Needing a new Laptop

[velcro]

I am needing a new laptop and while I like the Apples I just can;t justify spending that kind of money for Googling, emailing, writing a few letters, buying and selling on ebay or TOTV, storing pictures and things like that.
In my research for a PC I have come across a Google Chrome Laptop but I am not sure about buying one because I am not sure what it does. It seems like you store everything in a Google Cloud & not on your hard drive. I would also like to get a CD & DVD burner on it. I am not going to use it for any kind of office work but would also like to face time with my kids & Grand kids.
Can someone with first hand knowledge of the pros & cons of the difference between a Windows 8 laptop & a Google Cloud laptop help me in my choice & tell me will I be able to do the things I want to do on a Cloud.

Thanks confused:

[villagetinker]

There are still conventional laptops available. The last 3 I have purchased were Toshiba's, 2 are still running fine, the first one had a faulty DC connector, which I tried to fix.....
The one thing you will notice is that all of the new models will have windows 8 or 8.1, this is the major reason I have NOT upgraded recently. Microsoft has announced Windows 10 (they skipped 9), and as I understand it will address many of the problems with Windows 8/8.1. I do not recall when this software will be released.
I have probably added to your confusion. You may want to contact the villages computer club for more advice.

[tomwed]

My cousin and my friend thought they would want a Chromebook but like you, they were not sure.

If you use gmail it is very easy. If you don't use gmail you will need to get a gmail account using your old computer.


My advice for them will work for you. Go to Walmart and buy a Chromebook. When it starts up it will ask you for your gmail account and password. You have 10 days [I think, ask them] to try it out. My cousin and friend liked it so much they just kept it and did not return it.

I told the both of them that there are bigger and better Chromebooks that Walmart and others sell and maybe they would like a bigger keyboard or larger screen.

I am not sure if a Chromebook will work with a DVD burner. It does not use Windows.

watch this click here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-JYp0Iu4pw) and you will see that Chromebooks are taking over the laptop market

It will be easier to anwer your questions once you have a Chromebook.

[Northerner52]

Check out the Apple factory refurbished with new computer warranty:
Refurbished Mac Computers - Refurbished Notebooks & Desktop Computers - Apple Store (U.S.) (http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/mac)

Also check dealmac.com: The best deals on iPod, iMac and MacBook. Find sales on Macs, new and refurbished Apple systems. (http://www.DealMac.com) for specials elsewhere

[jrdonn]

IMHO you get what you pay for. An Apple product costs more, but you will have a lot less problems. I have owned many windows products and love my MacBook. I have never been frustrated as I was with (my many) Windows products.

As a previous comment suggested, get a used Apple desktop or laptop, you won't be dissapointed.

[jrdonn]

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/items-sale-villages-florida-407/macintosh-macbook-pro-13-a-151945/

[jnieman]

I have an HP Envy and love it. I purchased it from the HP website HP® Official Site | Laptop Computers, Desktops, Printers, Servers, Services and more (http://www.hp.com) and had it built to my specifications. It was cheaper than buying it on Amazon. There are lots to choose from for every budget. Good luck with your decision.

[mitchbr47]

AS far as cost you get what you pay for and it is higher priced. A Chromebook is a web based only computer. You can't FaceTime on a Chromebook. Google has similar software. That is an Apple application. Nor can you have a cd or dvd drive on a Chromebook. All the files are web based. There is very little storage for the operational system storage. If you want to work with your photos you are stuck with a web based application with everything stored on Google cloud. I don't know if you can use other services to store photos such as dropbox or One Drive.You can't store them on your computer. What about drivers to make your printer work? They have Google Cloud Print, but don't know the reliability and compatibility with a printer.
As far as costs you get an Apple product with full versions of software with less issues with viruses, malware, and adware. It just works. Look for a factory refurb or clearance model with a full warranty on the Apple store website. An 11.6 inch screen MacBook Air is less than $650. You don't need the newest or fastest model. Maybe a tablet whether iPad or Android might be enough to check email, go on the web, and do some Ebay stuff.

[Computer Corner]

Regardless of what you buy, I would HIGHLY recommend you actually test drive the device in store. Go to a best buy or someplace that has the model on display. The easiest way to deside is to start using them in store. See if the Chromebook does what you need. Even if you do decide with a Chromebook, you have to decide which model. You may accidentally get one that the keyboard isn't what your used to, or the keys are too small, ect.

[jrdonn]

As for why Hinch decided to blow his Dell laptop's brains out, (Windows Computer)? The culprit was an endless succession of Blue Screens of Death. What else?
Dude. You should have bought a Mac.

