chrome book

MDOGQ
MDOGQ Member Posts: 1 New User
edited November 2023 in 2018 Archives

I have an Acer netbook which I love and has been very dependable.  However, it is several years old. SIN ***

I am considering buying a Chrome book: Chromebook 11 - CB3-131-C3SZ.  What would be the benefit of getting a Chromebook and/or reasons not to... Basically I used it when traveling so for me it is a typewritter, internet connector, and a place to file images.

Thanks,

ss

 

[edited for privacy - THIS IS A PUBLIC FORUM - please do not post personal or unique information such as but not limited to full names, email addresses, phone numbers, full serial numbers, etc.]

Answers

  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 31,454 Trailblazer

    The big gain with a Chromebook is the cost. If all you're doing can be done in a web browser they are great. If you need functionality that can't be easily done in a browser, or you need to print without using a fairly modern printer with an internet connection, you are probably better off with a Windows, Linux or Mac.

    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.
  • Pssst3
    Pssst3 Member Posts: 47 Devotee WiFi Icon

    If you've been using a real netbook, you won't find many differences.

     

    A Chromebook is Google's take on a netbook that uses Google's services, Google's app stores plus gives access to anything else that you can do on the internet with the Chrome web browser.  

     

     In many respects it is like what Apple does, one company helping design and certifying the system architecture but without being locked to one hardware manufacturer, and providing a lot of free services.  Unlike Apple who gets its primary income from hardware sales, or Microsoft who gets its primary income from software licensing fees, Google's primary income is from internet services. It doesn't need to charge manufacturers absurd prices for installing its OS and it doesn't inhibit competition with proprietary hardware or software.

     

    All Chromebooks updated to the latest version of software come with a very good included suite of office applications similar to Microsoft Office.  Free extensions let some of them (Docs the word processor is one) function off-line.  You can read and write files compatible with Microsoft Office. You can have files, including media files, saved locally and synced between Google's cloud Drive and your Chromebook for offline use.  You can collaborate in real-time simultaneously on the same document with other people using Google Drive.  

     

    You can read and write files compatible with Microsoft Office. You can have files, including media files, saved locally and synced between Google's cloud Drive and your Chromebook for offline use.  You can collaborate in real-time simultaneously on the same document with other people using Google Drive.  With an internet connection, you can print to a cloud printer from anywhere in the world. You can access your files from any internet device that runs the Chrome web browser and from many that don't. 

     

    A small and slowing growing number of Chromebooks have access to some Android apps from the Android Play Store without using experimental versions of the operating system.  A larger number of Chromebooks have access to the Android Play store by using experimental versions of the operating system. I believe the CB3 series may be in the latter category at this time. Find out before you buy so you aren't disappointed.

     

    IMO, the biggest benefit of Chromebooks don't include inital cost. You can buy a Windows-lite laptop with similar hardware for nearly the same price. 

     

    The benefits that I see, in order,  are:

     

    1. Total lifecycle ownership costs in money, effort and time, due to freedom from paid application and OS upgrades and the hardware upgrades they often require

     2. Freedom from user involvement in antivirus and malware protection,

    3. Free one-button OS upgrades that are installed in a minute or two, about every 6 weeks.

    4. Automatic, continuous, redundant, secure backups of your data, which is on Google's Drive unless you intentionally store it in an alternative location.

    5. A very short learning curve that a committed novice user can get through in hours.

     

    The cons are:

    1.  Needing to be connectable to the internet often (not that I'm never not) while you work.

    2.  Need to use several apps and/or cloud services that aren't mature, to do some operations that can be done entirely on a PC with one installed program. 

    3. Some kinds of uses, like medium- high end graphics, video editing, multitrack audio recording, CAD/CAM, need another, much more powerful, computer.  

     

    That's it.

     

  • gnsls111
    gnsls111 Member Posts: 2 New User
    I have a CB3_131 and can not down load the McAfee app or many other apps the play store site tells me that I need to register my devise account to do this, how can it be done????
  • RanY2J
    RanY2J Member Posts: 599 Seasoned Specialist WiFi Icon
    gnsls111 said:
    I have a CB3_131 and can not down load the McAfee app or many other apps the play store site tells me that I need to register my devise account to do this, how can it be done????

    Well, I think you need to first register your email address on the play store. Do that and it will let you log in to your account to download the games.
    BElieve in YOUrself.
  • gnsls111
    gnsls111 Member Posts: 2 New User
    If I am unable to get the Mcfee app on my CB3-131...how do I get virus protection?  
  • RanY2J
    RanY2J Member Posts: 599 Seasoned Specialist WiFi Icon
    gnsls111 said:
    If I am unable to get the Mcfee app on my CB3-131...how do I get virus protection?  

    Why shouldn't you man? Just log in with your Gmail on Play store and you'll be able to download it. Besides, all the apps needs a registered Gmail address to be downloaded from Play Store man.
    BElieve in YOUrself.