I use Google family of apps at work (just moved from one Fortune 500 to another... both use it, and both also had MS office suite available). In general, I find that Docs and Slides provide most of the functionality I need. Sheets is useful for things like trackers and sharing results of analysis... but actually DOING the analysis I find it frustrating to work with compared to Excel.

Got a chromebook for my kid for online learning and videoconf... only minor annoyance is he can't play Minecraft on it, but he's got other outlets for that. Many Chromebook models these days do allow you to unlock Linux and then you can install Minecraft, but my particular Chromebook doesn't have that ability. I also use the Chromebook for checking email or other light web activity when in the dining/living room with family, sometimes we want to google a picture or something and it's nice to have a screen bigger than our phones to mutually look at.

I use Calibre to manage my ebooks. I read a lot of books and I keep copies locally, because I want to always own them. I can do that with my laptop. I couldn't with a chromebook. I do development work on my home system that I couldn't do on a chromebook. My children play games on a laptop they couldn't on a chromebook. My spouse does design work using a variety of applications that aren't cloud-based. But our needs are not your needs. If you've gone through what you do and everything works on a chromebook, then it doesn't matter what my laptop can do that your chromebook can't.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sigh. I presume you're the same person posting all the responses above. Just go ahead and buy a Chromebook. You've obviously made up your mind.

I use both Word and Google Docs. I use Word when it is my preference and I use Google Docs when I need to share the document with other people in my organization. I cannot even begin to tell you how much I hate using Google Docs because it is so limited but if it is fine for you then go for it. I am not going to stand in your way! Enough already!

No, we're different people. There are numerous people that consider Chromebooks solid for daily tasks. You don't like Google Docs, fine. I assume that's your not used to Google Docs as opposed to it can't do something you need since you haven't provided a specific example of what you need to do but don't see a way to do. Use can use Office which works on a Chromebook either as a web app or as an installed app.

I use Google Docs every day multiple times a day for work. Google Docs have limited functionality and are not as easily usable as Word. Formatting is not as easy. You can't run a merge. Inserting a table is difficult and the tables have less functionality than when you perform the same function in Word. Inserting graphics or images is more difficult and you cannot format the graphics or images to the same level that you can in Word.

Many of us have posted the same things. Google Docs is a much more limited version of Word. If you are okay with those limits then you'll be fine. Most of us though have higher expectations for our work products. The only reason to use Google Docs is if you have to share a document and you need multiple people to make edits. It is a clunky and slow way to do it but it will get the job done.

Anonymous wrote:My kids do their work on the school-issued iPad. Is there an advantage to getting a Chromebook on top of that? How is it different?

An iPad is like a large phone. It works fine for running apps but it's less a multitasking computer with larger screens and running multiple concurrent things on a desktop screen. Chromebook is more capable than an iPad. iPads are smaller so they have their usages and run specific apps just fine.

Anonymous wrote:Sigh. I presume you're the same person posting all the responses above. Just go ahead and buy a Chromebook. You've obviously made up your mind.

I use both Word and Google Docs. I use Word when it is my preference and I use Google Docs when I need to share the document with other people in my organization. I cannot even begin to tell you how much I hate using Google Docs because it is so limited but if it is fine for you then go for it. I am not going to stand in your way! Enough already!

No, we're different people. There are numerous people that consider Chromebooks solid for daily tasks. You don't like Google Docs, fine. I assume that's your not used to Google Docs as opposed to it can't do something you need since you haven't provided a specific example of what you need to do but don't see a way to do. Use can use Office which works on a Chromebook either as a web app or as an installed app.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Essentially, you can't install anything on a Chromebook that is not configured to run with a Chromebook. I would never buy one. Spend an extra $100 and get a low level "real" laptop.

I used to think like you. Now, I see the advantage of having both. I have laptops for me, and Chromebooks for the kids. My kids are in ES and need access for the remote learning. The Chromebooks are much better for them because they are much simpler. They turn them on and can log into their school accounts and go. No starting up browsers and don't have other things on the laptop that they don't need, don't know how to use and might stumble across.

When they get older, they may have need for a laptop, but these are much better for them for now. And much cheaper.

My kids do their work on the school-issued iPad. Is there an advantage to getting a Chromebook on top of that? How is it different?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Google Docs are crap. Limited functionality compared to Word. If you are only writing a basic letter and you need limited formatting then Google Docs work. Otherwise it is like writing with a crayon compared to using a gel pen. And the lack of functionality for the Google Excel version makes the product laughable.