Read more at Herb-smoking gunman blows his Dell computer's brains out (http://www.cultofmac.com/320104/herb-smoking-gunman-blows-his-dell-computers-brains-out/#4BBCKH2oTczqDtTv.99)

[duhbear]

A laptop that is light, efficient, works off-line also and is raved about by the guys in the Villages computer clubs:


HP Stream Notebook

6 Products (View all)

Windows 8.1
1TB of free cloud storage included for one year
Office 365 Personal included free for 1 year
Fanless design and flash storage



Starting at $ 199.99

[velcro]

Thank You Mr Bear, I will shoot over to Best Buy and check it out.

[tomwed]

The guys in the computer club are used to fixing laptops, overcoming viruses and reinstalling windows.

Go to walmart. Buy a chromebook. Try it out and return it if it is not all that it is hyped up to be. You can't break it by pushing the keys incorrectly.

Try them both.

[Uberschaf]

This explains alot about a Chromebook:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-JYp0Iu4pw

[TrudyM]

I too have been looking to replace my old dell laptop. To me it depends on what you are use to using and if you are ok with learning new stuff. I used windows based products at work for years and could not live without excel spreads. I also like a quick processor however it seems the new tablets are as fast as a lot of older laptops.
I have a windows based laptop and also a surface pro. Not the new pro 3 but the original pro. I will not own anything without a usb connection. A lot of notebook type tablets do not have them. (the surface and some other windows based ones do) I burn audio books to cd on my laptop as hubby likes audio books and I can get them online through the library. Or I download them to a flash drive. I back up everything to my passport mobile drive that has huge storage and then can plug in and pull up my files movies etc on any device with a usb port it is about the size of a deck of cards. I have fat fingers and not good fine motor skills so I do not like the touch screen so I still use a roller mouse. so blue tooth also a plus to consider. As I said it depends on how much a person wants to change and I don't want to relearn at this point.

[velcro]

Thanks Mr Uberschaf that site you gave me was very informative & it does not look like I will be getting a Chromebook. So my quest continues.
Thanks all for the info I am leaning towards a Refurbished Apple Macbook.

[mfp509]

My sister and brother just bought MacBooks and couldn't be happier. I am definitely going that route within the next couple of weeks

[TNLAKEPANDA]

1. Chrome book will not work for what you want.

2. Windows 8 is a real pain in the A

3. If you go for a Windows laptop look at Leveno and save money with an AMD chip over
Intel.

4. The Smart move is spend the extra $$ for a Mac. You will be happy and trouble free
and you can do Face Time (only on Mac's) Grandma use to say don't be penny wise
and pound foolish. Over the years the extra $$ does not amount to much. If you
have an iPhone or iPad it's a no brainer.

good luck

[CFrance]

You mentioned you like to Facetime with your kids. Does Facetime work on a windows-based computer? Or were you using the term Facebook generically? We skype with out kids on Windows based computers. I've never had a virus or a crash in a decade. Hackers are moving more and more into Macs, so you're not necessarily protected as much as you used to be on a Mac.

It's just whatever you're used to. I had to use Windows based computer software for my work and have never gone back to Mac. I do have an iPad but only use it for travel as I basically find it to be a pain to work with. Absolutely do not like Safari. If Surface ever comes out with an unlocked cellular version that I can take overseas and buy data cards for, that will be my next tablet.

[OldManTime]

I am needing a new laptop and while I like the Apples I just can;t justify spending that kind of money for Googling, emailing, writing a few letters, buying and selling on ebay or TOTV, storing pictures and things like that.
In my research for a PC I have come across a Google Chrome Laptop but I am not sure about buying one because I am not sure what it does. It seems like you store everything in a Google Cloud & not on your hard drive. I would also like to get a CD & DVD burner on it. I am not going to use it for any kind of office work but would also like to face time with my kids & Grand kids.
Can someone with first hand knowledge of the pros & cons of the difference between a Windows 8 laptop & a Google Cloud laptop help me in my choice & tell me will I be able to do the things I want to do on a Cloud.

Thanks confused:

I have a MacBook Pro for sale, $500.00

[velcro]

So I went over to Best Buy to check out the laptops. This young salesman came over to me ( lets call him The Kid) his name is Keith. I have an unlimited supply of questions for him, he answers all of them with authoritative knowledge, I,m impressed. We go thru the MacBook Air , MacBook Pro, I,m impressed. Then on to the Lenovo an excellent choice say's he & we go thru the Q & A session,I,m impressed. Then I ask The Kld what does he know about the ChromeBooks & The Kid lights up like the Fireworks show in Rockaway on Wednesday Night! The Kid has one & loves it says it is the fastest & one of the best computer he has ever had,( at that point I think he exaggerated a bit but he liked it alot) now I,m Really impressed. The Kid says there is nothing it can't do that a Mac Book Pro can do except you can't down load from the internet & store it on your hard drive ( you don,t have one) but you can print out your down loads which works perfect for me. As far as working off line you can use Google apps to work off line but remember I am retired & very seldom do I work off line. As far as face timing or skyping google has a free app for that.
So back to my original question about net browsing, emailing, ebaying ,totving and doing all the things I need, this is perfect and all for $266 out the door with a 15.5" screen.
I know it will not work for some for many different reasons but for me Stay tuned, I am on it now right out of the box. There is one more thing, you do need a Google Account & email address, so along with my AOL Acct. I also have a Gmail Acct.

