Any opinion on Chromebooks?

[Vapin' Joe]

Why not install LINUX on your mother's laptop? I'm running it on what was originally a Windows 8 laptop.

You can download it for free and burn it on to a USB:
https://lubuntu.me/downloads/

Alternatively you can buy one preinstalled for about £10:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/315237489541

Hmmm, Linux for someone not particularly tech savvy?

I wouldn't.

 

[Chris S]

The

Hmmm, Linux for someone not particularly tech savvy?

I wouldn't.

The user interface isn't much different from Windows these days.

 

[Yellow Fang]

Maybe that raises the option of a tablet? Easy to use. Light. Can do stuff locally. If she has an Android smartphone then she already knows how to use it or, if she doesn't maybe learning to use Android would be long term useful for a mobile phone as well. If keyboard is important, you can get bluetooth keyboards pretty cheaply that work with tablets.

Not "suggesting" it as I have no appreciation for capability, etc. but maybe a consideration for OP in addition to Windows/Mac/Chromebook?

Ian

I have asked her about tablets but she wants a laptop.

 

[Yellow Fang]

Why not install LINUX on your mother's laptop? I'm running it on what was originally a Windows 8 laptop.

You can download it for free and burn it on to a USB:
https://lubuntu.me/downloads/

Alternatively you can buy one preinstalled for about £10:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/315237489541

I might try and install Linux on her old laptop once she has a new one. The thing about Linux is that if you are quite tech savvy it is not difficult to use, but that is because you are not aware of all the stuff you know. Got to say myself that Ubuntu is not difficult to use. I think I tried installing Linux on a previous laptop and she didn't get on with it.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

The


The user interface isn't much different from Windows these days.

I've tried it at various times over the years and it always seems to need fiddling to keep it running.

 

[Psamathe]

Hmmm, Linux for someone not particularly tech savvy?

I wouldn't.

The


The user interface isn't much different from Windows these days.

I use Ubuntu in a VM on my Mac and I think it would be straightforward for OP's Mum in that she's using only a couple of apps so it's more the apps than the OS.

I think Linux is regarded as techy and more complex as most people who use it are tech people doing techy stuff involving editing config files, etc.

Ian

 

[DRM]

Mint or Zorin are pretty close to a windows layout & usability in Linux, I'm using Ubuntu on an old Thinkpad, or how about Chrome OS Flex, even easier to obtain straight from the Chrome Browser https://chromeos.google/intl/en_uk/products/chromeos-flex/

 

[Gwylan]

I have asked her about tablets but she wants a laptop.

Tell her it's a laptop

 

[Yellow Fang]

I could not persuade my mother to buy a Chromebook. I think she wanted something she was familiar with, so she went for a laptop with Windows 11. Then the salesman persuaded her to buy either Norton or McAfee virus protector. I am not sure whether they are necessary any more. Isn't Microsoft Defender good enough? No doubt her laptop will nag her to buy Microsoft Office.
I was disappointed, because I wanted to see what a Chromebook was like myself. So, I bought one for £160. Seems alright. I was surprised when it synced up with my phone. When I logged into Cyclechat, I thought I would have difficulty remembering my password, but it was already filled in.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

She says she only needs it to access her emails, access her crossword puzzle, google and ebay.

Presumably the crossword is just a web page and not some software, her email is gmail, and by Google you mean the search engine? If so, sounds like a Chromebook would be ideal. I’ve never used a Chromebook but I believe that if everything she uses is essentially through a browser or email client, it’ll work great for simplicity. Google of course tracks everything, but that’s the price she’ll pay for simplicity.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

The source I read said you only have to replace your computer every 5 years instead of every 2-3 years.

You certainly do not need to replace a Windows PC anywhere near that frequently. My PC is 13 years old and going strong.

 

[Yellow Fang]

You certainly do not need to replace a Windows PC anywhere near that frequently. My PC is 13 years old and going strong.

Depends a bit on how often Microsoft upload improvements. I used to be a support engineers. Some of the systems I supported ran Windows XP. So long as you don't use internet and download nasties, and so long as you stop Microsoft to upload patches and improvements the PCs just keep on going. You might have to replace a fan or a power unit.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Depends a bit on how often Microsoft upload improvements. I used to be a support engineers. Some of the systems I supported ran Windows XP. So long as you don't use internet and download nasties, and so long as you stop Microsoft to upload patches and improvements the PCs just keep on going. You might have to replace a fan or a power unit.

Taking your Windows XP as an example. It had a 19 year life where Microsoft were still releasing updates. Certainly not as short as 2-3 years or 5 years. Even after the last update, systems become do not suddenly much more vulnerable. It takes time, and also depends on the user(s) as to what the risk of infection is. Vast majority of infections still require the user to have downloaded and executed something.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

Then the salesman persuaded her to buy either Norton or McAfee virus protector. I am not sure whether they are necessary any more. Isn't Microsoft Defender good enough?

They are not only unnecessary, they are a gigantic pain in the arse. Defender is more than good enough.

 

[Alex321]

I looked up some advantages and disadvantages. Chromebooks do most things in the cloud, so you need a good internet connection. Most stuff my mum does on her computer relies on the internet. Disadvantages include not being able to edit music or videos easily or use Teams. That may have been a problem to my stepmother, but not my mother. An advantage with Chromebooks is you don't have to install software, worry about viruses, or upgrade the operating system so much. The source I read said you only have to replace your computer every 5 years instead of every 2-3 years. I might persuade my mum to get one.

Hmm.

I recently replaced my Windows machine, with the one I replaced having been in use since 2018. It was still running Windows 10, but was starting to have a few issues and wasn't upgradeable to Windows 11.