Can you please specify what specifically is missing that you consider essential to most people? Sure it doesn't have 100% of the features but it is quite usable for the majority of people. Also Google Sheets can do some internet functions that are ahead of Excel. Google Docs had come a long way.

Sigh. I presume you're the same person posting all the responses above. Just go ahead and buy a Chromebook. You've obviously made up your mind.

I use both Word and Google Docs. I use Word when it is my preference and I use Google Docs when I need to share the document with other people in my organization. I cannot even begin to tell you how much I hate using Google Docs because it is so limited but if it is fine for you then go for it. I am not going to stand in your way! Enough already!

Anonymous wrote:Essentially, you can't install anything on a Chromebook that is not configured to run with a Chromebook. I would never buy one. Spend an extra $100 and get a low level "real" laptop.

Like what? I don’t understand it. I need specific examples of what you can’t run on a chromebook?

We got a laptop because DC wanted to do Roblox studio (where you create games), not just play roblox.

Anonymous wrote:If you have basic needs, it's fine. For example, you can do a regular Word document, but if you need to use macros, do a mail merge, or do track changes, the web version on chromebook may not work for you. Same with Excel -- you're not going to get the Solver or advanced functions in the web version.

I'd say for 90% of home users, and maybe 50% of business users, a chromebook has all they need. A lot of companies use specialized programs for their business that need to be installed and won't work on a Chromebook.

I know next time my elderly parents need a computer, it'll be a chromebook -- less tech support for me to do!

Is this a limitation of Office 365 or is it specifically the office 365 version on chrome books. Does office 365 on a laptop have features that office 365 on a chrome book doesn’t have?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know, it’s confusing. A Chromebook is basically a web browsing machine. There is no desktop or folders—it’s ONLY a Chrome web browser. As long as you only use Google sheets and Google pages, it’s fine. But you can’t save files on it, you save them to your Google drive. You can’t run Word. It’s great for what it is, and it doesn’t get glitchy like a laptop. Kids can’t really screw it up.

+1 If you need to be able to send a letter as a Word doc then a Chromebook is not for you. If you want to be able to save documents and access them without using the internet, then a Chromebook is not for you. There is a wider level of functionality in Excel that doesn't exist in the Google version of Excel online. In general a laptop will be a better fit for an adult than a Chromebook imo. The downside of a laptop is that you will need to purchase an Office software package in order to be able to use the laptop for office types of uses like Word, Excel, PowerPoint.

I have a work laptop and a work Chromebook. 999 times out of 1000 I will use the laptop before the Chromebook.

I don’t understand this. Office 365 works on chrome books. Why would you not be able to type a letter in 0ffice 365 word and send it in a letter?

Anonymous wrote:Google Docs are crap. Limited functionality compared to Word. If you are only writing a basic letter and you need limited formatting then Google Docs work. Otherwise it is like writing with a crayon compared to using a gel pen. And the lack of functionality for the Google Excel version makes the product laughable.

Can you please specify what specifically is missing that you consider essential to most people? Sure it doesn't have 100% of the features but it is quite usable for the majority of people. Also Google Sheets can do some internet functions that are ahead of Excel. Google Docs had come a long way.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:+1 If you need to be able to send a letter as a Word doc then a Chromebook is not for you. If you want to be able to save documents and access them without using the internet, then a Chromebook is not for you. There is a wider level of functionality in Excel that doesn't exist in the Google version of Excel online. In general a laptop will be a better fit for an adult than a Chromebook imo. The downside of a laptop is that you will need to purchase an Office software package in order to be able to use the laptop for office types of uses like Word, Excel, PowerPoint.

I have a work laptop and a work Chromebook. 999 times out of 1000 I will use the laptop before the Chromebook.

That's just not true anymore. First, I love Google Docs which can read and write Word docs. They have allow you to edit Word docs now. Microsoft Office has an Android Office app that works on most Chromebooks from the last few years. The Chromebook is more secure, easier to manage, and now supported for 6+ years. If you need gaming, video editing, then you likely are better with a Windows laptop but otherwise a Chrome OS laptop handles most things just fine (I have a few in my family)

Google Docs are crap. Limited functionality compared to Word. If you are only writing a basic letter and you need limited formatting then Google Docs work. Otherwise it is like writing with a crayon compared to using a gel pen. And the lack of functionality for the Google Excel version makes the product laughable.