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I Finally Tried out a Chromebook and...

sfbloodbrother

sfbloodbrother

Extreme Android User
Today I finally tried out a Chromebook at Best Buy, and I have to say, I am a bit disappointed. Now for starters, I only tried out the Samsung Chromebook, not the HP, or Acer Chromebook.
Upon touching the device, to me, it felt cheep as to compared to my $350.00 Gateway laptop that is 2-3 years old now. I know its made of plastic and all, and is suppose to be like that because of cost, but its just I don't know, to me in my opinion, I don't like the design, but it is something that I can deal with.

Using the device, was not as great as I had expected. It was slower than my Gateway laptop, which is the reason I am looking for another laptop, to get a speed boost, and to have something that I can take places, (Because this is really my grandma's laptop, and I doubt that she will let me take this to school, so that is the reason that I am looking for my own laptop to take to school)

The laptop may have been slow because it was at best buy, and there are a lot of other computers on the same wireless connection, and that may had slowed it down, but to me, it was not good.
Due to its slowness, which I believe that its just the slow Exynos Processor an ARM chip, instead of a x86 processor.

I know that there are new Chromebooks from HP and Acer that are coming out November 3, and for $50 more at $300 I can get a bigger screen, more battery life, and a dual core Celeron "Haswell" processor - Which is actually rumored to be really fast. Sooooo, Though I didn't like the Samsung Chromebook, I may like the new HP one, or the Acer one. I'm not giving up on them, just this one wasn't for me, and I'll wait for something a bit faster.
 
Thanks for the critique, sf. It's good hearing firsthand accounts of experiences like this. You're probably right that the bogged down wifi slowed it down, but the cheap feel and everything definitely gives me food for thought. Like you, I understand that the reasoning is to keep costs down, but I don't like things that feel cheap!
 
MoodyBlues said:
Thanks for the critique, sf. It's good hearing firsthand accounts of experiences like this. You're probably right that the bogged down wifi slowed it down, but the cheap feel and everything definitely gives me food for thought. Like you, I understand that the reasoning is to keep costs down, but I don't like things that feel cheap!
Click to expand...

Exactly :) The HP Chromebook next to the Samsung one (Which was broken) looked and feeled really nice, but, knowing that there is a new one coming out within 2 months for the same price, I think I will wait.
 
nickdalzell said:
The quality and lack of ports in the Samsung is precisely why I opted for the Acer C7
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I don't need ports at all! There should be a design with nothing but a charging port and a USB port. What else do I need? Nothing because that's all I ever use on my current laptop.
 
sfbloodbrother said:
I don't need ports at all! There should be a design with nothing but a charging port and a USB port. What else do I need? Nothing because that's all I ever use on my current laptop.
Click to expand...
I use multiple USB devices on each of my computers, and I make very good use of their card readers, too, since I take a ton of photos with my Nikons. I occasionally use other ports, too, such as external speakers on the laptop I'm typing this on.

But if I ever get a Chromebook, I realize I may need to rethink how I use/think about it. If I think of it strictly in terms of an additional laptop that I can use out on my patio, without lugging my REAL laptop out there, and without needing a disc drive, card reader, or a bunch of other ports, just the basics, I may adapt. That's all speculative, though, because I haven't bought one yet! :D
 
I like the HDMI out and video-out. it is handy whenever i want to watch my Play Movies library on my TV. some folks like getting a $99 laptop with all the bells and horns (mine was on sale)

If i wanted minimalism i'd shell out for a Macbook Air
 
nickdalzell said:
The quality and lack of ports in the Samsung is precisely why I opted for the Acer C7
Click to expand...
Any thoughts on this Acer, Nick? Amazon.com: Acer C7 C710-2847 Chromebook 11.6" Intel Dual Core B847 1.1 GHz 2GB DDR3 320GB 5400RPM HDD Wifi HDMI USB3.0 VGA Card Reader: Computers & Accessories

I'm thinking of grabbing one before my head explodes from thinking about it too much. Just plunge in, buy a Chromebook, hope I can install Linux on it if I feel like it, and move on.

This looks like a good, basic laptop I could use when I don't need all the STUFF on my other computers.
 
