus) is one of the first released with Windows 8 and it's pretty much garbage compared to my Chromebook, despite having MUCH better specs. Obviously that's not going to be the case with every Windows machine, but a $600 PC should't be beaten so easily by tablets and laptops that are less than half that price.

Scott Kenyon's advice is to get a Windows tablet and a BT keyboard/mouse for much cheaper and a more functional and adaptable experience, but even then we're talking about $350ish total for something that, other than the ability to run the full version of office (I think?) is inferior to the Chromebook in just about every category that is important to me. As previously mentioned, I do need excel for work, but since I can remote in and use it and/or only use the PC for excel and use the Chromebook for everything else, I have a hard time swallowing the argument that I'm missing out on something. It's obvious that there are some tasks that require OSX or Windows or Linux and cannot run on the others without emulators, etc.... and people with those tasks should buy machines that support their needs, but the estimate behind the concept of ChromeOS is that 90%+ of everything done with personal computers can be done within a browser... so comments like, "it's missing a desktop" and "it can't run programs" are just stupid, given the context that the point is that they do not HAVE to do those things in order to get the same tasks accomplished.

More subjective opinions with no factual evidence whatsoever.

You don't need a core i5 to run Windows, and you don't need 4 GB of RAM either. Windows 8 is actually more resource friendly than Windows 7, and Windows 7 runs just fine on 2 GB of RAM. Try out a 32-bit Bay Trail-T device sometime with 2 GB of RAM, you'll be surprised at how snappy it is.

 

[A895]

What Chromebook costs $199? I can't find a Chromebook anywhere for $199.

I do however see a range of Chromebooks from $219 to $350. (Excluding the $1299 Chromebook Pixel, of course).

If a consumer is suckered into buying a Chromebook for $350 and expecting it to perform as their only PC, they're going to be sorely disappointed.

Acer C720:
http://www.google.com/intl/en/chrom...m=ha&gclid=CP7tr-OQ5bwCFUYS7AodIxEASA#ac-c720

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[A895]

I have been using these cheap laptops for about 6 months now...I don't see anything that a Chromebook would do better. Except maybe battery life. And they will run actual PC apps. I can run Photoshop CS2 on these things and it works well. I can run Office aps and Outlook, and they work well.

Probably because they still have a lot of RAM. Most of them have 4 gigs upgradable to 8.

Oh god. Are serious? You would gibe someone a crappy windows laptop before a cheap chromebook that you never have to maintenance? Battery life is everything for a laptop as well. Whats the point of cheap laptop if you can't be away from an outlet more than a few hours?

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[Geodude074]

Acer C720:
Chromebooks: Acer C720 Chromebook

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The link to Amazon lists it at $247.

Admittedly I should have looked at Best Buy first.

 

[JeffDenver]

Oh god. Are serious?

Yes. This is my serious face.

You would give someone a crappy windows laptop before a cheap chromebook that you never have to maintenance?

If I thought they needed the functionality? I sure would.

And so far that has been everyone. Certainly my co-workers, who use Outlook. But also for my nephew, who uses Office apps and Photoshop.

Battery life is everything for a laptop as well.

They get 3-4 hours, which is plenty most of the time. It is not much different that a cell phone in my experience.

Whats the point of cheap laptop if you can't be away from an outlet more than a few hours?

The point is that you have an actual PC, that is also portable, for a few hundred dollars. Not everyone can afford to spend tons of money on devices. For slightly more money you get a laptop that is like a real computer...not a laptop that is like a tablet minus the touchscreen.

 

[MERCDROID]

Yes. This is my serious face.


If I thought they needed the functionality? I sure would.

And so far that has been everyone. Certainly my co-workers, who use Outlook. But also for my nephew, who uses Office apps and Photoshop.


They get 3-4 hours, which is plenty most of the time. It is not much different that a cell phone in my experience.


The point is that you have an actual PC, that is also portable, for a few hundred dollars. Not everyone can afford to spend tons of money on devices. For slightly more money you get a laptop that is like a real computer...not a laptop that is like a tablet minus the touchscreen.

1) Concerning battery life: 3-4 hours from a laptop in 2014 is unacceptable. Period. My Samsung Chromebook easily lasts 7-8 hours, and it's not even using the new Haswell chip. And, to add to that, I don't know many smartphones that only get 4 hours of battery life.

2) So far, you and this Geodude character have stated that Chromebooks only make sense as second laptops. Well, I'll be happy to tell you that I don't have a Windows laptop. My Chromebook is the only laptop I have. And, so far, I haven't missed a beat.

3) Yes, people that opt to use a Chromebook know its limitations very well. No, it can't run all of the same programs as Windows laptops. But, last time I checked, it wasn't advertised to do so. But, I can say, after owning several Windows 7 and 8/8.1 laptops, the Chromebook is the simpler solution, especially if you mainly use your computer to surf the Internet.

4) Cost. Yes, the Acer C720 is $199, at Walmart and Bestbuy, and probably other retailers. My Samsung Chromebook costs $249. Do I feel like I got my money's worth? Absolutely. Are there Windows laptops that are similarly priced? Yes. Do I think they would provide the same experience as the Chromebook? A resounding No.

5) Are Chromebooks for everyone? No. Definitely not. But, they do have a niche that they fill, and I strongly believe that they fill that market well.

6) It's ok to disagree, but you can not simply deny the fact that Chrome OS does what it's advertised to do, and well.

This is MY opinion.

 

[JeffDenver]

1) Concerning battery life: 3-4 hours from a laptop in 2014 is unacceptable. Period.

Why? I can't remember the last time I needed more than 4 hours away from an outlet.

That being said...we are talking about cheap laptops here. You can get way more than 3-4 hours if you want...you will just be buying a more expensive laptop.

2) So far, you and this Geodude character have stated that Chromebooks only make sense as second laptops. Well, I'll be happy to tell you that I don't have a Windows laptop. My Chromebook is the only laptop I have. And, so far, I haven't missed a beat.

You apparently are in the minority...at least from what I have seen so far. I have yet to see a Chromebook in the wild. I only see them in articles online.

5) Are Chromebooks for everyone? No. Definitely not.

I don't think they are even for most people.