Three Months With my Toshiba Chromebook

Question

About three months ago I bought a Toshiba Chromebook with a 13.3 inch screen, Skullcandy speakers, Intel Processor, 4gb of ram, and a 1080P full HD screen. 100 gb of cloud drive storage for 2 years.

I had some doubts about it.. but I was already a pretty highly integrated Google user, using Google Play, Google Docs, Google drive, gmail.. etc.

I was afraid that I would lose some usability...

Well, three months later and this this is still one of my favorite devices...

Its quick, its got an incredible battery life, it travels well, It runs Virtual Windows 7 through Citrix Receiver for my work.

The thing sets up in desktop mode great, A HDMI cable connects to my fantastic HP2159m 21.5 inch Monitor, coupled with my mouse and keyboard is makes a great workstation.

Printing is handled through my wireless printer without issue via Google Cloud Print.

Overall, I am impressed with this device... it has become my main computer. My wife is using my(hers) MacBook for her work now.

The Chromebook is SILENT and it doesn't get hot to the touch like my MacBook does.

My biggest complaint is that the Chromebook's case feels cheap... then again.. it WAS cheap. But for the money, you get a LOT of computer.

This doesn't have a CD drive so you can't play movies from a disk. For a user like me, that is NOT a problem. I purchase movies that I can Redeem on Ultraviolet and stream.

I know its not everyone's cup of tea... that's okay.

Off line useage...

There is a file system similar to a windows explorer... Chrome OS keeps your last 100 documents saved to the device so you can access them offline. You can save pictures.. etc etc.. just like a regular computer.

Oh, you can download movies from Google Play Movies for off line viewing. Pretty neat.

I was concerned about the browser based platform.. has turned out to be a Non Issue for me. Most devices need internet to use all their features anyway so its not been a problem.

For EVERY SINGLE NEED I have I have found either an App or an Extension from the Google Web Store to meet the need.

Just wanted to share, if you are thinking about a Chromebook or looking for an a laptop in the $200-300 range... a Chromebook may be fore you.

I do Highly recommend getting one with 4gb of ram and an Intel processor.

One final thing... If you break or lose your Chromebook... and you have to purchase another... just sign in with your Google Account and EVERYTHING is there just like you never lost it.

Man, do I love cloud computing.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

royb · Answer

Lots of goodies on the market for these items now... If you can get on the Internet anywhere you need then to work then they are neat to have...

Getting on the Internet inexpensive with a somewhat secured connection is always my problem... VERIZON is about the only connection you can use to do this 'almost anywhere' across the USA...

We even have coverage in GOBER TX using VERIZON INTERNET... At least I found a spot at the local cemetery there close to a shade tree that works when we visit the wifes mothers grave there...

Roy Ken

bcsdguy · Answer

Well, Jeremiah, I am with you 100 percent. My wife and I have had HP chromebooks now for almost a year and we don't even use our laptops anymore. I bought two 65 gig flash drives that are very small and we ue them for an additional "hard drive". The chromebook can do almost everything I need to do and my only complaint, if there is one, is the wireless printing-not because it doesn't work but just because you have to have a wireless printer to print. Many people I have talked to like the machine but a lot of them have the older wired printers. With printers becoming so cheap now, even the wireless ones can be had for under a $100. I certainly like the instant on feature as well as the quick response to commands. They are probably not for everyone but I certainly and glad we found them and they work for us.

burlmart · Answer

good reports. i was very keen on the minimal/lite laptops w/ chromeOS, but i really must have reliable high contrast black browser pages, and only IE and FF work well. have not checked back to see if chrome has come up w/ a solid high contrast extension like FF's blank your monitor that works on almost every website.

can't make google maps go high contrast whenever a webpage pops one up. i have to paste the address into the bing map in w8.1. my laptop is an 8 months old toshiba c55 w/w8.1. it has intel celeron, 4gRAM, 300gHD, and dvd/cd player. $230.

about all i do anymore is run FF, so i pretty well have what i needed from a chromebook...almost forgot, the early chromebooks all had smaller screens. my toshiba is 15" and i have my old 19" DELL monitor hooked up for even bigger screen.

merrykalia · Answer

I, too, have an HP Chromebook.  It did belong to my daughter, but several of the games she likes to play cannot be played on the Chromebook, so when the DH and I got new laptops, I traded her.  I now have a small Chromebook that weighs about 2 lbs and she has a 21" screen and hers weighs closer to 10 lbs.  (I think I got the best deal).

tom_m1 · Answer

I was in Walmart this morning and saw they are selling an Asus Windows laptop for $199.
Asus laptop at Walmart

ASUS 15.6" X551MAV-HCL1201E Laptop PC:

Intel Celeron N2830 processor
2.16GHz
4GB DDR3 SDRAM system memory
500GB SATA hard drive
SuperMulti DVD drive
10/100Mbps Fast Ethernet, 802.11n Wireless LAN
15.6" HD display
Built-in webcam
SD memory card reader
1 x USB 3.0 port, 1 x USB 2.0 port, 1 x headphone/microphone combo jack, 1 x RJ-45 Ethernet port, 1 x VGA port, 1 x HDMI port
3-cell lithium-ion battery, up to 3.25 hours battery life
4.74 lbs

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