Samsung Chromebook (Wi-Fi, 11.6-Inch) Reviews
Trust me, I had my worries about the ability of this computer. Coming from a history of under-performing laptops it was a bit of a gamble to jump to the new Samsung Chromebook.
In short: A great decision.
The machine is a little powerhouse. Of course you must know exactly what you are getting into prior to purchase; that is essentially a OS version of Google Chrome as others have mentioned. But if you are anything like me (ie. Use google products such as gmail, google docs, etc. and mostly internet consumption) which lets be honest, is most people, then this little laptop is for you.
It is not blazing fast but it gets the job done and doesnt leave you wondering where the content is. Mind you, I'm coming from a desktop with an i7 - 920 quad core overclocked to 3.7ghz with 6gb ram so I know what decent speed is. All in all I am very impressed with the performance as well as the sleek design.
There are a few negatives as mentioned in other reviews. Mainly for me, the screen. Another reviewer captured it nicely in that it leaves a bit to be desired. Not a deal breaker. Other minor issues include a bit of backlight bleed on edges of screen, low sound levels, a bit of push on handrest, and the power key light is visible underneath the key when lying down.
It may sound like I'm being critical but those issues are incredibly minor in this whole package. This is a product that is a great buy with tremendous value. I was going to purchase a new top of the line macbook air until I saw this guy. Wow am I glad I didn't. I re-evaluated my needs and am VERY pleased with the results.
I purchased my Chromebook back in November, and while it is not a substitute for a traditional computer, I have found it invaluable and a great compliment to my desktop PC and smartphone. When I bought it, I imagined it as a computer I could use for travel and at work to replace my aging laptop. First, the battery life is wonderful. I don't even bother bringing the charger with me to work.The computer connects to the internet fast and easy, and initial setup was a breeze. Since I already had a Google account, everything synced right up - all my files, email, docs, blogs, ect was right there waiting for me. My next step was to set up some apps. These are not traditional apps as you would find on a phone or table, but more like links to a web page. Thats fine, and it really did not make a difference. Since I use Chrome on all my computers, everything again sync'd right up. This computer serves many purposes for me - web surfing checking email, and even watching movies and online content. It boots up fast and is ready to go in seconds.
Of course, there are drawbacks. First, it's not a traditional computer. So no programs, CD drives, Microsoft office or any of that stuff. Second, Flash support needs to improve; not every web page is 100% supported. And last, if you have a lot of tabs open, it slows down, but all computers would do that.
Who would best benefit from a Chromebook? Honestly, I think in someway everyone could. It's great for kids, students, travelers, bloggers, and business. I don't think it is suited for web content designers and graphic designers, but short of that I have found many uses for both work and play. For $249, how can you go wrong? I recently sold all my Apple stuff and made the move to Android for mobile (with a Samsung phone and Asus tablet) and a Windows 8 touch PC. The Chromebook completes my transformation and compliments it well.I have not found the need to replace my laptop, and I enjoy the portability and quickness of the Chromebook. It's money well spent.
After my Android tablet liberated me from the rigid confines of my my desk by allowing me to surf the web and check email while on the couch or in bed, far from my desktop computer, I longed for even more freedom. I spend most of my computer time doing various word processing activities, and for that my very nice tablet is no reasonable substitute for a desktop computer. This Chromebook however, is perfect. It's inexpensive, lightweight, simple, and ready to use right out of the box.
Because it's lightweight and doesn't get hot, it's very comfortable to sit with a Chromebook actually on your lap--something I haven't found to be true with other laptops. The plastic cover looks almost as good as the heavier casings on more expensive laptops, but it is easy to scratch so be careful. I'll review two aspects of the Chromebook--its functionality for word processing and its use as a back-and-forth to school computer for students.
For word processing: I hadn't used Google Docs much before I got the Chromebook, but it's a fine substitute for Word--the only thing I really miss from Word is the ability to get synonyms with just a right click. I still use Word on my desktop computer, but since Google Docs can turn Word documents into Google Doc documents and visa versa it's possible to go back and forth between Word on my regular computer and Google Docs on my Chromebook very easily. I assumed I would end up wanting to get a bluetooth mouse, especially for the many times that I have to cut and paste while writing, but the trackpad is completely simple to use for this and for everything a mouse does so I haven't bothered. The keyboard keys are nicely spaced, not crowded. One thing I especially love about word processing on the Chromebook is that since it boots up and is ready to go so quickly I can grab a few minutes here and there to write--times that would be impractical on my desktop with its longer come to life time. Also with the Chromebook it's possible to write anywhere, including places without an internet connection since Google Docs can be used off-line.
For students: The students I see in my tutoring business have been very taken with the Chromebook, and after trying mine at least one of my students will be getting her own for Christmas. Her parents had been planning on getting her an iPad, but the Chromebook is both less expensive and more functional. Without buying any extra software students can research, write and print reports, essays or homework on it, and many of my students have already started using Google Docs instead of Word because it allows for collaboration when they are doing group projects. Most young people are comfortable storing things in the cloud or moving things off and on flash drives so the small amount of storage isn't an issue for them , and the Chromebook's light weight is a real plus considering how heavy their backpacks can be. The Chrome Store has a lot of apps, always an enticement, and most of them free. Then there is the cool factor--the Chromebook looks good, and who doesn't appreciate that in an electronic device?
I'm not ready to give up my desktop computer, with its large amount of storage and ability to add software, but as a second computer I could not be happier with my Chromebook. Being able to use the Chromebook to write while sitting on my couch in front of the fireplace is heaven.
I thought I'd just give my quick opinion.
This is the perfect match for your typical college student.
The Samsung ChromeBook @ $250 bucks is a steal for any college student who needs something to simply write word docs(or other office type programs), listen to music, and watch youtube. This machine is capable of doing more, but if you simply need something for school, like for taking notes, this is perfect.
An amazing product that has great built quality for the price, and is fully functional given you have internet( I dont think this will be an issue for college students sense 99% of universities I'm sure offer free wifi).
Buy this now if you simply need something for school and don't want to empty your bank account. There's no point in buying a $1000 laptop knowing it probably won't last you more then three years.
**Note
You can still access most features even if you don't have internet like typing a word doc, reading docs, etc...
Though like I said before, given you're a college student you typically always have wifi whether at home, school, or a local McDonalds.
Buy Now
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