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My lad is looking at Chromebooks on a limited budget (sub-£250) are they any good and what should he be looking for?
It’s for watching TV and movies from the SSD or streamed and some surfing the net when away from home. The long battery life and light weight are what appeals.
For those applications is there any reason he’s not looking at a tablet? The keyboard seems superfluous to requirements really.
He mentioned Chromebooks, so I don’t know why he isn’t looking at a tablet. He sent me a link to one earlier that has a 14” screen, so that my be why.
Will he get more for his money from a tablet?
big fan of mine. Didn't like the ipad.
Yes ideal for that / look upon it as a tablet with built in stand and keyboard, with benefits - I cannot watch a film on a tablet - wrong angle on lap , always too heavy to hold etc.
It’s not a case of getting more or less from a laptop form factor or a tablet rather which is more convenient for the user.
Personally for watching Netflix, surfing the web, posting ill-received PSA’s for VPN services etc then I prefer a tablet. Easier to hold and easier to navigate round websites. More portable too.
Anything that requires actual typing-word processing, lengthy emails and the like or navigating more complicated software like photo editing I prefer a laptop.
Given the suggested uses your son is looking at it would be a tablet every time.
I really like mine. Had it 18 months or so. Got it to replace a knackered laptop but it has also replaced my tablet too as I much prefer using the chromebook. Use it for web browsing, iplayer (and other streaming services), plotting biking routes and uploading to garmin, photo editing, occasional word processing, the odd game or two.
It is quiet (silent), the screen is half reasonable, battery lasts ages and OS updates are done in seconds.
This is the Chromebook he linked to;
https://www.amazon.co.uk/ASUS-Chromebook-C223NA-GJ0014-Notebook-Processor/dp/B07HJHMCX2
Any good for the money?
May I suggest for a bit more money a "2 in 1" style chromebook. .. that basically means you can fold the screen all the way back and use it as a tablet as the screen is a "touch screen"*
Heavier than a tablet but lighter than a laptop and always ready to use no turning on/booting up lag .... a big plus point.
* When in laptop mode the touch screen is used as the mouse right click .... takes a bit of getting used to ... half using the mouse pad/half using the touch screen ... but then Im old and rubbish, your lad well pick it up in no time, no doubt 🙂
Good luck
For those applications is there any reason he’s not looking at a tablet? The keyboard seems superfluous to requirements really
Well for starters you have to hold a tablet to see it!
Proper keyboards come in handy if you want to type anything more than a couple of sentences.
I got one from work and hate it. It seems to make tasks that are simple on a Windows or Apple laptop far more difficult and relying on Cloud services rather than having a desktop to plonk stuff is a massive pita. The Google systems meddle in everything and just make life more frustrating.
Maybe if I used it more (and others less) I might get on with it better but I certainly couldn't recommend them. Stick to a traditional laptop or tablet would be my advice.
I would suggest spending a tiny bit more and getting a Windows based laptop if a keyboard based solution is needed.
I've bought about six or so. Still using Windows (10) for work, but it's chromebooks for anything at home (emails, booking hols, watching stuff, erm, that's about it). Like the fact you open and it's on, and only need to recharge 'em every few days. Also got tablets (apple and android) but don't use them.
I can say why the above is the case if anyone's interested, but it's clear how I've voted. That Asus one looks okay to me.
one thing to be aware of is that Chromebooks have a built-in "end of life" which I didn;t knw about until we'd had one for a while. 5 years after release, they stop getting updates. They will work, but no fixes or newer software. Kind of frustrating in this age where we are beginning to realise the impact of unbridled consumerism
https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/6220366?hl=en
the one you link to will be ok until Jun 2024. The one we bought will stop geting updates in a couple of months. Apart from that it's been absolutley great
not entirely - the 5 years is guaranteed, they may support for longer particularly on security updates
i use a 2 in 1 chromebook as a tablet, and have done for a few years
slightly thicker than a tablet, but the keyboard helps protect the screen when transporting it
I would get another, over a tablet, when this dies
the one you link to will be ok until Jun 2024. The one we bought will stop geting updates in a couple of months. Apart from that it’s been absolutley great
Our second oldest one must be over 5 years old and still gets updates. My oldest, which I keep in the shed for GCN vids for occasional/theoretical turbo sessions, gives 'no longer supported' messages but still seems to work okay.
(In contrast to older windows computers which would have ground to a bloated halt by similar age, though this may now have changed.)
In contrast to older windows computers which would have ground to a bloated halt by similar age, though this may now have changed.
It has changed. I have a 10 year old HP laptop with core 2 duo and 4Gb ram which runs W10 perfectly well - even more so with an SSD in it. My kids used it for several years.
Actually, that makes me think - it would be a perfect turbo trainer companion for the garage cos it's got a massive screen and a remote control.
In response to the OP - Chromebooks are great, get a 2:1 convertible as said. That way it'll stand up on its own, can be hand held, but also useful for surfing when you need to type or editing the odd document etc.
Get one with an extended warranty & don’t expect much past that IME.