That's the exact same model I got. I think Best Buy wanted to unload their Chrome book line because they aren't selling so they lowered the price of the Acer to $99.
 
nickdalzell said:
That's the exact same model I got. I think Best Buy wanted to unload their Chrome book line because they aren't selling so they lowered the price of the Acer to $99.
Click to expand...
I'm off to see if I can find a $99 one... :)

ETA: So it looks like this model has been discontinued, and it's out of stock at a lot of places I checked. I'm not finding any for less than ~$250. Input, please--should I wait...for something(?), or grab one of these? I don't need heavy-duty computing. I just want an extra laptop; it'll be used for lightweight stuff like browsing, but I *DO* want a hard drive so this model fits that need.
 
nickdalzell said:
I like the HDMI out and video-out. it is handy whenever i want to watch my Play Movies library on my TV. some folks like getting a $99 laptop with all the bells and horns (mine was on sale)

If i wanted minimalism i'd shell out for a Macbook Air
Click to expand...
Theresa Chrome extortion to be used with a Chrome cast that will make use of streaming Content from the web to the TV
MoodyBlues said:
I use multiple USB devices on each of my computers, and I make very good use of their card readers, too, since I take a ton of photos with my Nikons. I occasionally use other ports, too, such as external speakers on the laptop I'm typing this on.

But if I ever get a Chromebook, I realize I may need to rethink how I use/think about it. If I think of it strictly in terms of an additional laptop that I can use out on my patio, without lugging my REAL laptop out there, and without needing a disc drive, card reader, or a bunch of other ports, just the basics, I may adapt. That's all speculative, though, because I haven't bought one yet! :D
Click to expand...

Chrome books are still in the early Stages Just like tablets. They will get better as more developers make good apps for Chrome
 
i do not have chromecast and it might take a year or two before my town sees one. secondly hard to stream content to a TV when the TV has no internet connection (or worse, the router kills the connectivity when you try using a Vizio Internet App other than Netflix giving a 'WLAN Access Rejected' log entry)

Reading about them online, they seem to regretably be going the way of Google TV and the Nexus Q. Google Chromebooks are failing which is why Best Buy here was so quick to get rid of 'em and has now replaced the stand with Mac displays
 
nickdalzell said:
i do not have chromecast and it might take a year or two before my town sees one. secondly hard to stream content to a TV when the TV has no internet connection (or worse, the router kills the connectivity when you try using a Vizio Internet App other than Netflix giving a 'WLAN Access Rejected' log entry)

Reading about them online, they seem to regretably be going the way of Google TV and the Nexus Q. Google Chromebooks are failing which is why Best Buy here was so quick to get rid of 'em and has now replaced the stand with Mac displays
Click to expand...

Are they failing? Maybe where you are, but Amazon still has the Chromebook as the best seller.
 
nickdalzell said:
i do not have chromecast and it might take a year or two before my town sees one. secondly hard to stream content to a TV when the TV has no internet connection (or worse, the router kills the connectivity when you try using a Vizio Internet App other than Netflix giving a 'WLAN Access Rejected' log entry)

Reading about them online, they seem to regretably be going the way of Google TV and the Nexus Q. Google Chromebooks are failing which is why Best Buy here was so quick to get rid of 'em and has now replaced the stand with Mac displays
Click to expand...

When I was in the UK in June, I was looking at the Chromebooks in Currys Digital. But their SAs didn't seem to know much about them at all, let alone know how to make them seem desirable and make customers want to buy one.. ....apart from "well yeh er....it's just a browser" .... OK :rolleyes:

But then that often happens in big box stores. Companies launch a new product, get it into the stores, yet the SAs are like not trained or briefed on how to sell the new product, what customers can use it for, etc. So you get like the Chromebook display is pretty much deserted, store sees them as a poor seller, so lets use the space for more Macs or something. The UK version of Tivo was like that, so Tivo UK was basically abandoned after a while.
 
mikedt said:
When I was in the UK in June, I was looking at the Chromebooks in Currys Digital. But their SAs didn't seem to know much about them at all, let alone know how to make them seem desirable and make customers want to buy one.. ....apart from "well yeh er....it's just a browser" .... OK :rolleyes:

But then that often happens in big box stores. Companies launch a new product, get it into the stores, yet the SAs are like not trained or briefed on how to sell the new product, what customers can use it for, etc. So you get like the Chromebook display is pretty much deserted, store sees them as a poor seller, so lets use the space for more Macs or something. The UK version of Tivo was like that, so Tivo UK was basically abandoned after a while.
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They should be trained to sell them. I will hopefully be applying at Microcenter soon, and hope to get a job there. I do hope that they will give me the correct training to sell products.
Some of the sales Associets at best buy are just awful, which is why I do not want to apply there, training there is bad, and I don't think that they will make me better, smarting in the world of technology.
Literally, there was this women who taught this SA a lesson because he was rude, and abnoctious. Then he goes off saying "Oh, I have ADHD". Like, nobody cares.
At Microcenter they seem so much more professional. I will pay a few extra $ to have good service, and people who know what they are talking about.
 
apparently Best Buy is biased towards Apple. they are so quick to advertise the iPhone/Mac/iPad, etc as the best thing since sliced bread, even to the point that if you dare think of selecting the Nexus 7 or Transformer Prime, they ask you 'sure you wouldn't like an iPad? i heard Android isn't that great'

