macbook air/ipad = OLD news... The new NATION of DOMINATION is the $249 chromebook!

[waa1futs]

My 4 year old netbook is on its last legs and needs to be replaced.

I want something that has:

- A maximum price tag of $249
- Thin and light: 2.5lbs or less
- ZERO bloatware
- Instant on
- Built-in virus protection
- Automatic updates
- Cloud + local storage
- 6+ hour battery life
- 30 minute recharge time
- 10' screen or greater
- Document editing & uploading
- 1080p video capability
- No slowdown over time like PC's
- Great keyboard & trackpad
- USB 3.0 & HDMI

Macbook air is automatically out of the question and overpriced at $1000 minimum :UGH:

I tried to make an iPad work as a computer replacement with a logitech bluetooth keyboard + bluetooth mouse (via jailbreak) and it didn't work out at all. iPad seems like an overpriced kids toy compared to a work machine.

The samsung chromebook seems to fit this bill perfectly. Not only do you get all of the above benefits, but you also get this in an unbelievable price of $249

Common naysayer arguments:

1) What about if you don't have an internet connection, then it becomes useless right?

Both macbook air and ipad are just as "useless" without an internet connection as a chromebook.

With a chromebook can use still Google Docs and Gmail offline as well as watch movies stored on your SSD drive or read your kindle books.

2) What about legacy windows applications?

I personally don't need any old windows applications.

3) Why not just spend $100 more and get a real windows PC?

A windows PC at that price is not only $100 more than I want to spend... but it also doesn't have nearly enough of the benefits that a chromebook has.

4) You only have 16gb of local storage!

You have a 16gb ss drive + an SD card reader for additional storage + USB ports to use with an external hard drive.

5) Why would you spend $249 on merely a web browser?

Some people don't have the vision to see what things have the potential to be. You are one of them.

 

[ixodes]

For those that accept change, Chromebooks are quiet handy. Now at the low pricepoint they're downright attractive. Light, great keyboard & trackpad, nice display & build quality. Google has done a very nice job.

 

[DingleButt]

Are you from Google? You talk like youve either owned one before or are just marketing. Sounds like it will wok well for you. Id rather just keep my real laptop and use my Fire until I get a Surface Pro or something

 

[onthecouchagain]

This whole Chromebook thing is still a bit of a mystery to me. What the heck is it? Is it just a laptop that only runs Chrome?

I don't really get it...

 

[darcyjames]

- A maximum price tag of $249

Based on the criteria you have set, I guess I agree with you. Although, related to other things, I sometimes ask myself: "is this a choice, or a lack of options?"

Anyways, may I'll try one out for fun, its good that you put it on the radar.

 

[MRU]

This whole Chromebook thing is still a bit of a mystery to me. What the heck is it? Is it just a laptop that only runs Chrome?

I don't really get it...

Yes... And the webapps are not the greatest to be honest.

And with very few offline applications available, it's pretty much redundant as soon as you lose Internet connection. Sorry but the few you can use are lacking themselves. Google docs I find awful.

And yes I've used a chromebook, the limitations are just too much, and no I don't lack vision, its the chromebook that I find lacking.

When Google finally just say, sod this - were going to put Android on this, then get back to me...

 

[Rogifan]

This whole Chromebook thing is still a bit of a mystery to me. What the heck is it? Is it just a laptop that only runs Chrome?

I don't really get it...

Basically a $249 netbook that runs a browser and apps like google docs.

 

[Night Spring]

Both macbook air and ipad are just as "useless" without an internet connection as a chromebook.

With a chromebook can use still Google Docs and Gmail offline as well as watch movies stored on your SSD drive or read your kindle books.

You can do all that (watch movies, read books, edit documents, read offline mail) on both the Air and iPad without the internet. Not to mention much, much more -- but if you are under the impression that you can't do those things you listed on an Air or an iPad without an internet connection.... Really, have you ever even used a computer?

 

[MRU]

Really, have you ever even used a computer?

They've been using a netbook for 4 years..... I think that's telling in itself

 

[Night Spring]

They've been using a netbook for 4 years..... I think that's telling in itself

Hm, missed that detail!

Well, yeah, if a netbook did everything they need, then a chromebook could work out for them, too.

 

[waa1futs]

Common naysayer arguments:
1) What about if you don't have an internet connection, then it becomes useless right?

Both macbook air and ipad are just as "useless" without an internet connection as a chromebook.

