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laptop or chromebook

6 years ago

could anyone please help us. we are wanting to get a new computor. we each have our ipads not, but hubby still prefers the laptop. the only requirement we have is that it has usb ports and he can surf. nothing fancy, what is the difference between a chrome book and laptop. any information would be appreciated.

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Comments (8)

azinoh
6 years ago
A laptop could have either the Mac OS or Windows. A Chromebook has only the Chrome OS.
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Universal Iron Doors & Hardware Inc.
6 years ago
Chrome is just a low end PC running google OS. So you are limited in hardware and software. It can't run Adobe Flash so your net experience will be limited as well. Best bet would be to go with a laptop with Windows 10. Then you're not boxed in by limitation.
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I was just reading some Chromebook reviews, and they were not encouraging. One reviewer said it was hard on the eyes! The model was an HP. I'm still interested though. A couple of the reviewers said HP makes crap--but my desktop computer is an HP Envy and I have no complaints. Where are you seeing the good prices, Raven? My eye issue is actually issues (plural). One involves glare, and some of the suggestions here might very well help. Thanks to Lyme disease, I am wildly sensitive to light. A lot of the time I feel as though I live like a bat. This time of year when the sun hits the snow on the ground I prop foam board up against the windows. Sometimes I wear yellow (orange?) glasses at the computer, but I don't really like them. And of course they're not an option when I'm working on photographs. The other issue involves flicker. This is also from Lyme disease—it’s more of a brain issue than an eye issue. I use two monitors, and I suspect I might do a little better with them if they weren’t so big (27”). I chose a model that was said to be flicker-free. But on bad days I get the same thoroughly unpleasant hard-to-describe feeling that fluorescent lighting produces in me. The monitors also have a blue light filter and are supposed to be designed to reduce eye strain. But I’m sure eye strain is something I have right now, and I blame myself for bad habits like staring for long periods with minimal blinking and without a break. So to answer Elmer's question, I'm not certain but I've always felt I do okay with my tablets because there's no flicker. But I don't know if that's true or not. Responding to some other comments: I'm running Win7 on my computer. I didn't like Win10, so we uninstalled it. I kept it on my upstairs computer, but I hardly ever use that one. We don't have an actual computer store around here, and I'm not a fan of BestBuy, so I usually purchase electronics online. I went through Control Panel to get to display but didn't see any settings related to light emission. Maybe I went about it the wrong way. So Winter, if you have some specifics for me I'd be happy to give it a shot. My son suggested I need more ambient light in the vicinity of the computer. That makes sense, as I find it intolerable to use a tablet in a dimly-lit room. It's not a simple matter to add more lights in my computer area, but maybe I should give it some thought. I have an eye appointment next week, and I'll talk to her about it. I had cataract surgery 7 years ago, and after that they put a laser hole in the lenses. That improved my vision a lot, and I wonder if it needs to be done again. I've read that a second hole is almost never necessary, but I'd be happy if that were the easy solution. Whatever I get, all I really want to do is use it for writing--oh, and play Scrabble and Words With Friends on it. For some reason, the games are the hardest for me to look at, and I my Nexus 7 tablet will no longer load them. I don't know why. Well, thank you all again. I hope you had a great Thanksgiving!
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Comments (13)
Thanks, everyone. Sorry it took me so long to get back to this. I made the change Richard suggested and will report back when I have an opportunity to try it out later today. I must have a super-sensitive touchpad, as I can send the cursor flying simply by waving my hand over it. I've tested this out; sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. The touchscreen on my Google Nexus tablet doesn't necessarily need to be touched in order for an action to take place; my finger just has to get close. My reasons for considering a laptop are partly ergonomic and partly--well, I guess medical is the best term. I know my current posture at my desk is wretched, and I'm hoping the PT I'm about to embark on will help. The scoliosis I've had to one degree or another my entire life has become a problem in recent years, and all my desk chairs end up becoming as crooked as I am. Despite having had carpal tunnel surgery on my right hand 19 years ago, I was informed by a neurologist last week that I now have carpal tunnel issues in both hands. (This is why I'd like to be able to use a touchpad for most things.) Although I love my two 27" monitors (I use Photoshop and Word on one, the internet on the other), it's just not comfortable to work at my desk anymore. Then there's the matter of brain waves. I researched my monitor purchases extensively, and these Viewsonics were promised to be flicker-free. But my brain says they're not. Some days I can tolerate more time spent looking at them than others, but other days they trigger an ocular migraine (vision disturbances--the "aura") fairly quickly. This doesn't happen with the Chromebook . . . maybe because the screen is only 12"? I also like that I can sit wherever I want with the Chromebook. I'm a fast typist and wasn't sure I'd ever adjust to its keyboard, but now it's easy--even on my lap. My Dell Chromebook, BTW, was a Black Friday deal last year. It's not high-end; I think the original price was under $300. I've forgotten what its specs are. I know nothing about online versions of Photoshop and Word, but will read up on this. I followed Girlnamedgalez's suggestion to check out the Dell website, and that was interesting. I'll go back to it again. The Chromebook is lightweight and pleasant to use, but I need to get back to writing and photo editing. I can't imagine doing the latter without a mouse (although I'm sure some people are skilled at this), and I do have a wireless Logitech mouse sitting in its unopened package. By the time Black Friday 2019 comes around I should be well prepared (some might say over-prepared!) to make a decision. Again, thanks very much to all for your input.
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mike_kaiser_gw
6 years ago
While their low price makes Chromebooks attractive, just make sure you fully understand the limitations of the Chrome operating system before making a purchase. Or ensure that company selling it has a good has a good return policy.

