Cheap laptop, chrome book or tablet ?

[POIDH]

We're needing a replacement device at home.
Used for browsing, emails, occasional documents - basically life admin. We do take it away in campervan now and again after downloading a film or two. Be nice to have a good screen.

Phones: currently we're on Android, so I'm wondering if an Android device might work well.

Looking to not spend huge amounts, I'm reasonably techy so happy to wrangle a second hand device.

Budget: maybe £300, but could flex if needed.

[Dave Hedgehog]

Nothing beats an iPad for portable performance, media viewing, gaming, and light email. JL Have the 11th gem 128gb iPad for £309 with free next day delivery and 2 year warranty APPLENEXTDAY

https://www.johnlewis.com/2025-apple-ipad-11-inch-...

If your going to do a moderate amount of typing a chromebook maybe better because of the keyboard, and you can use cloud office or google suite, apart from the device expiry date (google set this on all chromebooks) they are pretty much a muchness at the entry level

windows 11 laptops need 16gb ram IMO which takes them to around £450, or second hand

Edited by Dave Hedgehog on Sunday 8th June 16:18

[OutInTheShed]

£300 just about scrapes into sensible laptops IMHO.
8GB RAM is the minimum you'll want with Win11.
I prefer to stick to makes I've heard of, like HP, Dell etc. because you can actually get spares or get a few quid for a broken one a few years down the line.

Secondhand is not what it was IMHO, I think corporates are changing kit less often and there's lot of overpriced grubby half broken stuff out there.
But if the right thing comes your way at the right time, good luck!

I don't like win11, but time goes on!

[Hoofy]

For practical use, the smaller the device the more compromised.

Desktop > laptop > tablet > phone.

And of course the screen has some bearing on this. If I had to do my admin on any tablet no matter how quick, I'd only want to do basic stuff rather than have to sort out issues or search for stuff online. It's doable but I'd rather travel by car from London to Glasgow even if walking is possible.

[grumbledoak]

What software do you need to run?

Do you need Microsoft Office compatibility or is "mostly compatible" good enough? Any PC gaming? If you need either of these look at cheap laptops on the outlet stores.

If not my vote would be iPad.

[witteringon]

John Lewis have an acer spin 14" chromebook four in one at £299. Basic, but chromebooks are pretty good this level anyway.
Laptop, tent, tablet, touchscreen, should do everything you are asking, 2 year guarantee. What's not to like at this price!

https://www.johnlewis.com/acer-spin-314-chromebook...

[Turtle Shed]

POIDH said:

We're needing a replacement device at home.
Used for browsing, emails, occasional documents - basically life admin. We do take it away in campervan now and again after downloading a film or two. Be nice to have a good screen.

Phones: currently we're on Android, so I'm wondering if an Android device might work well.

Looking to not spend huge amounts, I'm reasonably techy so happy to wrangle a second hand device.

Budget: maybe £300, but could flex if needed.

Chromebook, all day, every day.

Tablets are a pain to type on, and having a proper keyboard means you've got a stand built in. There's nothing in your needs that a Chromebook won't do (unless you want gaming). Chromebook battery life is almost always excellent too. Read reviews, buy the best one that fits budget.

[bodhi]

Agreed I'd go Chromebook, especially if you already have Android phones as the integration is pretty good, and loads better than you'd get with an iPad for fairly obvious reasons. For eg on mine you can set it up so that unlocking your phone will unlock the Chromebook as well and other stuff like that. Obviously it uses the same Google Account so set up is really easy.

They aren't as good as a Window Laptop for work stuff, as MS Office isn't great online and Google's equivalent is a bit limited, but if it's for personal stuff it's absolutely fine.

There's a decent choice of form factors as well, so you can get one that turn into big tablets, stands for watching TV etc, like out Asus Flip.

Only thing I'd suggest is pay the extra for a decent spec, preferably with an Intel processor - ours has a mobile based CPU and it's a bit sluggish at times.

[the-photographer]

Lots of refurbs like this
https://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/hp-elitebook-845-...

Or new, would this fit in your van?
https://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/hp-17-cn2021na-17...

But see comments before you buy

Edited by the-photographer on Monday 9th June 13:59

[POIDH]

Cheers all.
I'm thinking Chromebook Plus as they mostly seem better hardware, I'm going to look to hunt down better screen, 8gb ram and intel i3+

[NiceCupOfTea]

5 or so years ago I went with a Chromebook and massively regretted it. I had quite specific requirements that research suggested it would do, but didn't. However, my daughter has a school supplied one and it seems to do the job. For web browsing, videos and basaic google based office-type functionality it woukd be fine, as long as you are using Google Drive.

I would consider an iPad with a keyboard case though as they are great at that sort of stuff.

Also if you are prepared to risk ebay, M1 Macbook Airs are coming in at under £500 now. I paid £500 a couple of weeks ago for a 16GB/1TB M1 MBA in mint condition, more than adequate for day to day stuff and will be supported for at least as long as a new Chromebook I would expect.

[Griffith4ever]

I tried a Chromebook as my holiday device (I go away for long periods) and whilst the screen was glorious, I could never get HDMI out to a TV to work properly. Found it was a ChromOS limitation. Tried all sorts.

I now have a MS Surface Pro, which is pretty much faultless, but, of course, expensive.

Chrome OS always felt so close, but always also a bit of a bodge.

