Google Chromebook

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 26 Apr 2013 7:46 am

I recently "drank the kool-aide" and got an Acer C7 Chromebook. If you're looking for an inexpensive travel laptop and don't need Windows or Mac OS, this is the ticket. I love mine. You do need to have a Google account and an internet connection to use it, though.

The Google Chromebook: The ultimate traveling companion

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 26 Apr 2013 8:00 am

What is the advantage? Will it run Windows software?

Wiz Feinberg · Post by **Wiz Feinberg** » 26 Apr 2013 8:31 am

No, it won't run Windows software. But, if all you need is to use a browser for surfing and email, the Chromebooks are as affordable a solution as one can find.

Gary Cosden · Post by **Gary Cosden** » 26 Apr 2013 8:48 am

I've read that it boots in something like 7 seconds?

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 26 Apr 2013 8:52 am

I just received my Samsung Chromebook yesterday. Still getting my feet under me with it. I chose it over the Acer for a couple of reasons including battery life (no mechanical hard drive, no moving parts.)
Unfortunately one of my deciding features was that it has Bluetooth (Acer does not). I expected to pair it with a headset I've got for some long train ride movie & music sessions. Turns out the Bluetooth only works with keyboards & mice. I cannot imagine why anyone would go with external controllers with this full keyboard unit so I feel somewhat scammed. But it's a pretty neat little doohick.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 26 Apr 2013 9:27 am

It boots faster than Windows or Mac OSX, but I think it's longer than 7 seconds. I'll time it and get back to you.

You can use Google docs for writing and for spreadsheets, and there are other web apps available for many of the common tasks. I've installed an app called AudioTool that looks like it would be good for creating music. Haven't put it through the paces yet but it looks similar to GarageBand.

My music library from iTunes (on my Mac) is in the cloud now via Google Music Manager, so I can listen to all of my music on the Chromebook. Yep, I drank the kool-aid.

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 26 Apr 2013 9:38 am

Since a lot of my usage is going to be on Amtrak wi-fi that I have found to be sort of sporadic on a Kindle and Palm phone (which may be hardware shortcomings--I really don't know), it will be interesting to see how cloud friendly my experience will be in that environment. I got a 32G SD card that I'm loading with stuff so that I have offline options if I need them.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 26 Apr 2013 10:02 am

There's a good Reddit for Chromebooks: www.reddit.com/r/chromeos/

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 26 Apr 2013 7:28 pm

The Acer C7 boots from a real hard disk, not a SSD. I just timed it at about 14 seconds.

By the way, it costs $199 plus shipping.

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 27 Apr 2013 4:46 am

When I started looking a few weeks ago the $199 Acer was sold out, anywhere I looked--replaced by a $249 one with 2 more G of RAM, I think. Maybe I should have looked harder. Would have gone for the savings for sure (not just the $50---also the cost of the SD card that I wouldn't have needed.)

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 27 Apr 2013 8:45 am

I sort of lucked out. A friend bought one for his wife and she didn't like it (too small). He sold it to me for the same price instead of returning it.

Andy Sandoval · Post by **Andy Sandoval** » 27 Apr 2013 10:54 am

So, is the main difference between a chrombook and a similar priced regular old laptop a windows operating system? and that some come with or without a dvd/cd drive. I guess I'm not getting what the big attraction is when you can get windows and a dvd/cd drive for about the same price.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 27 Apr 2013 10:59 am

Are there really Windows laptops in the $200 range, Andy? I haven't seen any.

For me, the attractions are size, weight and simplicity. I don't need Windows when I'm traveling. Almost everything I do with a computer is on the web anyway.

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 27 Apr 2013 12:25 pm

b0b wrote:Are there really Windows laptops in the $200 range, Andy? I haven't seen any.

My eeePC was $249 at Best Buy about 5 years ago, running WinXP. It was way underpowered, and most of the moving parts failed within a couple of years.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 28 Apr 2013 7:05 pm

Windows has several dozen services running all the time, using processor power and memory. Under the hood, Chromebooks are running a pared-down version of Linux with only the services that are required to run the hardware, a minimal graphics interface and the Chrome web browser. As a result, they don't feel underpowered at all. They boot quickly and respond as fast as your internet connection will allow.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 16 Aug 2013 11:07 am

Great deal on these at Official Acer eBay Outlet Store - $129.99.

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Google Chromebook

Google Chromebook

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