Chromebook 4 - what can I use it for?

[Clariman]

I've just ordered a new phone directly from Samsung. It comes with a free Chromebook 4. I use Windows laptop for most things. Is the Chromebook a useful thing for me to have? If not, is there a second hand market for selling a brand new one?

Cheers
C

[servodude]

I've just ordered a new phone directly from Samsung. It comes with a free Chromebook 4. I use Windows laptop for most things. Is the Chromebook a useful thing for me to have? If not, is there a second hand market for selling a brand new one?

Cheers
C

It's a very portable budget laptop that works really well if you're already invested in the Google ecosystem (using the chrome apps, drive, etc)

You should be able to sell it through whatever your favorite channel is easily if you decide you don't want it

-sd

[Infrasonic]

https://uk.pcmag.com/laptops/132176/sam ... romebook-4

If it's the same specs as the reviewed model then it won't be the best Chromebook out there, might be a bit sluggish when pushed.

I've got a cheap Lenovo CB with 4GB RAM and 64GB eMMC storage and I use it a lot - with Chrome OS, the Android VM and Linux container (that are built in). Desktop is W10 Home and phone is Pixel 3a (which syncs well with the CB via Bluetooth).

I'd hang on to it and use as a backup/learning machine or as something to throw in your luggage without worrying about it being your expensive primary Windows laptop.

You can do things like MS Office using the browser based facilities, and the Linux capability opens up options like Libre Office.

I'd definitely get another CB but with higher specs so that I could run it as a Chrome OS/Android/Linux/Windows VM machine (you can actually run Windows on them but there are caveats...)

[Infrasonic]

There's an entire thread dedicated to Chrome OS here with all the latest developments and updates...viewtopic.php?f=39&t=22090

[scottnsilky]

I find a tablet is very convenient to use, and I do everything I would do on a laptop, except financial matters. I think W10 is more secure than Chrome, I may be wrong, quite likely I am. The smaller size takes a little time to get used to, and the 'keyboard' can be fiddly, as this one is.
I have bought and sold tablets on a well known online auction site, there is a ready market.

[Howard]

I have a four year old basic Acer Chromebook. It's brilliant for surfing, looking at Lemon Fool , showing films (links with my TV), spreadsheets etc.

Faster than an Apple laptop which I have access to.

I don't tend to store large files on it as it is synced to my W 10 desktop (and Samsung phone).

For me, it is far superior to a tablet or iPad as I do a lot of keyboard work. One can just talk to it like a phone but it's usually quicker to type.

The instant start up is a joy.

If you have more specialised requirements you may, of course, need a more expensive machine.

regards

Howard

[servodude]

I've got a cheap Lenovo CB with 4GB RAM and 64GB eMMC storage and I use it a lot - with Chrome OS, the Android VM and Linux container (that are built in). Desktop is W10 Home and phone is Pixel 3a (which syncs well with the CB via Bluetooth).

I'd hang on to it and use as a backup/learning machine or as something to throw in your luggage without worrying about it being your expensive primary Windows laptop

Do you know if Chrome Remote Desktop on a Chromebook works well to a windows machine?
As that could turn this freebie in to a very useful portable terminal for Clariman's main pooter?

[Infrasonic]

Do you know if Chrome Remote Desktop on a Chromebook works well to a windows machine?
As that could turn this freebie in to a very useful portable terminal for Clariman's main pooter?

I never got CRD working with my CB to W10 but did from my phone to W10, which was strange. It's possible I messed up the setup, although I did uninstall and reinstall more than once. When I looked online for help it seemed a mixed bag - some people had zero issues across multiple OS' others had similar problems to me. This was a couple of years ago.

Even if CRD won't work there are other RD options, so it's still worth investigating. With a CB the native Android and Linux container capability provides a lot more flexibility apps wise than just those that are Chrome OS compatible.

[servodude]

Do you know if Chrome Remote Desktop on a Chromebook works well to a windows machine?
As that could turn this freebie in to a very useful portable terminal for Clariman's main pooter?

I never got CRD working with my CB to W10 but did from my phone to W10, which was strange. It's possible I messed up the setup, although I did uninstall and reinstall more than once. When I looked online for help it seemed a mixed bag - some people had zero issues across multiple OS' others had similar problems to me. This was a couple of years ago.

Even if CRD won't work there are other RD options, so it's still worth investigating. With a CB the native Android and Linux container capability provides a lot more flexibility apps wise than just those that are Chrome OS compatible.

Does sound a mixed bag.
I'm leaning towards a Chromebook as the next machine for the portable terminal role; using a surfacebook at the moment and that's really overkill (nice hw... not really up to the full time work job - but more grunt than needed to just display another computer's screen)
Hopefully they can nail that functionality reliabily soon - they'd be perfect for that kind of job
-sd

[hiriskpaul]

Are CBs as good as a tablet for media apps iPlayer, Netflix, etc?

How well do the Microsoft/Onedrive browser based apps work?

[Clariman]

My free Samsung Chromebook has arrived. Time to decide whether to put it straight back in the box to sell it as new, or to find a good use for it.

I bought a small Dell Inspiron laptop late last year which is very portable, otherwise I'd definitely use the chromebook for taking away. The Dell also starts up very quickly compared to my old laptop, so maybe no need to use for that.

Now that phones are so capable, I no longer use a tablet these days - either phone or laptop. Perhaps this could act as a more workable tablet?

I mainly use the PC for office apps, email, web etc but also MS Money and a music notation package. The latter can run within Linux on the Chromebook so maybe I could use it for that. Most of my data is in MS One Drive these days so will he accessible.

Really not sure. I don't want to have a bit of unused kit sitting around but would be interesting to get to know it. Should I bother?

[Infrasonic]

It's going to depend entirely on how much time you want to put into learning what it can do - I persisted and now use my CB way more than my more powerful W10 desktop (i5/16GB RAM/ 2xSSD 1xHDD) or my phone (Pixel 3a).

If you're used to how Chrome browser works that will lessen the learning curve - but you'll still have to get your head around the Android and Linux capability.
The former's easy as it boots automatically with Chrome OS and the apps are available from the Play Store, not all Android apps will work though - Linux you'll need to turn the container capability on in the OS settings and do a bit of minimal bash command line stuff to get it up and running with GUI/CL apps.

There's loads of tutorials for the Chrome OS/Linux container side of things but obviously it will take some effort to learn if you aren't already au fait with bash (I wasn't so I learnt on the job so to speak). Copy and paste from the tutorials will come to the rescue there. Once you've got a few commands loaded into the terminal you can toggle up and down them for repeat use (they persist in memory), so app updates and regular routines are then easy.

If that all sounds like far too much faff - flog it!

[swill453]

Can I divert things slightly and ask about some specific Chromebook capabilities? Can it be used offline to watch downloaded movies?

Specifically - can the BBC iPlayer, Netflix and Amazon Prime Video apps be used, and if so can they download for offline use?

Also, is there a way of watching generic downloaded files (.mp4 for example)?

Scott.

[moorfield]

I've just ordered a new phone directly from Samsung. It comes with a free Chromebook 4. I use Windows laptop for most things. Is the Chromebook a useful thing for me to have? If not, is there a second hand market for selling a brand new one?

Cheers
C

Why not donate it to a local playgroup, primary or secondary school? And tick off a Good Deed for the year? They will put it to good use.