Chromebooks

[Lord Tyrion]

We are looking to replace our home laptop as it is slowing painfully. Before anyone suggests, yes we do still want a laptop and not just a tablet. Anyway, we were thinking of getting a Chromebook as they seem to hold their speed in a way that standard laptops do not.

Does anyone run a Chromebook? Thoughts on them, good and bad.

 

[Robster59]

I've not any experience of Chromebooks but I think Windows 10 has moved things forward a bit for Microsoft.
Quite a detailed comparison here
https://www.laptopmag.com/articles/chromebooks-vs-windows

 

[huds1475]

Depends on your use-case.

Chromebooks run web based applications in the main, you don't install software and process locally - so basically fast as your internet connection.

If you're happy with doing everything over the interweb, as opposed to processing locally, then Chromebooks are a good option.

May require a bit of a change in how you approach doing things.

 

[PhilTheFragger]

They don’t have large hard drives and access everything from the cloud.

Decent machines if you carry very little data and have a good internet connection. They don’t have Windows, but the chrome software is quite windows like, and you get your programs /apps from the google App Store ,

if you try and use it like a conventional laptop, you will quickly use up its drive space.

Another option might be a Windows laptop with a SSD hard drive inside. (fast and then some)
Again beware of capacity, 250 Gb is the absolute minimum, 500Gb is better 👍

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Thanks everyone. Just the advice I was looking for.

 

[jim8flog]

They do not have DVD drives. Hence my decision to go with a notebook.

Slightly against Phil view I run with less than 100 gb hard drive but I only use it for basics (net, word processing ) in the first place and use my desktop for the intensive work and storing photos. When using it I store to a USB stick or SD card for easy transfer to the desk top.

 

[jusme]

They don’t have large hard drives and access everything from the cloud.

Decent machines if you carry very little data and have a good internet connection. They don’t have Windows, but the chrome software is quite windows like, and you get your programs /apps from the google App Store ,

if you try and use it like a conventional laptop, you will quickly use up its drive space.

Another option might be a Windows laptop with a SSD hard drive inside. (fast and then some)
Again beware of capacity, 250 Gb is the absolute minimum, 500Gb is better 👍

As much as I agree with most of this there is absolutely no need for such a large SSD drive. SSD drives are not for storing data on, but much more about load speed and general performance of a laptop. Anyone buying a device using an SSD will be using the cloud or an external hard drive for storage.

Laptop with SSD is the way to go these days.

 

[PhilTheFragger]

As much as I agree with most of this there is absolutely no need for such a large SSD drive. SSD drives are not for storing data on, but much more about load speed and general performance of a laptop. Anyone buying a device using an SSD will be using the cloud or an external hard drive for storage.

Laptop with SSD is the way to go these days.

The reason why I was suggesting a minimum SSD size of 250gb on a Windows machine is simple.

Windows itself takes up about 30Gb, programs typically 5 Gb, the amount of data carried will vary from person to person.but say on average 30gb.( but leaves the option for much more)

Now I hear you say, that’s only 65gb , what’s the rest for.

The answer is Windows Updates, at the moment Microsoft are chucking out 4 or 5 major update packages per year, each of these is circa 10Gb,

Older versions can be removed if you know how to, but most users will not do this.

So potentially every year will add 40Gb of updates.

Additionally one feature of a SSD that is often ignored is the impact on the longevity of the machine.

Previously a laptop would get thrown out after 4 years or so, when it slows down to a crawl, you don’t get that slowdown with an SSD , so the machine is likely to last 7 years , another reason to have a larger drive.

Also very few people will upload their excess data to an external drive as you suggest. ( if they did they would have to do it twice to provide a backup)

Some people will use one of the cloud services , (one drive etc) but in my experience this is often accidental and they don’t realise they are doing it.

The cost of SSD’s has dropped significantly, I can get a 500gb SSD for £75retail, a 250gb one £55 and a 120 Gb which is too small is only £25

At these prices nobody should be using spinning hard drives any more.

I have also seen new machines sold with 60 Gb SSD s in them,full up after 3 months. these machines are simply not fit for purpose

So I reiterate a 250 gb SSD is the smallest size I would like to see in any laptop 👍

 

[jim8flog]

Ok So I know how to delete the updates. If the disk is getting full windows asks if you want to delete the updates (from memory).

I think my SSD is only 65Gb but it does the job I need it to and they did not offer a machine with a larger HD (I only paid £160 for it) . I have thought to increase it's size but the only programs I have loaded are AV Office and assorted web browsers.

 

[PhilTheFragger]

Ok So I know how to delete the updates. If the disk is getting full windows asks if you want to delete the updates (from memory).

I think my SSD is only 65Gb but it does the job I need it to and they did not offer a machine with a larger HD (I only paid £160 for it) . I have thought to increase it's size but the only programs I have loaded are AV Office and assorted web browsers.

Well done, you are obviously one of the 10% of the population who are savvy enough to manage the limitations of a small SSD .and for what you are using it for, you probably don’t need a bigger one.

Most people are either unaware of what to do or are ambivalent or just lazy.

I’m a computer engineer, I spend my life bailing out the public .👍

 

[jusme]

I'm sure as you know the cost of such a SSD is expensive (unless your fitting aftermarket). I am a techy to and I know the standard advise is minimum 250 but I prefer to push people towards more value for money (unless there competent to buy and fit aftermarket). If your happy to manage your PC and use cloud/backup services/products then I would always be happy with 128. I have used this size for a while and never let it get near 75% capacity.

I agree if your working with a customer who is less savvy and will rarely do housekeeping then a larger drive would be sensible, assuming they can afford it. The same less savvy person may be happy with slow boot up times from the older drives and may not think the faster boot up times and program launches is worth the extra cost.

 

[jim8flog]

Well done, you are obviously one of the 10% of the population who are savvy enough to manage the limitations of a small SSD .and for what you are using it for, you probably don’t need a bigger one.

Most people are either unaware of what to do or are ambivalent or just lazy.

I’m a computer engineer, I spend my life bailing out the public .👍

I do know what you mean, when I used to build for mates, one guy kept on wanting to buy a new computer every time his disk was full. It took a lot of getting through to him he just needed to declutter and all he needed really was an external hard drive because his wife took so many photos.

That is one thing I have learnt over the years - to be really selective about what photos I keep.