[Closed] Talk Chromebooks to me

Pros - cheaper, lighter, far less virus / security rigmarole, instant start up <5s, no need to buy / maintain software, if it goes tits up at worst buy/borrow a new one, log in to your Goggle account and you're back in an instant. I recall a story of someone who forgot theirs for an important trip, so walked in and bought one OTC and was back running straight away.

Cons - can't 'install' some software (for my kids = games), need to have internet connection to work, not as easy to use MS programs

There's an initial hump to using the Google document packages instead of word, excel, etc., and if you're a mega user of these then there is some reduced functionality even if you use the O365 online versions (need a sub for these) but for everything I do, it's been no real hardship.

Also check the lifetime of the model you buy - Google push regular updates out (only require restart = <15s) but only commit to those for a particular period. https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/6220366?hl=en   These are apparently the commitments, doesn't mean they don't support after, or even that they don't work, just that you no longer get the updates.

If you use a Garmin GPS, Garmin Express doesn't work/exist for Chromebook.

So updates are tricky, if possible at all

Edit: Just noticed the

Usage is standard desk jockey work

So probably not relevant

If you need special software then they're unsuitable. If you live in a browser already, or migrating to Google Docs/Office365 is trivial, then there's definitely a lot to be said for the "laptop as an appliance" model over something like Windows where you're very much the admin.

Its like an android phone in a laptop format. If you can do everything you need to on a phone then the chromebook will be fine. (printing is not easy)

printing's dead easy to a wireless printer on the same network on mine, what issue do you have?

printing’s dead easy to a wireless printer on the same network on mine, what issue do you have?

i dont have an issue, just saying its not as straight forward as on a windows pc.

theotherjonv has covered most of it, including the eventual support expiry. There's an early one stuffed under my desk that suffered just such a fate. His only slightly off point is this,

need to have internet connection to work,

You can synch documents to the small internal HDD to work offline, in fact I'm sure recently used files had this done automatically.

After mine went out of support, I reverted to an i5 Windows 10 refurbished laptop. More fully featured (the ability to install software particularly) and no more expensive, IIRC it was actually a bit cheaper than a new Chromebook.

Can I use a chromebook with Zwift?

I have one for work. They are always on like a phone so easy to jump in and out of which is nice.

After that, woeful, don't bother unless you want to be forced in to learning how Google think a computer should run (they haven't a clue), spend hours trying to find files that were simple via Windows/Apple, have it constantly try to direct everything to some sort of Google product, not sync with very popular programs, not open very popular websites, not work with plenty of very popular apps.
I'm neither a technowizz or technophobe but have had mine for a few years and still have no idea how to do plenty of simple tasks without having to go around the houses.

Unless you are already fully integrated in to the Google world stick with Windows/Apple. Chromebooks try to be a mixture of laptop and tablet but do a sub optimal job of both.

i dont have an issue, just saying its not as straight forward as on a windows pc.

I found setting up our printer such a pain in the arse that I just send anything I need printing to my wife's iphone and she does it. That's not usually sent from the Chromebook btw as that no longer opens my Sky email.

For general browsing on the internet, watching films and so on  they're pretty good. Battery lasts well, and it's very much "open up and go" As Chestrockwell suggests though, go much beyond that it you soon reach it's limits. It makes it harder (for instance) to attach something you've created on their word or excel version to a email because what it wants to do is share it via a google link...

And you still need something to run actual programmes (like Garmin Express and things like Zwift)

I like mine, but next thing will be a windows or Apple product.

I'm on my second. Printing works out of the box if you have a WiFi printer. If you are happy with Google docs then documents and spreadsheets are easy. You can save as Microsoft versions if needed too.
Software is an issue though. I sometimes use ansys and MATLAB which are not available on Chromebook. That is where the wife's windows laptop comes out although I haven't actually used it for a few months.

Printing works out of the box if you have a WiFi printer.

If you have a WiFi printer that is Cloud Print enabled (or whatever Google call it).

Only way mine would print was via a computer running Chrome browser and cloud print.
This might have improved?