topic Re: Questions about chromebooks in Electronics

Questions about chromebooks

qualityshopper — Sun, 15 Sep 2019 12:39:31 GMT

I'm looking to replace my old Windows 7 laptop with a chromebook, but I have a few questions about them first.

I currently use my laptop connected to a fan to help keep it cool. Do I need to worry about chromebooks getting hot as well? If not, does that mean I can put it on my lap to use (I never do that with my laptop)? Also would like to know if, even though you're not supposed to be worried about exposure to malware, etc. from what I've read, would you still advise installing some kind of anti-virus software? Finally, are there any brands you would suggest staying away from? Thanks for any help with this.

Re: Questions about chromebooks

Blingqueen023 — Sun, 15 Sep 2019 13:03:53 GMT

@qualityshopper wrote:
I'm looking to replace my old Windows 7 laptop with a chromebook, but I have a few questions about them first.

I currently use my laptop connected to a fan to help keep it cool. Do I need to worry about chromebooks getting hot as well? If not, does that mean I can put it on my lap to use (I never do that with my laptop)? Also would like to know if, even though you're not supposed to be worried about exposure to malware, etc. from what I've read, would you still advise installing some kind of anti-virus software? Finally, are there any brands you would suggest staying away from? Thanks for any help with this.

@qualityshopper I have the Google Chromebook and ‘I love it. I use it on my lap all the time and it never gets hot. You don’t need an antivirus on it at all. That’s why I didn’t purchase another laptop. I won’t go back to a laptop ever again after owning the Google Chromebook. I give it 10 stars.

Re: Questions about chromebooks

fancy pantsy — Sun, 15 Sep 2019 12:58:19 GMT

i am very happy with my chromebook. i use a little lapdesk under it when it's on my lap. i use the lapdesk because it provides better stability and is more comfortable from an ergonomic standpoint. have not installed any anti-virus software and this is my second chromebook. good luck!

Re: Questions about chromebooks

avid shopper — Sun, 15 Sep 2019 13:49:12 GMT

I too am considering a Chromebook for my next laptop. My Windows updates will stop next year.

Make sure you research something called "end of life" when it comes to the Chromebooks. There is much info on this via Google. It is not based on when you purchase but when the CB was manufactured.

@qualityshopper

I found this...https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/6220366?hl=en

Re: Questions about chromebooks

sarahpanda — Sun, 15 Sep 2019 13:27:02 GMT

I switched from a Lenova laptop to an Acer Chromebook 15....absolutely love it !!!!!! Come to think of it, I've never heard a fan running on my chromebook. I'd buy it again.

Re: Questions about chromebooks

Havarti — Sun, 15 Sep 2019 13:56:39 GMT

I have the HP Chromebook - it never gets hot and I do not need anti virus protection for it. There is so much about it that is great, but mine may be a lemon. It sometimes freezes, or shuts down for no known reason, it emits a loud horrific screeching sound that requires you to reboot and the touch pad often stops working. For these reasons I do not think I would buy it again. It also has quirks & idiosyncrasies that need getting used to at the beginning...just little things, but breaks from what you have know to be standard and have become intuitive - for example...there is no delete key (there are other little things like that to adjust to).

Re: Questions about chromebooks

bonnie f — Sun, 15 Sep 2019 16:42:59 GMT

i have an hp chrome notebook and i love it.. mines about 4 yrs old almost 5 and i'm definetely going to get another one soon.. i use it on my lap most of the time and it doesnt get hot... sometimes i'm on mine for hrs and its fine... no you dont need added security.. when i got this one i didnt get why?? the salesman told me i didnt.. when it came in (they had to order it) i asked the other guy that works there and he said no also... i shop all the time on this and never had any issues,, i only use my computer for shopping, facebook, email and its perfect for that... and so easy to set up....

Re: Questions about chromebooks

Jordan2 — Sun, 15 Sep 2019 20:18:09 GMT

Okay, maybe I'm the odd man out, I have a Samsung Pro Chromebook I paid $500 for, I have had it for 2 years and have had it repaired 3 times ( it will freeze, they don't fix it properly it keeps happening). Also I have a Garmin GPS with lifetime maps, you can't update your maps using a chromebook. I will not buy a chromebook again.