Thanks for all the help & your time. There is a 14 day fully refundable no restocking charge money back guarantee so I will up date in 13 Days.
Thanks Again
Jerry

[NYGUY]

So I went over to Best Buy to check out the laptops. This young salesman came over to me ( lets call him The Kid) his name is Keith. I have an unlimited supply of questions for him, he answers all of them with authoritative knowledge, I,m impressed. We go thru the MacBook Air , MacBook Pro, I,m impressed. Then on to the Lenovo an excellent choice say's he & we go thru the Q & A session,I,m impressed. Then I ask The Kld what does he know about the ChromeBooks & The Kid lights up like the Fireworks show in Rockaway on Wednesday Night! The Kid has one & loves it says it is the fastest & one of the best computer he has ever had,( at that point I think he exaggerated a bit but he liked it alot) now I,m Really impressed. The Kid says there is nothing it can't do that a Mac Book Pro can do except you can't down load from the internet & store it on your hard drive ( you don,t have one) but you can print out your down loads which works perfect for me. As far as working off line you can use Google apps to work off line but remember I am retired & very seldom do I work off line. As far as face timing or skyping google has a free app for that.
So back to my original question about net browsing, emailing, ebaying ,totving and doing all the things I need, this is perfect and all for $266 out the door with a 15.5" screen.
I know it will not work for some for many different reasons but for me Stay tuned, I am on it now right out of the box. There is one more thing, you do need a Google Account & email address, so along with my AOL Acct. I also have a Gmail Acct.

Thanks for all the help & your time. There is a 14 day fully refundable no restocking charge money back guarantee so I will up date in 13 Days.
Thanks Again
Jerry

Good for you!!...you found what you needed:024:

[tomwed]

I guess you didn't read my posts.

[mtdjed]

I know the OP is now happy with help from
"The Kid". But really, what is the problem with Windows 8. With help from the Computer club, mine works as good or better than my old Windows. He fixed me and not the computer. He also gave me the option of having the computer look like previous Windows versions; ie a tile into the past where my mind is.

[dbussone]

I know the OP is now happy with help from
"The Kid". But really, what is the problem with Windows 8. With help from the Computer club, mine works as good or better than my old Windows. He fixed me and not the computer. He also gave me the option of having the computer look like previous Windows versions; ie a tile into the past where my mind is.

I'm on my 2nd computer with Windows 8 or 8.1. Use them both and have never had an issue of significance.

[velcro]

Well Like I said " I'll Be Bock" Well here I am with my review of the Acer W/ the Google Chrome OP System. I bought one for the War Department. It is all we need in a Computer

[ThatOneGuy]

Windows 10 will probably be released later this summer, in time for the school season purchases. But it doesn't matter. Microsoft will make Windows 10 free for all legal Windows 7 and 8.1 users.

[CFrance]

Windows 10 will probably be released later this summer, in time for the school season purchases. But it doesn't matter. Microsoft will make Windows 10 free for all legal Windows 7 and 8.1 users.
I'm confused. Would that help the OP, who bought a laptop with Chrome operating system?

[John_W]

I got use to my HP laptop with it's 17" monitor. So last week when the hard drive died I also looked for a new computer. I couldn't believe that the three places I went, Walmart, Best Buy and Sam's Club only had one model of a 17" laptop for sale, the counters were filled with smaller screen computers. I guess with all the tablets out there, they figure people will like a smaller screen.

Myself, I didn't like the smaller screen and didn't like that the HP and Dell 17" laptops that I was looking at, now cost more than the 17" HP I bought four years ago. With the price of big screen TV's and most electronics going down, why are laptops going up?

Then I realized, in the four years I've lived here in The Villages, I've only taken my laptop out of the house one time. So with that in mind, I got an HP all in one computer with a 19" monitor for $349 at Walmart. It wasn't wireless but $50 more, I picked up a wireless keyboard and mouse. The keyboard is a wave style, much easier on the hands and wrists to type. So for $410 I have an HP wireless all in one computer.

With Windows 8.1 that came with my system, at first I didn't like it. I realized my biggest dislike was the start menu and not a normal desktop. I found you can eliminate the 'start menu' by right clicking on the black bar on the bottom of the screen. Open 'Task Manager' and select 'Navigation'. Then select what you want to see at start up. Select 'Desk Top' and now you're computer will open like it did on your old computer.

[drdodge]

the apple is the best computor you can buy, Once you have an apple you will never have anything else