Google Chromebook or Windows 8 laptop?

[gino_76ph]

Hi.

I'm buying my wife a new computer in place of her old 2011 Macbook Air. What she normally wants & does with a computer are as follows:

1. A computer with an SD card slot so she can upload her photos on Facebook

2. A computer with a Word-like software and compatibility (like Open Office) where she can make documents, save them (on the hard drive for future editing and to send those documents via email or printing

3. A computer with 2 x USB ports so she can connect a USB stick or portable hard drive in one and then connect her phone (or tablet) on the other to transfer music or videos

4. Be able to watch videos on Youtube or some 3rd-party streaming websites

5. Be able to save her documents and other important files in the cloud via apps like Dropbox, etc.

6. Be able to wirelessly print to any wireless-enabled printer of any .doc, .jpeg, pdf files.

Will a Google Chromebook be sufficient or a Windows 8 laptop be the better option?


Please help.


Thanks.

 

[DaveSimmons]

A third option is a Surface 2 tablet (running Windows RT not 8):
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2344240

For Office compatibility I'd much rather have real MS Office than Google Docs or OpenOffice (which won't run on ChromeBook -- ChromeBook only runs web apps).

 

[Techhog]

A third option is a Surface 2 tablet (running Windows RT not 8):
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2344240

For Office compatibility I'd much rather have real MS Office than Google Docs or OpenOffice (which won't run on ChromeBook -- ChromeBook only runs web apps).

To be fair, Office Web Apps is still an option. (Though I can't remember if you need Office 365 for that.)

 

[Torn Mind]

Dropbox is a Windows executable. I think you'll need regular Windows if you want its desktop/Windows Explorer integration feature.

Also, Windows 8 might not be the most intuitive OS out there.

What is your budget? Since you're asking about a Chromebook vs a Windows laptop, I take it that it isn't that high, am I correct?

Does she mind getting something heavier?

This Toshiba Ultrabook does fit your specs quite well, for $450: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834216043


Windows RT products like the plain Surface (2) cannot run any "legacy" applications but come with Office. There is a fire sale of first gen products with RT right now.

 

[mfenn]

To be fair, Office Web Apps is still an option. (Though I can't remember if you need Office 365 for that.)

You do need an Office 365 subscription to use the web apps, but it's the same subscription that gets you the Windows versions, so the cost is the same either way. Document compatibility between the two is pretty good (but not perfect).

 

[DaveSimmons]

For RT, there's a Dropbox client and the Office license is not a subscription.

> 6. Be able to wirelessly print to any wireless-enabled printer of any .doc, .jpeg, pdf files.

This one I have no idea about. I don't have an RT device myself since I'm comfortable with the security risks of running "real" Windows instead.