so wife and i got a chromebook to try for 30 days.
big reduction in price. no brainer 100 buks...wasnt expecting much.
i am amazed/freaked out. boots fast few secs, like a breath of fresh air compared to waiting for win owing to win loading all the anti virus and other programs.
its an acer. i MUST say. whenever ive tried an acer computer ive never been disappointed. its only 2 ghz amd processor.
but everything one needs for surfing/email/basic stuff etc.
in summary i'm impressed.
om

The fast bootup is due to it being a small OS on a solid state drive (it doesn't have to load tons of drivers like Windows does), not strictly "because" it's a Chromebook. I have one but rarely use it because of the limitations as far as not being able to load full featured programs and such. That being said, you can pop an SD card in there with your music files and listen to them. Or read ebooks, or view pics, stream video, use email if you use a web mail interface like Gmail. They are capable of a lot. But the OS limitations mean they can't really be your main computer. Because programs are not written for Chrome OS you are limited to running things through an emulator. I DO have an add on word processor loaded on to mine and a few other things, but with 4 PCs and 2 laptops I rarely find myself needing to do much on the Chromebook beyond very basic basics. And in fact if I could roll it into any substantial cash I would have sold it already. (I doubt I could get 50 bucks for it.) But for the money, and if it meets a user's specific usage requirements, they are fine. Mine is also an Acer and I have had no issues with it.

They are good web browser machines if that's all you need. Full install Windows applications are a no-go which is why I don't own one.

I foresee in the future that the line between phone apps and Windows apps will draw closer and closer together. M$FT has been pushing their app stores hard in recent years and we'll probably see a stronger push on that with Win11.

agree with all said.
yep just for web plus wife likes it...lol
happy wife happy life. i cant complain cos she wants to buy me biab upgrade at xmas..plus gtr stuff.
we trade a lot...lmao
i'm useing the cbook to post this.
like it so far

best
om

Great to hear sir. My wife would probably like one of those too....

I am not familiar with either of those things being happy...

For people who do most of their work via a web browser, it's ideal.

The wife and daughters spend most of their computer time on a Chromebook, and have for years.

My daughters are both attending Community College, and can do most of their work - even MS Access classes - on the Chromebook. They only use my computer when they need to print something, as Google dropped support for cloud printing some time ago.

I typically pay $120-$140 for a used one, and it will last about a year.

A couple of years ago, my wife had left her Chromebook at her sister's house after a vacation visit. She logged onto a one of our spare Chromebooks, and found all her "stuff" had been seamlessly copied to the cloud. When it's time to move to a new Chromebook, it's just a matter of doing a Power Wash, and then logging onto it.

On the other hand, my sons and I can't really use them, as we all depend on Windows-based applications to do music, programming, specialized graphics and so on.

Never owned a Chromebook, but I did have a Chromebox for a while. It made a great living room internet machine.



Considering that Windows 11 will natively support Android apps, the line will blur even further.

A loving do unto others mind set required for best results. My 38 year experience with a certain redhead has shown me that you pretty much get back what you put in.

I think I see my problem now. I am also not familiar with THAT concept... I'm more of the 200 mph steamroller type.

Is that what this Windows 10 S-mode is about? I've got one picked out and ready to pick up when we can get out.

All.
well i'm just loving this acer chromebook.
it takes a lot to impress me, but i'm impressed just like i am with amazons fire tablet product.
why ? cos such budget products put tech power in the hands of us poorer folk.

maybe ill get flak for my next comment, but so be it, and its what i'm thinking ...
why the hey cant apple bring out products at this budget under 200 buck level.
i reckon apple are missing a huge market...not haveing a budget product like the chromebook.
i cant believe this cbook is so lightweight...

the other thing i like is this thing dont seem to get hot at all. obviously due to the solid state storage.
gonna see if some programming can be done on it for s's and giggles.

worst case its just a cheap way to web surf safely and research new recording studio products and reviews of same on you tube. its also very "snappy".

btw , so far my new evo audient usb audio interface has given me no hassles. i still like the mic pre's for my vocs, and would suggest anyone in the market for a budget interface, rent one , and try/assess for yourself.
also i'm getting very low latency in reaps reporting of 4ms.
best to all.
oldmuso

I thought I did, but I've been divorced for 7 years now, so perhaps I am not familiar with this either.



Yeah, S-Mode only allows apps to run if they came from the Microsoft Store. It's considered a "Security" feature, however it can be disabled. Depending on the machine you bought though, disabling it might cost money...



That's what their iPads are for - granted, not 200 bucks, but $329 is what I'd consider "budget" for Apple - less if you buy a refurb. They're less limited than Chromebooks I think, or perhaps more limited with no keyboard depending how you look at things.



I'm considering one for my own mobile rig, but concerned with durability as I see this more as a desk unit. Think it'd survive multiple drops and being tossed around in a backpack for a few years?

Simon.
i'm not sure i would be slinging evo around. mine is static...i would check with audient as to how much abuse it
can take. i feel my steiny ur 22 is prolly sturdier.
i would rent a evo first from L & M in bc .
they also sometimes have used versions also.
save some bucks.

best
om

Yeah, I've been considering a Steiny, they've got a couple used/rental UR44C's at a local shop here, not sure if they have the Evo but if you don't think it'd survive being slung around then they probably don't rent them.