thread Re: Chromebook Recommendations in Community Corner

Chromebook Recommendations

Minion — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 16:46:40 GMT

So I've a Google PIxelbook since 2017. Probably was/is the sleekest laptop type of machine I've ever owned. It's fast, light, enough storage on it locally not including the cloud for more than I needed. Well a couple months ago, my Satan spawned kiddy (yeah that's her name) decided to try and tight rope walk on the charging cord while it was connected. I tried to take it apart and fix something but I am just too much of an ogar for things like that.

So I purchased a "new to me" used one off Ebay that looked to be in near mint condition. Along with that I purchased the 2 year warranty. Google is set to Sunset updates in 2027 so no point in really going any further with a warranty than that. It worked great for the first week I had it, I noticed some intermittent charging issues here in and there. Well it suddenly went black. After 3 days and of messing with it, I was able to get it to boot. AWESOME. but now it won't charge. So while I need to wait another 2 weeks to be able to file an insurance claim I wanted to get some thoughts.

What do you all use for a machine? I'm not an Apple person, so Macs are off the table. Ideally looking for people with experience with Chromebooks, and a windows computer is possible but they just carry so much bloat on them that its hard to find the interest in them, but I would be open. Let me know what you are using!

Re: Chromebook Recommendations

VanKalkerFarms — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 20:48:47 GMT

Well, I was all ready to drop my recommendation, but you don't want a Mac, and I haven't used anything but a Mac in almost 30 years, other than Windows for AutoCAD from 1999-2003.

I'll still throw it out, but I don't think you can get a better laptop than the Apple Silicon M4 MacBook Airs. I've seen them down to $800. Or even anything M1 or M2 if you can buy new old stock and save. My daily driver is still an M1 from 5 years ago, and I have 0 reasons to upgrade other than I want to. Battery life is incredible, and the power in that chip is insane if you ever render anything or convert movies, etc. Just day to day, going 3 or 4 days without plugging in after 4 hours of email and web, etc, is so nice.

Re: Chromebook Recommendations

Minion — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 20:58:03 GMT

I appreciate your response. My thing with apple and not wanting one is that would be the only device that I have that is an apple, and I just don't feel like I could utilize it (out of the box) like I can with a chromebook. My mom has one, not sure of which exact one, but she absolutely loves it. I don't plan to do any heavy lifting with it, I can use photopea for anything photoshop related, other than that its pretty basic with emails, organization and then the consistent 7 plus tabs running at a time.