Which Chromebook? Or something else?

[elsiegee40]

My friend sent me this message.

 

Now that I’m a full time Carer for dad there are various forms that I have to complete for the various government agencies and a small amount of online learning. I like the idea of a tablet but don’t know if it will allow me to type notes, fill in forms etc. Or maybe a Google Pixel Go? Any suggestions as to the best laptop/ tablet to use???

 

Budget is £600 absolute tops.

 

My friend is a reasonably competent PC user, she was the Bursar at my last school, but not technical in any shape or form. She just wants something she can use with minimum fuss.

Edited January 20, 2021 by elsiegee40

[TechMonkey]

Chromebook will save a lot of budget, but will be a different way of working and may restrict what can be done in the future. If she literally just needs web access then I would say get a £3-400 Chromebook. Also fulfils the minimum fuss aspect. For that money can get one with a touchscreen that will mimic a tablet with the keyboard bent back and a pen.

 

If she is set on a tablet then we got a batch of Samsung Tab A 10.5 tablets that have been great for in the classroom.

 

EDIT: https://www.asus.com/uk/2-in-1-PCs/ASUS-Chromebook-Flip-C214MA/ may not be the prettiest beast but is a great device. Only issue at the moment is it is hard to get.

Edited January 20, 2021 by TechMonkey

[paulkerton]

If a tablet is what she'd like, and Chromebook is fine, then I highly recommend the Lenovo Chromebook Duet.

It's small, but it's a little beast of a machine for what it has inside it. Much quicker than the original Acer Chrometabs that came out.

 

https://www.lenovo.com/gb/en/laptops/lenovo/student-chromebooks/Lenovo-CT-X636/p/ZZICZCTCT1X

[DGardiner]

for that price id probably jump onto a windows convertible laptop for something a bit more versatile

[VeryPC]

Hey @elsiegee40

 

Our factory floor team are gearing up to take delivery of 1,000 HP Chromebook 11a's - our very own @VeryPC_Nicole posted about it yesterday just here - http://www.edugeek.net/forums/our-advertisers/219843-hp-chromebook-11a.html

 

We hope that might be of interest to you? Feel free to drop us a PM if you or your friend need any more info!

 

- Ryan

[elsiegee40]

for that price id probably jump onto a windows convertible laptop for something a bit more versatile

 

Any suggestions?

[Danp]

for that price id probably jump onto a windows convertible laptop for something a bit more versatile

 

With an up to £600 budget, I would expect a longer life from a Chromebook than a Windows device.

[jmak]

Any suggestions?

That as a school tech and pretty competent Windows user I have gone with Chromebooks for all my recent personal recommendations [emoji16]

 

I'd probably still buy Windows for myself, just to keep the option, but I don't want to run the risk of being involved in tech support for friends and family.

 

Then it just comes down to form factor and budget, remembering that the more recent models will get guaranteed updates for longer.

 

The first time I selected a Lenovo Yoga education model with a really poor screen, slow processor and low memory - but it was perfect because it is waterproof and drop proof - I knew the person went through 3 phone screens per year. They're still happy 2.5 years later.

 

Last time I selected a very sleek Asus with an i3 processor which was under £400 ex-display.

 

If you do go Windows, the Dell outlet store is still with a look (I know you've used it before) although not the bargain it used to be.

[DGardiner]

Any suggestions?

 

Just a quick flick about the usual retailers:

 

https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/computing/laptops/laptops/lenovo-ideapad-flex-5-14-2-in-1-laptop-amd-ryzen-5-256-gb-ssd-teal-10208569-pdt.html

 

Ram looks to be soldered though, but has a removable ssd should that need swapped in the future. current circumstances probably wont help prices

 

if the touch stuff is just a gimmik id personaly rather something like these, all seem fair:

 

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/9396461

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/7296415

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/8181756

Edited January 20, 2021 by DGardiner

[DGardiner]

With an up to £600 budget, I would expect a longer life from a Chromebook than a Windows device.

 

Like i said, more versatile. Chromebooks are great and have theire place, but if someones having to ask for hardware recommendations its pretty likely they dont understand the limitations theyre getting themselves in for... for the tidy price of £600

[mcolbourn]

If a tablet is what she'd like, and Chromebook is fine, then I highly recommend the Lenovo Chromebook Duet.

It's small, but it's a little beast of a machine for what it has inside it. Much quicker than the original Acer Chrometabs that came out.

 

https://www.lenovo.com/gb/en/laptops/lenovo/student-chromebooks/Lenovo-CT-X636/p/ZZICZCTCT1X

 

I would second this. I use a Pixel Slate as my main device at home and would never go back to a Windows device for my personal device. I use it as a tablet for consumption, as a laptop for working where I want and then connected up to a used C Dock Which in turns connects to a 32" monitor as desktop. The ability to move from one setup to another is great pus chrome OS is great (I don't want to be fixing my own device that left for where I work).