Electronics

[Sunshine Kate]

I'm seriously in the market for a Chromebook, 3 questions:

1. Do I need to pay for an anti-virus software?

2. Can I use my Canon printer with it?

3. Is it relatively safe to pay bills online?

Thank you!

[adelle38]

I can answer the question about your printer. The Chromebook only prints from the Chrome Cloud so there is no way to connect a printer through USB. Unless you have a wireless printer, it would have to be connected to another computer in order to print from the Chrome Book. If it's a wireless printer, you will need to put it on your Chrome Cloud.

[Sunshine Kate]

Thank you, Adelle.

[gardenman]

As for antivirus software, there's absolutely no need at this time. The Chrome OS is pretty much virus-proof. As far as online bill paying goes, as long as the site is secure there should be no difference between a Chromebook and a "normal" PC.

[missy1]

You don't need anti-virus protection. (I know) CB is secure. Not sure about the printer.

[Toppers]

Sunshine Kate, my husband has a Chromebook, as I have mentioned here on this forum before.

He hasn't used it for printing anything yet, but I agree with what adelle has said when it comes to printing through another computer on a wireless network.

He really enjoys using his Chromebook.

You do not have to worry about antivirus software with them, as the software is already in the computer.

It's not like when you install the antivirus software on another kind of computer, and then you actually see the program working. With a Chromebook, you don't even see it, and wouldn't even know that it is there.

However, you can still pick up things like "adware" by accidentally adding on "add-ons" and "extensions" that you don't want.

You can do this by picking up an additional toolbar, let's say. But, its easy to delete it because you go into your "settings" section in your Chrome browser, and you can delete them that way.

[Nuttmeg]

Delete

[Sunshine Kate]

Thank you all for the replies.

[151949]

I agree with all said above - need to get a wireless printer - I pay my bills on it every month and no antivirus software needed. Right now we also have a windows 8 desktop so when I need to print anything I send it over there and print from it.

[Sunshine Kate]

On 2/16/2015 happy housewife said:

I agree with all said above - need to get a wireless printer - I pay my bills on it every month and no antivirus software needed. Right now we also have a windows 8 desktop so when I need to print anything I send it over there and print from it.

How do you 'send it over there' to print it?