The current theme is 'iPhone 5c for sale this weekend' and they are all over Apple this time of year anyway. best benefit though is uber low prices on Android stuff, and easily browsable aisles since they're basically empty. lately, half the Android stuff has been converted to Surface Pro/RT and that made the already limited Android tablet selection even more limited.
 
sfbloodbrother said:
They should be trained to sell them. I will hopefully be applying at Microcenter soon, and hope to get a job there. I do hope that they will give me the correct training to sell products.
Some of the sales Associets at best buy are just awful, which is why I do not want to apply there, training there is bad, and I don't think that they will make me better, smarting in the world of technology.
Literally, there was this women who taught this SA a lesson because he was rude, and abnoctious. Then he goes off saying "Oh, I have ADHD". Like, nobody cares.
At Microcenter they seem so much more professional. I will pay a few extra $ to have good service, and people who know what they are talking about.
Click to expand...

That sounds just like Currys in the UK. Speak to the SA about Chromebooks, and find the SA probably knows more about washing machines and doesn't really care. :rolleyes:

BTW sfbloodbrother, I wish you the best for getting the job at Microcenter. :thumb:
 
sfbloodbrother said:
I will hopefully be applying at Microcenter soon, and hope to get a job there.
...
At Microcenter they seem so much more professional. I will pay a few extra $ to have good service, and people who know what they are talking about.
Click to expand...
I used to LOVE going to Microcenter. :D The one in Dallas was only like 8 or 9 miles from my house, and I went there often. I could find any cable, adapter, splitter, whatever I needed, plus they had a great selection of Linux books and, of course, computers and parts. Since moving back to California I've only been to MC once--because it's ~45 miles from my house. :(
 
nickdalzell said:
i do not have chromecast and it might take a year or two before my town sees one. secondly hard to stream content to a TV when the TV has no internet connection (or worse, the router kills the connectivity when you try using a Vizio Internet App other than Netflix giving a 'WLAN Access Rejected' log entry)

Reading about them online, they seem to regretably be going the way of Google TV and the Nexus Q. Google Chromebooks are failing which is why Best Buy here was so quick to get rid of 'em and has now replaced the stand with Mac displays
Click to expand...

AFAIK, Chromecast is only supported with the Pixel. :rolleyes:
One thing I notice is, I do get some checkboarding if I try to scroll too fast even on a good wifi connection. Yeah, it's cheap, but it loads AF nearly as fast as my old Gateway lappy. :)
 
breadnatty08 said:
AFAIK, Chromecast is only supported with the Pixel. :rolleyes:
One thing I notice is, I do get some checkboarding if I try to scroll too fast even on a good wifi connection. Yeah, it's cheap, but it loads AF nearly as fast as my old Gateway lappy. :)
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Gateway should make a Chromebook. I don't know why, but I like them. Even though the service is bad, and they are just a division of Acer. If I had a few billion dollars, and had a company to buy out, It'd be Gateway. I don't know why. haha,

But really, the Pixel is the only Chrome computer that can be used with a chromecast? Even the Nexus line of tablets, and phones can make use of the chromecast.
 
Gateway? as in Gateway 2000 and cow boxes? they still exist? i have not seen their name on anyhing since an old WinME Solo laptop
 
nickdalzell said:
Gateway? as in Gateway 2000 and cow boxes? they still exist? i have not seen their name on anyhing since an old WinME Solo laptop
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Yes Gateway as in Gateway 2000. It's now a brand of Acer for their North American market. Same way that Packard Bell is one of Acer's brands for Europe. I suspect they'd still do the cow boxes as well, part of the expected branding
 
mikedt said:
Yes Gateway as in Gateway 2000. It's now a brand of Acer for their North American market. Same way that Packard Bell is one of Acer's brands for Europe. I suspect they'd still do the cow boxes as well, part of the expected branding
Click to expand...

I do wish they will innovate more that just mediocre computers, they should be making tablets. Imagine that, a Gateway Tablet. Most PC companies have no idea how to do that.
 
sfbloodbrother said:
They should be trained to sell them. I will hopefully be applying at Microcenter soon, and hope to get a job there. I do hope that they will give me the correct training to sell products.
Some of the sales Associets at best buy are just awful, which is why I do not want to apply there, training there is bad, and I don't think that they will make me better, smarting in the world of technology.
Literally, there was this women who taught this SA a lesson because he was rude, and abnoctious. Then he goes off saying "Oh, I have ADHD". Like, nobody cares.
At Microcenter they seem so much more professional. I will pay a few extra $ to have good service, and people who know what they are talking about.
Click to expand...

In such a case maybe just self study the products in the store so you can sell them better?
 
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