[Corso Marche]

Griffith4ever said:

I tried a Chromebook as my holiday device (I go away for long periods) and whilst the screen was glorious, I could never get HDMI out to a TV to work properly. Found it was a ChromOS limitation. Tried all sorts.

That sounds more like it may have been a model or device specific issue. Definitely not a Chrome OS limitation.
I've had so many Chromebooks hooked up to TVs or external monitors over the years via HDMI outputs and USB Type C outputs I can definitely say it's not a Chrome OS limitation.

[Griffith4ever]

Corso Marche said:

Griffith4ever said:

I tried a Chromebook as my holiday device (I go away for long periods) and whilst the screen was glorious, I could never get HDMI out to a TV to work properly. Found it was a ChromOS limitation. Tried all sorts.

That sounds more like it may have been a model or device specific issue. Definitely not a Chrome OS limitation.
I've had so many Chromebooks hooked up to TVs or external monitors over the years via HDMI outputs and USB Type C outputs I can definitely say it's not a Chrome OS limitation.

Have a read: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Summary
- Can't "cast" to a chromecast
- several codecs not supported
- more than one TV stream app not supported in ChromeOS
- Cant get rid of task bar on second monitor
- juddering playback on second screen
- Misplaced and scaled subtitles

And that wasn't a cheaop chromebook. It was a high end OLED one.

I tried all sorts, and gave up. I was not alone in my conclusion.

I bought a "proper" computer after that.

Edited by Griffith4ever on Tuesday 10th June 07:17

[Corso Marche]

Griffith4ever said:

Have a read: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Summary
- Can't "cast" to a chromecast
- several codecs not supported
- more than one TV stream app not supported in ChromeOS
- Cant get rid of task bar on second monitor
- juddering playback on second screen
- Misplaced and scaled subtitles

And that wasn't a cheaop chromebook. It was a high end OLED one.

I tried all sorts, and gave up. I was not alone in my conclusion.

I bought a "proper" computer after that.

Edited by Griffith4ever on Tuesday 10th June 07:17

I remember that thread, and contributing to it. I just read through it again now.

Nothing there was a limitation of Chrome OS.

Everything there was user error; not appreciating the difference between desktop mode and tablet mode, or using incorrect, buggy, or inappropriate applications/software. No more than that.
It was just a case of years of familiarity with a particular OS then moving to another OS with little knowledge of it and expecting the same software used on Windows to be the default "go to" on Chrome OS.



As below;

Summary
- Can't "cast" to a chromecast >>>> You were attempting it over guest networks on hotel WiFi networks. Some allow it, but a lot don't.
- several codecs not supported >>>> Wrong software was chosen and insisted on repeated use (VLC). A working and fully functioning alternative was suggested and you found it did work. (VLC on Chrome OS is junk. That's the VLC developers not supporting that platform, nothing else).
- more than one TV stream app not supported in ChromeOS >>>> Use PWA's for streaming, Not android apps etc (Again, wrong choice of app options).
- Cant get rid of task bar on second monitor >>>> User error (desktop mode vs tablet mode, app visible on desktop or not etc. It's hidden on both my desktop screens as I type this, has been this way for me for approximately 8 years so yes it does work)
- juddering playback on second screen >>>> Again, incorrect apps were being clung to (working alternatives were suggested)
- Misplaced and scaled subtitles >>>> Again, incorrect apps were being clung to (working alternatives were suggested)

[Griffith4ever]

Corso Marche said:

I remember that thread, and contributing to it. I just read through it again now.

Nothing there was a limitation of Chrome OS.

Everything there was user error; not appreciating the difference between desktop mode and tablet mode, or using incorrect, buggy, or inappropriate applications/software. No more than that.
It was just a case of years of familiarity with a particular OS then moving to another OS with little knowledge of it and expecting the same software used on Windows to be the default "go to" on Chrome OS.



As below;

Summary
- Can't "cast" to a chromecast >>>> You were attempting it over guest networks on hotel WiFi networks. Some allow it, but a lot don't.
- several codecs not supported >>>> Wrong software was chosen and insisted on repeated use (VLC). A working and fully functioning alternative was suggested and you found it did work. (VLC on Chrome OS is junk. That's the VLC developers not supporting that platform, nothing else).
- more than one TV stream app not supported in ChromeOS >>>> Use PWA's for streaming, Not android apps etc (Again, wrong choice of app options).
- Cant get rid of task bar on second monitor >>>> User error (desktop mode vs tablet mode, app visible on desktop or not etc. It's hidden on both my desktop screens as I type this, has been this way for me for approximately 8 years so yes it does work)
- juddering playback on second screen >>>> Again, incorrect apps were being clung to (working alternatives were suggested)
- Misplaced and scaled subtitles >>>> Again, incorrect apps were being clung to (working alternatives were suggested)

And I bought a Win 11 tablet and ALL the problems vanished. And yes, still using VLC as nothing else handles movies plus subs as well.

So if it was user error, sure hands up. But I seriously can't be arsed to solve that many issues to watch a bloody film with subititles.

So, you can keep your ChromeOS - ;-) I'll stick to Windows that did everything asked of it, 1st time, without having to work around/change apps, and it doesn't care about guest wifi networks (3 months done this winter in TH and India)

Edited by Griffith4ever on Tuesday 10th June 15:32