Chromebook - ok ?

[EdT]

Eldest daughter starting secondary school in Sept so looking to get her kitted up. We've a family Win 10 laptop which is fine,, but thinking of getting her something that's just for her. Want to buy her brand new. I see Chromebooks can be cheaper than Laptops . Are they ok? Any negatives? I'll need it to run Office apps
THanks !

[Narcisus]

I’ve just deployed hundreds of them... They are ok but I would go for a Windows 10 laptop every time.... I guess I’m just old fashioned

[EdT]

I would but maybe double the price. What's the issue with Chromebook? I think Office runs - youtube suggest so at least

[bitchstewie]

EdT said:

I would but maybe double the price. What's the issue with Chromebook? I think Office runs - youtube suggest so at least

Mostly compatibility if you want or need to run applications that aren't web based or aren't compatible with Chrome OS.

It's a hard one to answer as it isn't black and white it comes down to what you might want to use it for.

[Brainpox]

Proper Office does not run on Chromebooks. You can use the web version or the Android version, but either way it isn't the full fat Office.

[pequod]

Why does a secondary school pupil need MS Office? Is it a requirement of schools these days as the Google docs app that comes preloaded with Chromebooks seems to provide all a youngster might need to compose essays, etc., or do you need Office for another purpose?

As others have said, web based Office is now available but it will probably be the light (free?) version.

[300bhp/ton]

EdT said:

Eldest daughter starting secondary school in Sept so looking to get her kitted up. We've a family Win 10 laptop which is fine,, but thinking of getting her something that's just for her. Want to buy her brand new. I see Chromebooks can be cheaper than Laptops . Are they ok? Any negatives? I'll need it to run Office apps
THanks !

They are very good. But you need to remember you won’t be able to install and run Windows style apps. So long as you don’t need to do this. Then they will work very well.

Remember with Google there are the free Google Doc apps. They will open Office files and allow you to resave as Office filed too. Plus as you save to Google Drive it makes it easy to access from other places.

If you really must use Office. Then the web version of 365 works fine. It runs in the web browser. But you can’t install it like you do on Windows. This is only an issue for some specific functionality. The web versions are not quite as comprehensive.

I can’t see myself getting another Windows machine unless I was building it for gaming. Or needing to run an old shortsighted application that is Windows dependent.

Mac would be my first choice. Then Chrome. Then Linux. Windows is like be at the bottom.

[Narcisus]

bhstewie said:

Mostly compatibility if you want or need to run applications that aren't web based or aren't compatible with Chrome OS.

It's a hard one to answer as it isn't black and white it comes down to what you might want to use it for.

This

[Narcisus]

pequod said:

Why does a secondary school pupil need MS Office? Is it a requirement of schools these days as the Google docs app that comes preloaded with Chromebooks seems to provide all a youngster might need to compose essays, etc., or do you need Office for another purpose?

As others have said, web based Office is now available but it will probably be the light (free?) version.

It is for my 14 year old a licence is supplied by school and she does all her homework on it.

[EdT]

Office isnt stipulated it's more what I think she'd need over next 7 ish years. But online lite O365 will suffice I think

[pequod]

Narcisus said:

pequod said:

Why does a secondary school pupil need MS Office? Is it a requirement of schools these days as the Google docs app that comes preloaded with Chromebooks seems to provide all a youngster might need to compose essays, etc., or do you need Office for another purpose?

As others have said, web based Office is now available but it will probably be the light (free?) version.

It is for my 14 year old a licence is supplied by school and she does all her homework on it.

Great marketing by MS to get schools onboard if that's the case! Is it a full MS Office 365 licence? If so, then a Windows Laptop is the only way forward or so they hope, but as others have pointed out, Office docs can be opened on Chromebooks but without all the bells and whistles.

Clever and a cunning ploy!

OP, get her a Chromebook on principle.

[Narcisus]

pequod said:

Narcisus said:

pequod said:

Why does a secondary school pupil need MS Office? Is it a requirement of schools these days as the Google docs app that comes preloaded with Chromebooks seems to provide all a youngster might need to compose essays, etc., or do you need Office for another purpose?

As others have said, web based Office is now available but it will probably be the light (free?) version.

It is for my 14 year old a licence is supplied by school and she does all her homework on it.

Great marketing by MS to get schools onboard if that's the case! Is it a full MS Office 365 licence? If so, then a Windows Laptop is the only way forward or so they hope, but as others have pointed out, Office docs can be opened on Chromebooks but without all the bells and whistles.

Clever and a cunning ploy!

OP, get her a Chromebook on principle.

Haha yeah crafty :-) It’s 365 full fat. Ok for us because I would rather she had a laptop.

[300bhp/ton]

EdT said:

Office isnt stipulated it's more what I think she'd need over next 7 ish years. But online lite O365 will suffice I think

Unless you are a big and often old fashioned business. That seems suckered in my MS and paying to be a Gold Partner. There really a very little actual need for Office. You can do almost everything with apps that are free and good to use. Some could even be argued to be better in someways. The only real exceptions is if you are doing very advanced stuff in Excel. But that gap is probably shrinking all the time.

[xeny]

EdT said:

I'll need it to run Office apps
!

If the school is based around O365 and full fat office, you'll periodically run into gotchas the web app versions don't fulfil. You're a W10 household, so just get another windows laptop.

[Corso Marche]

I'm an advocate for Chromebooks in general, but if the school are based around O365 then just get a Windows machine. It'll be easier in the long run.

[wong]

I've got three kids at secondary school. Eldest uses a 6 year old Macbook Air (~£900), One a 2 year old Windows 10 laptop (~£500) and the last a one year old £200 Chromebook. All are fine.

[Screechmr2]

We've got 2 chromebooks and 1 win 10 laptop. The 2 eldest use the chromebooks for their school work, they haven't needed anything else. They've never once asked for or used the windows laptop despite it being the most powerful, biggest/best screen, touchscreen/ink pen, best speakers and a 2 in 1.

Depends on what the school use really, all their work is via Google classroom (same as other people we know whose kids go to different secondary schools) so they have no need for windows. The chromebook auto save and lack of viruses are reassuring.

[EdT]

Well well, taking sage advice it'll be a Chromebook then thanks PHers.
Do they use memory more kindly like the Mrs' Mac seems to.. 4GB seems common for these I see

[AJB88]

EdT said:

Well well, taking sage advice it'll be a Chromebook then thanks PHers.
Do they use memory more kindly like the Mrs' Mac seems to.. 4GB seems common for these I see

From my experience 4GB is minimum, but I would try to get a machine you can add more to. I found with a few tabs open mine was using 3.5 straight away and had to deploy virtual memory.

[scoey1001]

I bought 2 refurbished touchscreen Acer Chromebooks from laptops direct about 2 years ago and both have been great and still working perfectly. One was A1 grade and the other A2 but they both came looking brand new, literally couldn't tell the difference.

Edit : Just had a look and they don't seem to have any decent deals ATM, worth keeping an eye out though if you aren't in a rush.

Edited by scoey1001 on Monday 13th July 14:28