Re: Questions about chromebooks

SilleeMee — Sun, 15 Sep 2019 22:10:36 GMT

@qualityshopper

Chromebooks were invented by google and so they control everything about them. Here is a link to google's page about Chromebooks. It will answer many question which you might have.

https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/3265094?hl=en

Then after you visit that page, you might find the following link helpful about which model to choose. Be aware that most all Chromebooks come with an expiration date of around 5 years. What that means is when the 5 year expiration date comes around, google will not be updating your CB. The expiration date depends on the model. It's important to note also that when it comes to buying cheaper CBs, that usually means the cheaper ones have a shorter outdate. In other words, you get what you pay for.

https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/6220366?hl=en

Another thing you might take note of is that some newer CBs have android app capability. That means it is a hybrid which can operate with both traditional web browsing or it can be switched to using the andoid os.

Re: Questions about chromebooks

qualityshopper — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 22:13:49 GMT

Thanks everyone for all the great advice and info! Looks like there's both good and bad points, but that's the way it is with everything pretty much. I'm not sure I like the "end of life" feature, but guess that isn't so bad either. I mean, after all, tech gets old fast anyway--just have to be careful about checking the date it was manufactured when I buy one. I never knew about that until hearing it from you--thanks! Also didn't know there isn't a delete key. Have to admit, that will be hard to get used to. I was actually debating between a tablet and a chromebook, but think I'll like the CB better. Again, thanks everyone!!!

Re: Questions about chromebooks

Toppers3 — Tue, 17 Sep 2019 02:08:48 GMT

@qualityshopper wrote:
Thanks everyone for all the great advice and info! Looks like there's both good and bad points, but that's the way it is with everything pretty much. I'm not sure I like the "end of life" feature, but guess that isn't so bad either. I mean, after all, tech gets old fast anyway--just have to be careful about checking the date it was manufactured when I buy one. I never knew about that until hearing it from you--thanks! Also didn't know there isn't a delete key. Have to admit, that will be hard to get used to. I was actually debating between a tablet and a chromebook, but think I'll like the CB better. Again, thanks everyone!!!

I have been using Chromebooks for several years now, and I'm on my second HP Chromebook.

My other one started having battery issues and was over 4 years old and would also randomly shut down too, at any given time. It started happening more frequently, so we figured it was time for new ones for my husband and me.

His was over 5 years old, and he was using an ACER Chromebook and his battery life was gone as well.

He bought a new ACER and loves it. He has a 15 inch screen, whereas mine has an 11.5 inch screen, I think.

There isn't a delete key with a Chromebook, but you have a Back Space key, instead.

Also, for those who are wondering about an anti-virus program...

The Chromebook has both an anti-virus and an anti-spyware program built into it. It/they run in the background and they also update in the background too, so you actually don't see it running, and you don't have to worry about updating it or installing anything.

I enjoy using my Chromebook.

I still use a Windows laptop for the things that a Chromebook can't do, so I like having both on hand.

Re: Questions about chromebooks

apple1964 — Wed, 18 Sep 2019 11:46:00 GMT

It has some sort of internal fan it never gets hot. Chrome books have more battery life and built in virus protection. Everything goes into the cloud so I always have space even with 4 Gbs. I have been using Chrome books since 2015 and I love them. Now we have the play store and we will be having cloud based games in the near future.It also updates and the only thing is the settings which you have to learn and once you learn and get used to the different setting [from windows 10 devices] you will be golden. Happy shopping!

Re: Questions about chromebooks

Jordan2 — Wed, 18 Sep 2019 18:45:34 GMT

@SilleeMee wrote:
@qualityshopper

Chromebooks were invented by google and so they control everything about them. Here is a link to google's page about Chromebooks. It will answer many question which you might have.

https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/3265094?hl=en

Then after you visit that page, you might find the following link helpful about which model to choose. Be aware that most all Chromebooks come with an expiration date of around 5 years. What that means is when the 5 year expiration date comes around, google will not be updating your CB. The expiration date depends on the model. It's important to note also that when it comes to buying cheaper CBs, that usually means the cheaper ones have a shorter outdate. In other words, you get what you pay for.

https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/6220366?hl=en

Another thing you might take note of is that some newer CBs have android app capability. That means it is a hybrid which can operate with both traditional web browsing or it can be switched to using the andoid os.