Personally, I think most people would be better off with a traditional laptop running Windows or OS X. It just gives you more flexibility.
juneroses Z9a Cntrl Fl
6 years ago
I'm going to take the other side and advocate for the Chromebook. I have a Windows desktop but bought a Chromebook in October 2015; I wanted a laptop and was curious about the Chromebook. I love it!! It's so easy. No daily or weekly notices to update this or that. I open the lid and it just runs.

I had been using Firefox on the Windows machine but copied all my bookmarks to the Chrome browser on that same machine. My email was already gmail. Turned on the new Chromebook, entered my gmail address, and the bookmarks from the desktop appeared on the Chromebook. That was the setup!! Easy peasy.

Because of the previous comment about Adobe Flash, I googled "sites that require Adobe Flash" to see what I was missing. I tried out a selection on each of the first two that appeared - ebizmba and beautifullife - and there was no problem. They played beautifully on the Chromebook.

The Chromebook will not run a site that uses Microsoft Silverlight, in my case a stock charting site, but I knew this before purchasing the Chromebook and just use another site.

My spouse has an older Windows laptop and is flummoxed by the frequent update requests. He's due for a new one and it will definitely be a Chromebook. We'll both be much happier!
bmelz
6 years ago
Chromebook is kind of in between an iPad and a laptop. If you don't need to install any software, it'll probably work for you.
Steve J
6 years ago
June, the chromebook has just as many updates as the pc, they’re just configured by default to download and install automatically. A pc can be configured the same way for your husband. The only caveat is that if there are apps installed and running, it may require a reboot to start or complete. That said, i’m glad your chromebook is working great for you, but I wouldnt suggest one over the other based on “updates” because they are required and do happen on every device.

Jo, you mentioned you had a requirement for a usb port. What is the purpose for that requirement? Are you transfering files, connecting devices, or other?

as others have mentioned, a laptop/tablet will be full featured, and a chromebook will be stripped down to basic internet/network usage. If you truly just need a device to connect to the internet, this will likely meet your needs, but if you ALSO want to install an application or two, and other pc like functions even later down the road, then a laptop will be a better option.
Jo
Original Author
6 years ago
thank you all for the information. I will take it all into consideration. Steve just so you know why I need the usb port. I transfer audiobooks from the library into overdrive and from there install them on a MP3 player. I know I could listen to them on my phone, but then the library would be able to delete them when needed. this way I have them till I can listen to them.
Elmer J Fudd
6 years ago
Is there a Chrome OS version of the Overdrive desktop program/app?

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