What can you expect with a cheap Chromebook? Like one that costs less than $200? I just need it to write mainly and don't really have another option at the moment. I know there's practically no storage, but I'm okay with using a flash drive. I can't help but feel this is going to be a big change from what I'm used to. I just got my computer out of the shop. They did what they could, but warned me it might not be worth the expense to keep fixing the problems I'm having. Already, it's worse than before I poured any money into it. On top of all my computer problems, my landlord just raised the rent quite a bit. I don't even know how we are going to pull off all our expenses. But there are some grant deadlines coming up and I need to have a working computer to finish my applications. If any of you have or had a really cheap Chromebook, how long did it last? I'm assuming it will get the job done. It just has me a little worried that a kindle costs more than my new computer.
Does it have to be a Chromebook? I'm not really familiar with Chromebooks, but doing some rough research tells me that you could probably get a more powerful refurbished Windows machine for roughly the same price. But I have a second hand laptop that I paid 150$ for 5 years ago, and while it's not the fastest machine and it's battery life is only about a half hour, it still runs Open Office and Firefox, so I imagine as long as you do your research, you should be able to pick up a machine that meets those needs for not a huge amount of money.
I've just been through two refurbished laptops and neither one held up long. I also paid a lot more for mine than you did. The only reason I'm thinking Chromebook is because it's the cheapest thing I can find.
I bought a 10.1" RCA Viking Pro tablet (with keyboard) from Walmart a while back for $60 to have something to haul around to coffee shops and the like without having to lug my older heavy laptop around. The Android OS is a pain, but the thing gets the job done. That particular model is discontinued, but you should be able to find something similar.
Chromebooks run on a proprietary form of Linux with their own app store, so they'd probably be comparable.
It’ll be pretty slow, but should work fine for that use. I got one myself for this, though didn’t end up using it that much.
Chromebooks are pretty good. They’re not slow due to the OS being lightweight. But I recommend one with 4 GB of RAM rather than 2 GB.
The Chrome store isn't bad, though I didn't use it that often. You can actually install a fully linux OS on a Chromebook pretty easily, and just use a key combination to switch back and forth. That's if you don't want to be locked into ChromeOS.
I have a similar setup on my laptop right now, but between Windows 7 and Ubuntu. I rarely find myself needing to go back into Windows, but there are a couple of programs on there I "need" to keep in case of emergency.
I've got one ordered. Honestly, it had to come down to cost. Maybe a shitty laptop will be motivation to sell a book or something so I don't have to have a shitty laptop.
It'll get the job done. If I didn't need so much third party software for work-related matters I'd probably use one full time.
Chromebook just arrived. I haven't turned it on yet, but I took it out of the box. It sure doesn't feel like a Mac. But I'm happy to have something I can write on that isn't going to just shut off on me and act all glitchy. And I can stop trying to read and do other things on my phone.