@SilleeMee @I didn’t know about the expiration date until recently. I have about three years left, I won’t buy another Chromebook.

Re: Questions about chromebooks

SilleeMee — Wed, 18 Sep 2019 20:06:15 GMT

@Jordan2 ,

I just bought my second one! I love CBs. My new one is convertible and a touchscreen plus it has Google Play.

Re: Questions about chromebooks

avid shopper — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 11:02:33 GMT

Food for thought....although Chromebooks have shelf life of 6.5 years they are considerable less expensive than laptops. My laptop purchased in 12/2011 will no longer receive updates as of 01/20. That is 8 years and the laptop was around $800 if memory serves. I have had it in the shop twice for service to the tune of $300 in total + a new battery which only lasted one year. In my opinion that is too much money to check emails, shop and do other minor things. I also feel that Microsoft should support their products for the life of that product, in this case, Windows 7 home edition.

Re: Questions about chromebooks

SilleeMee — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 11:15:11 GMT

@avid shopper

Then you have to add the cost of virus and malware protection to a Windows laptop...and still worry about getting infected. For me having that part eliminated when owning a CB makes all the difference and peace of mind.

Re: Questions about chromebooks

avid shopper — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 11:19:55 GMT

@SilleeMee

Mine came with "free" antivirus for the life of the computer, 2040, LOL! This is one of the reasons I purchased this laptop. I notice they don't offer that anymore with laptops. So if you think about it that way I saved $400, which now brings the total cost down to my original purchase price. Still going to give Chromebook a try!

Re: Questions about chromebooks

gardenman — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 12:09:00 GMT

Chromebooks don't overheat very easily as they use less power-hungry CPUs. The more powerful a CPU is the more likely it is to get hot. The Chrome operating system is designed to be less CPU intensive so they can use less powerful CPU's and still get very good performance with less power needed/longer battery life, and less heat. They're a very well designed and clever little device.

As to the "end of life" issues. The chipsets used in computers of all types are constantly evolving. As the chipsets evolve so too does the operating system. If manufacturers/OS creators kept every version fully updated they'd have to create dozens, if not hundreds of variations of each update to line up with each OS and chipset available. If you just look at Microsoft products, they've had MS-DOS, Windows 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 3.1, 95, 98, ME, NT3.1, NT4.0, 2000, XP Vista, 7, 8, and 10. Keeping all of them updated and functional with whatever chipset and CPU instruction set is now available would be an absolute nightmare. That's why Windows has now settled on keeping everything Windows 10 and just adjusting that as they go along and needs change.

Re: Questions about chromebooks

apple1964 — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 13:45:18 GMT

@SilleeMee wrote:
@Jordan2 ,
I just bought my second one! I love CBs. My new one is convertible and a touchscreen plus it has Google Play.

They all have google play.

Re: Questions about chromebooks

apple1964 — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 13:48:47 GMT

@Jordan2 wrote:
@SilleeMee wrote:
@qualityshopper

Chromebooks were invented by google and so they control everything about them. Here is a link to google's page about Chromebooks. It will answer many question which you might have.

https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/3265094?hl=en

Then after you visit that page, you might find the following link helpful about which model to choose. Be aware that most all Chromebooks come with an expiration date of around 5 years. What that means is when the 5 year expiration date comes around, google will not be updating your CB. The expiration date depends on the model. It's important to note also that when it comes to buying cheaper CBs, that usually means the cheaper ones have a shorter outdate. In other words, you get what you pay for.

https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/6220366?hl=en

Another thing you might take note of is that some newer CBs have android app capability. That means it is a hybrid which can operate with both traditional web browsing or it can be switched to using the andoid os.
@SilleeMee @I didn’t know about the expiration date until recently. I have about three years left, I won’t buy another Chromebook.

Windows devices have a support experation as well. If a computer device lasts for four years or more your ahead of the game these days.