Chromebook notes mailed to Murray on July 4th....

Murray:  If I had read some of the reviews on the HP Chromebook I'd of hesitated to purchase it.  That would have been a mistake.

One thing I've learned is that 90% of my computer usage is on-line (banking, web browsing, Facebook, E-mail etc).  The Chromebook is designed for on-line use so it doesn't have the legacy issues of most normal laptops. It also does not require any anti-virus protection since all the apps are in the cloud, and the OS and data is maintained by Google.

All that being said, there are SOME apps that have to be on a local hard-drive to run.  Two that I use are Quicken, and my web-site development stuff.  Google has a free system called Google Remote where you can remotely control a remote computer.  So, using that, I'm down here in the kitchen and I can post website updates, use my Quicken program etc that's on the bedroom Acer notebook.  Unlike the PC Anywhere program I used to use back in the day between home and the office, this one actually works well in real time with no noticeable lag.  I'm sure that is a direct result of my U-Verse internet connection which is good.

This Chromebook does not have cellular options....wi-fi only.  In my case, I obviously have wi-fi here at the house.  I'll end up using and bringing the Chromebook on  our camping excursions, and if there is no wi-fi available we'll do the hotspot thing off the i-phone.

I ordered it on-line through Staples.  The list price is $329 plus tax and tip, but Staples has a $50 rebate.  The same machine through Amazon was about $380 with NO rebate, and from HP Direct they're asking list price.

Oh, we print off this remotely to the upstairs all-in-one printer using Google Cloud...works good:).

My only regret (and with my sorry life I have had a few!) is that I didn't get it sooner.  You CAN get it cheaper if you get the Acer or Samsung machines (about $199) but with a smaller 11" screen.  The HP has a 14" screen which is smaller than the Toshiba it replaced, but it's workable.  Cheers!

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Bob Payette

Contact Information:  Call or text  860-460-7945. My  preferred email address is r.payette2@gmail.com .  

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New HP Chromebook purchased on July 2nd, 2013....this is a Facebook posting on that event.

The test has begun.  Our kitchen notebook, a Toshiba we’ve had a real long time that originally had XP and then was upgraded to Vista, was showing its age pretty good and frustrating us.  I’ve used Google Chrome since it came out and have been very happy with it, and have followed the Chromebook development a bit....so, (you know where this is going) we ordered and received today the 14” screen HP Chromebook.  This post is being typed in Google Docs.

I’ve only had it up and running for four hours or so, but we’re impressed with it.  It’s fast, responsive, and it’s come with enough work apps to keep me happy.  Alice and my Google accounts are all available seamlessly and there was no transferring of files or data needed.

A nice surprise is Google Remote.  Using the wi-fi I have total access to my main PC upstairs that we do the web-sites on, and other application that require “local” apps such as Quicken.  Technology has improved tremendously since the day when I was using PC Anywhere to remote into the office from the house.  Of course those were dial-up days and it brought the early Windows to its knees....times they do change!

So, long story short we’re very impressed with the Chromebook.  It’s inexpensive ($329 plus tax), it’s reasonably fast, and it does the basic things we need:  E-mail, web-browsing and access, music and video streaming.  What’s not to like? :).