Anyone have a Chromebook?

[OldDirtyBernie]

The time has come that I need to get a new laptop. Making the switch to making a living from home isn't going to work AT ALL if my current laptop takes nearly 10 minutes to load Amazon, to provide an example.
So I've been browsing and I'm curious about the Chromebooks. If I chose to get a chromebook, it would most likely be my primary machine for internet browsing as well as work. I'm searching online right now and a lot of writers really seem to enjoy the chromebook experience for writing.

I use Chrome exclusively on my current laptop and I'm integrated into Google Drive, Docs, etc already.

So now I'm waffling back and forth between a chromebook and windows machine before I order. I realize all of the trade-offs I'll have to make if I do switch as well.
If I do end up choosing to go with a Chromebook, I'm thinking about going with one of the 2-in-1 models as well.

[Deleted]

My job gave me a Chromebook. I never use it because I also have a Macbook. However, when I have used it...it was fine. It's slower and less clear than my Macbook, but it also does its job. If you're looking for something simple that will let you do the basics, I'd say that you'll be happy with it.

[xCompackx]

Yeah, if you like Chrome and Google's suite of software, it's a fine machine. Also, they're working on getting actual Android apps working on Chromebooks and have a few models supporting it so look into that if you're interested.

Here's a list of supported models:
link

[beamanhogan]

From my experience, they are pretty solid machines. They definitely work much better when you have an internet connection. What is your budget for a laptop?

[OldDirtyBernie]

My budget is limited, as well as where I can purchase. I'm limited to Amazon as the extra money came from a payout for a few jobs I did and got paid out in Amazon gift card. I'm at $300 right now, which may change if I can pick up a job or two in the near future. I'm looking at refurbished units, so it's basically between Chromebooks and HP Laptops.

All of my at-home work can be done on the Chromebook, including my writing jobs. I work on Amazon Mturk as well and the only limitation is that the Chromebook won't be able to do any of the surveys or jobs that require a download of Inquisit or jobs that require IE or Firefox(which I never do anyway as I've got neither browser installed on this laptop.)

My current dilemma: I also work for a few Usertest websites and won't be able to do those assignments on the Chromebook as the screen recording software for PC isn't yet compatible and the mobile app isn't available until Google Play apps are available on the unit I'm planning to possibly purchase. We'll be keeping this laptop and I'll have access to my wife's as well.
Adding to the dilemma is the fact that most of the laptops I'm finding only have a Headphone Out jack whereas I have a headset that I use to conferences with clients(I've got 2 for writing! WOOO) and for the usertests.

One thing that's making me lean toward the Chromebook is that I get more power in the machine for my money it seems. There will be a small learning curve without Windows but I can deal with that. We also have two 1TB external hard drives as well as the cloud storage, so that's not currently a concer.
The Chromebook I'm considering most is the Acer Chromebook 15.
Either way, I'm stressing a little bit trying to decide.

[Captain Stud Muffin (BLM)]

I would go with the HP Laptop if you could

Chrome book is very limited.

[67 more]

If all you need is web browsing and Google programs, go for it. They have hardly any storage space though, so be sure to get a decent USB drive to save any files to. If you need it for anything more, give it a miss.

[xCompackx]

Also something worth noting, you can actually install full Linux on a Chromebook if you're wanting more of a "full desktop" kind of thing. It's not the easiest process, but it's doable.

[Ultimo Gallos]

The lack of storage and various other issues kept me from getting a Chromebook. But then I do lots of traveling where I do not have internet but still use my laptop.

Also not sure if this still applies but as of 5 years ago Skype didn't work on Chromebooks.

[OldDirtyBernie]

To boil it down, here's my current dilemma -

I do Usertesting for websites and mobile apps for a few different websites. These tests will not work on a Chromebook as their sites don't support them.
The HP and most of the other laptops in my price range seem to come with a combination headphone/microphone jack, which won't work with my current headset I use to record my voice for those tests. I'm also unsure of which adapter I can get to fix the issue and continue testing with them.

If I get the Chromebook, I'll have two Windows laptops I can use for the tests but it'll be a problem as the tests are first-come first-serve.
With the HP, I can continue but I'll have to research and find an adapter for my current headset. Everything really seems to be pointing to the HP.

If anyone here can explain to me, as I only have a basic understanding - the reasoning behind needing a new Laptop of some sort is the business my wife and I are trying to build. I'll be using my device for multiple websites at the same time as well as writing jobs consistently. I'll post what I currently have computer-wise and the two that I'm looking at if anyone is willing to give me a bit of advice or what have you(if not I completely understand.)

Current - gateway ne71b with AMD E1-1200 APU. I'm running on 8 Gigs of RAM. Problem seems to be Multitasking, as pretty much EVERYTHING lags terrible on this computer.

Possible - HP 15-F222wm with Intel® Pentium® N3540 4 Gigs of RAM, I believe I can upgrade to 8 and take one of the 4 Gig chips out of my current computer.
or - Acer 15 with Intel® Celeron® processor 3205U(There are 3 models, two have the Celeron and one has an I5. Not sure I can find the I5 model in my range.) Lower models have 2 gigs, some come with 4. Not sure but I believe these can't be upgraded.