For large screen video, you can easily connect your chromebook to your TV with chromecast or a HDMI cable.
Simple Notebook/laptop
Re: Simple Notebook/laptop
iTunes is a big one. Photoshop/Lightroom. Games (I don't play them). If you have an iPhone/iPad it's nice to have a Mac. The MacBook just does almost everything better than the Chromebook. It's not just the programs. I would go into an Apple Store and try one out. Although I do like idea of Chromebooks, I think the quality is much lower. I've had a few of them with hardware issues that I returned.
Re: Simple Notebook/laptop
Yes, I get that. If you use iTunes, iPhone, iPad, then it makes perfect sense to have a Mac. And I do get the Photoshop and games, if that is important.Alexa9 wrote: ↑Sat Oct 07, 2017 9:19 amiTunes is a big one. Photoshop/Lightroom. Games (I don't play them). If you have an iPhone/iPad it's nice to have a Mac. The MacBook just does almost everything better than the Chromebook. It's not just the programs. I would go into an Apple Store and try one out. Although I do like idea of Chromebooks, I think the quality is much lower. I've had a few of them with hardware issues that I returned.
I use all Google/Android stuff, and it integrates really well with the Chromebooks. I have only run into two things where the Chromebook was a problem. I bought a universal remote for my TV/home theater, and it required installing a program to set it up. The other was BigFoot's retirement planning spreadsheet (RPM) which kind of ran on Google Sheets, but some features didn't work right; worked perfect on Windows/Excel.
Last edited by munemaker on Sat Oct 07, 2017 9:35 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Simple Notebook/laptop
I put all my wife's photos from her Mac to my PC so I can figure out what the heck we have instead of trying find everything in Photos. She went with Mac for iPhoto, but that does not exist anymore on new machines. I still have two iPhones and two iPads for this, that, or the other thing, especially travel or places I have to carry a computer around with me. Recently the iPad Mini has seemed to be the optimum compromise.
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Re: Simple Notebook/laptop
iPad.Barefootgirl wrote: ↑Thu Oct 05, 2017 9:58 am Thank you all. Use will be limited to web surfing, email, Facebook, looking up the news... lol.
Cheapest one should do.
The most precious gift we can offer anyone is our attention. - Thich Nhat Hanh
Re: Simple Notebook/laptop
I use Citrix to remote into work. Running it as a Chrome app on my Windows computer was painfully slow; I haven't tried it on a Chromebook. I also use Anyconnect. That app only works on Chromebooks so I haven't tried that.
Re: Simple Notebook/laptop
Fair enough, but what specifically did you think was lacking in the 2-in-1 Chromebooks?inbox788 wrote: ↑Fri Oct 06, 2017 2:54 pm I'm not talking about most Chromebooks. These comments are regarding the new crop of 2-in-1 Chromebooks that are came out this year https://www.engadget.com/2017/10/04/goo ... hromebook/ (and some of the limited ones that can be upgraded to the android store https://www.androidcentral.com/these-ar ... droid-apps ).
I'm on-board with a general Chromebook as the best option, as long as there isn't a more specific need:
viewtopic.php?f=11&t=229030#p3559099
I ask because I was thinking about getting one, but my experience with a Windows 2-in-1 a few years ago was that it was much too heavy to use as a tablet and that I detest typing on a virtual keyboard.
Re: Simple Notebook/laptop
There are 2 user groups being discussed here. Many answer apply more to general to advanced users, and not OPs elderly Mom, who I assume is a beginner. My comments have been mainly directed towards Mom.Pajamas wrote: ↑Sat Oct 07, 2017 3:07 pmFair enough, but what specifically did you think was lacking in the 2-in-1 Chromebooks?
I ask because I was thinking about getting one, but my experience with a Windows 2-in-1 a few years ago was that it was much too heavy to use as a tablet and that I detest typing on a virtual keyboard.
Mom is going to have a challenge adapting to either a classic Chromebook or a tablet, but she may find one easier than another depending on what she does, so that's what I suggested; go with what's simpler and more natural for her and her uses. IMO, the added complexity of a 2-in-1 for her is unnecessary, and adds more confusion than it helps.
Now in general, I've found adding a touch to a Chromebook has limited benefits, especially without Android Apps. They've been working on adding the Play Store to Chromebooks, and only recently have they released a limited stable release. Stability and comparability issues are still common. With the new models that came out this year, there should be a renewed push, but it's still early (and I wouldn't want to add to Mom's frustrations).
Eventually the 2-in-1 may turn out to be a good idea, but aside from a Chromebook with touch, the tablet mode and other configurations are probably better achieved with simply a tablet and a stand. I'm not knocking the other benefits of the higher end 2-in-1 (faster processor, better resolutions), but the touch mode is not compelling for me.
If you need the light weight single unit, the go for the 2-in-1, but for now, I'm keeping my Chromebook for the keyboard benefits and my table with a stand for watching videos and other touch intensive functions (games?).
Re: Simple Notebook/laptop
This could be a problem depending on the country. There are several countries around the world that block Google -- China for example. A Chromebook is impossible to use in Mainland China without a VPN and VPNs are being blocked left-and-right.sunny_socal wrote: ↑Thu Oct 05, 2017 5:32 pm I don't know, she lives overseas and I'm in the USA. All I know is that the new computer didn't work