I have an Acer Chromebook that I bought during the pandemic, as I don't own a laptop and my desktop at the time had a camera at the bottom (why?), so in Zoom calls everyone was looking at my chin.

It was very easy to set up, and synced everything easily from both my Google and Microsoft accounts. That was especially appreciated when my desktop died, since I was able to keep working from the Chromebook until I could get a new desktop computer.

The only real drawback to a Chromebook is that you can't store much on the device, so anything has to be saved to the cloud. But if that's not an issue for you, they're a great and less expensive alternative to a laptop.

I had one for a few months about 3 or 4 years ago. Went from a PC laptop to Chromebook. My experience was similar to Bookwoman - initially very easy to set up but I could not use it in the way I am used to and prefer to use a laptop so it went back. Maybe switching from Apple product to Chromebook will be more intuitive for you.

edit - want to add that I think of them as student devices because they have limits that work well with school requirements. Many high schools where we used to live give them out to students each year.

I had a chromebook a long time ago. It was awful when it came to videos, and we had bought it mainly for travel (or as a secondary "TV" in our apartment), so that was a huge disappointment. I can't remember why though-- maybe it didn't have a good video card, or not enough processing power. Our internet access was really good so that wasn't the issue. It was pretty much only good to browse the web, it was too slow for anything else.

However, that was about 10 years ago so maybe they've improved that.

What do you plan to do with it? They have little in the way of features or things they can support.

Can't you use a flash drive or SD card for extra storage?

Chomebooks can be light and fully capable when use is mostly restricted to internet browsing using Chrome. Its apps are quite limited and, frankly, compromised versions when compared to what's available and can be done on Macs and Windows PCs.

I have a number of programs and apps I use regularly that are not available for the Chromebook platform. My travelling small laptop recently died and I've thought about perhaps getting a small Chromebook but even then, there are tasks I do when travelling that Chromebooks can't handle.

I don't think a Chromebook is a substitute for a normal Mac or Windows PC for anyone who does anything more than internet browsing. Think of it as a tablet with a keyboard. Many people are able to do their IT-type activities all day on a tablet, I'm not one of them

I am still learning about them, but I think you store stuff on the cloud. Google has a plan for $1.99/month that will store up to 100GB. They have other plans that are a bit more expensive that store substantially more but I can't see how I would ever need terabytes of storage.

I have had 3 and I like them a lot. It does everything I need to do at a reasonable price.

Think of it as a tablet with a keyboard

That's a good way to explain it.

FYI: If anyone ever needs something that's portable like a tablet but like a more powerful PC, consider a Surface tablet with the detachable keyboard. I'm a graphic designer and for a good 5 years, mine was powerful enough to run Photoshop, Illustrator, etc. It operates like a normal PC (as in, they don't have to be apps), and has a touch screen. I hooked it up to a large external keyboard/monitor at home. I still have it, I think it will continue being great for a travel computer for many more years to come (but I only use it for light design work now that it's older).

If you don't need one for powerful programs, you can get used Surfaces really cheap. I'd way rather choose that over a Chromebook.

I work in a public school so have a school issued chrome. It is essentially a web browzer with limited app ability but serves students‘ research and word processing needs well enough while being affordable, light weight with great battery longevity.

I love my personal surface pro!

Those of you with a surface, have you kept Windows S (can only use apps from MS Store) or have you switched it irreversibly to regular Windows?

I have a Dell laptop for work, and I can do some things on the iPad with the keyboard. DH is looking to replace his 15" laptop, and I think the Surface is going to be a good option for him. He doesn't do a lot of work from home, but he would like more capability than a Chromebook or iPad.

He's probably also going to order a few Surfaces for work because they will be doing more electronic real estate closings.

I have a chromebook and I like it. But I mainly do simple stuff on it like web searches, writing and stuff like that. It's nice that I can carry it with me anywhere around the house. It works for my needs but I probably would choose something else if I needed to work on it everyday or do anything too complicated very often. I do zoom some but as someone else mentioned the camera isn't great.

Elmer J Fudd

I always had regular Windows for desktop on mine. In fact, I use very few "apps". I run it like a normal PC. (Mine is a Surface 4 Tablet, not a Pro, which is more like a regular laptop.)

Anyone wondering about zoom: the front camera is amazing. It seems to be just as good as my husband's Macbook.

Yes, I've had 2 of them. Both Acer brand. Fine for what I use it for, browsing the internet and playing Solitaire. Here is something that might help you choose: https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/6220366?hl=en

Lucille: Have you received your Chromebook? Let us know what you think.

The chromebook is the first thing I open in the AM to check the news, play Wordle, etc. Hope you like yours. I still have a Win10 desktop so haven't totally converted. My husband isn't techy at all and was slow to use his, but now he's spends more time on it than watching TV. I'm on my second Chromebook, a smaller 11" one this go round. It's such a handy size. I debated about the smaller size but from the moment it arrrived I was pleased, and that hasn't changed after many months of use. - June

Currently I am using both the Mac and the Chromebook. I like the Chromebook, I get a kick out of saying Hey Google' and asking about the weather or something, I don't talk to the Mac. I can't figure out how to get rid of the advertising that pops up on Houzz constantly on the Chromebook though.

Lucille, solve your problem by adding an extension or two. Click on the launcher (round black icon with a white circle within; by default it's on the far left). Click on CHROME WEB STORE. EXTENSIONS may already be highlighted on the menu that opens; if not, tap on EXTENSIONS to highlight. Then search for ADBLOCK PLUS (free) and click ADD TO CHROME. I also use GHOSTERY. It has some of the same functions as Adblock Plus but my chromebook has no hiccups so they don't seem to conflict. - June

I've had a Dell Chromebook for several years. I use my desktop computer for most things, but like having the Chromebook for Zooming, for emailing in the living room, and various other things, including watching instructional videos in my little art room. As others have said, the Chromebook isn't a complete substitute for a full-featured computer, but it makes a great addition.

Juneroses thank you I installed Adblocker plus and Ghostery. Howevery they are not preventing the intrusive popup by Houzz asking me to complete my profile for Houzz Pro. (I am just an ordinary member and not a pro).

I'm definitely not a pro either, Lucille. When you signed in could you have accidentally selected "Join as a Pro" (top right on my screen) instead of merely "Sign In"? Maybe the solution would be to sign out and close the Houzz website. Then open a Houzz forum and select SIGN UP (on the left) without identifying as a pro. I don't know if this would allow you to keep "lucille" as your name, however. Hopefully someone more informed with the ins and outs of Houzz will chime in.

Solved: Saw the same request to complete the Pro questionnaire on the top screen along with 'why am I seeing this?' clicked and there was a place to reply that I was not a pro, now it is no longer showing up. I don't know why it started showing up when I used my Chromebook, but all's well that ends well.