With a chromebook can use still Google Docs and Gmail offline as well as watch movies stored on your SSD drive or read your kindle books.

You can do all that (watch movies, read books, edit documents, read offline mail) on both the Air and iPad without the internet. Not to mention much, much more -- but if you are under the impression that you can't do those things you listed on an Air or an iPad without an internet connection.... Really, have you ever even used a computer?

The chromebook can do just as much for me when I am away from an internet connection as the other two devices.

With the chromebook I can edit documents offline, read/respond to email offline, read my books offline, and watch movies stored on the ssd while offline.

Hm, missed that detail!

Well, yeah, if a netbook did everything they need, then a chromebook could work out for them, too.

Yeah, my old netbook was used to surf the web, download videos, edit documents, watch youtube, play music through pandora, respond to email, etc but over time it has gotten more and more bogged down with windows updates and patches.

The chromebook seems to do all these things perfectly for me in a macbook air like design with a great $249 price in a machine that won't get bogged down over time.

 

[MRU]

The chromebook can do just as much for me

Which is great. But you use of a machine may vary greatly from others. If a $249 chromebook does what you want it to do, then yes you are one of the few in the niche that the chromebook is tailored for. Congrats.

But it won't kill ultrabooks be they MacBook Air or windows variety as they can do so much more than a chromebook (including the very light things you do).

 

[Lindsford]

Looks cool but i'm quite happy with my iPad.

 

[Night Spring]

Yeah, my old netbook was used to surf the web, download videos, edit documents, watch youtube, play music through pandora, respond to email, etc but over time it has gotten more and more bogged down with windows updates and patches.

Since you seem to be on a budget, have you considered formatting the hard drive on your netbook (after you backup all your data, of course), and reinstalling windows and all other programs from scratch? This has been known to speed up old systems considerably.

 

[irDigital0l]

Chromebook is ok if you dont want to spend like $1000 on a Windows 8 ultrabook.

Although if your tight with just $250...you should probably save it for like food or something...

lol

 

[geek36]

nah...

to each have personal preferences.

i don't limit myself on just browsing and using apps just to get a 250-dollar chromebook.

windows platform has more to offer for my needs even at higher prices because there is everything you need. from games to apps to office to browser just to name the few.

would rather spend few hundred bucks just to get what i need and not just wasting money buying cheap devices which i only leave it on the desk after using it for a few times and be done with it.

 

[waa1futs]

Edit: added the reviews to the OP

 

[zbarvian]

The only redeeming quality about the product is the price. I still don't want it, Chrome OS isn't smart.

 

[flopticalcube]

This is the same price territory as some decent Brazos laptops when they are on sale. I don't see the advantages personally. My son's HP dm1 cost only $100 more but is substantially better. Meh.

 

[ChazUK]

As an additional light computing device to use alongside my desktop PC the Chromebook has been a fantastic simple computing device.

I will say it is in now way, shape or form a replacement for a laptop/ultrabook with a full on Linux, Windows or Mac OS environment.

Definitely getting one of the ARM powered ones for my daughter. She is always using my Chromebook or the wife's laptop to browse her favourite Flash using sites.

 

[towg]

I'm a designer who needs to use PS, Flash and Illustrator.

Its therefore utterly useless to me

 

[ReallyBigFeet]

Yay! Google discovers the Netbook category....2 years after it died to the iPad juggernaut.

This thing is DOA.

There are things a tablet will do better. EBooks is just one. Touch screens have opened up a whole new category of apps. This thing lacks the power of even a netbook....and thats a statement I never thought I'd be typing. On a tablet no less.

Once upon a time, there was a similar concept.....it had its fans also, journalists mainly. It ran all the most popular Microsoft programs, embedded in ROM. It even let you connect to the "cloud." Road warriors back then raved about it and proclaimed all the new "laptops" from Toshiba, IBM, etc. were overkill for the work an average person needed to do while away from their desktop. Their arguments sounded almost exactly like the OP's.

Behold this Chromebook of yesteryear.....

http://oldcomputers.net/trs100.html

 

[MonkeySee....]

Samsung must have one of those 3D printers.

From some of the more serious reviews I've heard it slows hard when more than a few tabs are open, It just about runs 1080p and the screen res is turd.

 

[ucfgrad93]

I'm glad the Chromebook fits your needs, OP, but I doubt it is a practical solution for many people.

 

[wiredup72]

If it was 15" and $249, I would buy it now.