possibly shopping for a chromebook

[T2urtle]

Looking at my needs now for a laptop. It would go something like this.

50% torrents/VLC player
30% websurf/MS office
20% window based OBD2 car software (techstream, cypher, VAGCOM and Alldata)

Things i need.
5+ hours
1920x1080 or better.
15.4 MAX screen size
usb 3.0 port and BT
cheaper the better but $600 is ballpark.


My thought was to grab a chrome book for $300 and get a larger SSD say 250gb is like $75. I only need maybe 100gb for window7.

Has anyone been able to win7 drivers for chromebooks?

 

[Kaido]

You cannot run Windows on a Chromebook. Well, technically you can, but the trick only works on the Acer C720 & Chromebook Pixel from Google afaik:

http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/how-to-install-windows-chromebook/

Plus you can't change screen brightness or audio, or use the built-in input devices, and you shouldn't run updates because the newer drivers apparently break everything. You can run Linux on Chromebooks to some extent too, but the point of them is just to run Chrome, so there's no official support for something like Windows on Chromebooks.

You can, however, do the opposite - you can put Chrome on a regular laptop. A company called Neverware makes a free-for-personal-use product called CloudReady that puts ChromeOS on just about any hardware. That doesn't mean you'll get 100% support & compatibility, but you might want to consider getting a regular Windows laptop & then throwing that on too:

http://www.neverware.com/

There's a list of both CloudReady-certified models, and more specifically for you, dual-boot certified models here:

https://docs.google.com/document/u/1/d/1oaFfS3QZia17FE8UBMEF4xNKhz6U2iAtbPmxZTethF0/pub

Since you want to run an older operating system (Windows 7), you may consider picking up a used model off eBay, such as the Dell Latitude E5530, and possibly pimping it out with more RAM, an SSD, etc:

https://docs.google.com/presentatio...fPK7Erm7u06B4-_E/edit#slide=id.ga9588ab56_131

 

[T2urtle]

that is very disappointing.

Maybe i'll just get a chromebook + cheapy win7 laptop with good battery life.

Chromebooks... i can use say Utorrent and VLC player correct? Most the content i view is .264 .265 w/e codec is it. I'm guessing space is the biggest issue with that. Playback shouldn't be too tough on these celeron CPU right?

If it has the usb3.0 port i can just get a slim usb drive of like 128gb and be covered.

 

[gorcorps]

I'm not sure you understand what a chromebook is... it runs chromeOS, so no it won't run any windows programs on it. Utorrent, VLC are windows programs

Having said that though, they do run chrome apps:
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/category/apps

So if there's a chrome equivalent you might be good. Looks like there's a VLC app, but not sure how well it runs. The built in media player might work for you too.

You need to go to a Best Buy and actually try out a chromebook (they usually have a couple on display). I don't think it'll fit your needs, so you really should try one before wasting money.

 

[fire400]

when i think chromebook, battery life, and physical footprint, and cheap price is what is being communicated to me, based on how I see this, generally.

but $600? for a chromebook? that's usually almost double or even triple the price of a brand new chromebook.

torrents usually favor linux or windows. i'd go the windows PC route, 'cuz it's easier to load linux onto a windows laptop than it is on a chromebook.

the yoga y700-11 now has 8gb of RAM. and the m3 will give it phenomenal battery life, 5-8 hours.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/lenovo-...t-silver/4844500.p?id=bb4844500&skuId=4844500

the m.2 ssd can later be swapped for a 256gb-1tb for quite cheap.
and the Windows 10 should be reformatted to "clean install" on almost any of these laptops 'cuz the manufacturer junk running in the background is horrendous, lots of bugs and glitches.

 

[T2urtle]

I'm not sure you understand what a chromebook is... it runs chromeOS, so no it won't run any windows programs on it. Utorrent, VLC are windows programs

Having said that though, they do run chrome apps:
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/category/apps

So if there's a chrome equivalent you might be good. Looks like there's a VLC app, but not sure how well it runs. The built in media player might work for you too.

You need to go to a Best Buy and actually try out a chromebook (they usually have a couple on display). I don't think it'll fit your needs, so you really should try one before wasting money.

I'm pretty sure there is extention for u torrent and vlc. I think I saw them for chrome because it asked if I was interested in downloading a whileback.

But I've just given up on the chrome book idea overall since I can't dual boot.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Seriously, go to BestBuy, and look at the Lenovo IdeaPad 100s. They have a ChromeOS model, and a Windows10 model. I have the Windows 10 version, and it runs surprisingly well for a Z3735F Atom.

 

[escrow4]

Seriously, go to BestBuy, and look at the Lenovo IdeaPad 100s. They have a ChromeOS model, and a Windows10 model. I have the Windows 10 version, and it runs surprisingly well for a Z3735F Atom.

Torrenting on EMMC and then running another app or three is a recipe for Windows locking up. Literally. The system will slow to a crawl. I'd pick up a Lenovo that you can upgrade OP and use that. I had a E330 that you crack open and add in mSATA, RAM. Wasn't 1080p.