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    Is the $99 Computer a Bad Thing?

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    • DashrenderD
      Dashrender @coliver
      last edited by

      @coliver said:

      @BMarie said:

      @scottalanmiller said:

      @BMarie said:

      Yes most people will do only that, but also what happens when it crashes on you numerous times because of the protection you have on it isn't doing it's job.

      Protection?

      Virus/Malware

      This doesn't make sense for a chromebook... or even a cheapy Windows device. For Windows you are going to want to have AV regardless... will it run like crap on low end hardware? Yes, but that doesn't change the fact that you will want it.

      For Chromebooks they are locked down in such a way where this isn't a really big issue. Everything is working from the browser.

      It's the same reason that AV is nearly pointless on Android and iPhones - the environment is locked down - unless you root/jailbreak them.

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • B
        BMarie @coliver
        last edited by

        @coliver said:

        @BMarie said:

        @scottalanmiller said:

        @BMarie said:

        Yes most people will do only that, but also what happens when it crashes on you numerous times because of the protection you have on it isn't doing it's job.

        Protection?

        Virus/Malware

        This doesn't make sense for a chromebook... or even a cheapy Windows device. For Windows you are going to want to have AV regardless... will it run like crap on low end hardware? Yes, but that doesn't change the fact that you will want it.

        For Chromebooks they are locked down in such a way where this isn't a really big issue. Everything is working from the browser.

        That's the point I was making. That AV software was gonna be crap and let more "junk" though.

        coliverC 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • coliverC
          coliver @BMarie
          last edited by

          @BMarie said:

          @coliver said:

          @BMarie said:

          @scottalanmiller said:

          @BMarie said:

          Yes most people will do only that, but also what happens when it crashes on you numerous times because of the protection you have on it isn't doing it's job.

          Protection?

          Virus/Malware

          This doesn't make sense for a chromebook... or even a cheapy Windows device. For Windows you are going to want to have AV regardless... will it run like crap on low end hardware? Yes, but that doesn't change the fact that you will want it.

          For Chromebooks they are locked down in such a way where this isn't a really big issue. Everything is working from the browser.

          That's the point I was making. That AV software was gonna be crap and let more "junk" though.

          So why buy a more expensive machine with Windows on it when you can get a viable ChromeOS box for the same price and not have to worry about malware? Especially if the only things the user is doing is on a web browser?

          Like I said you can buy 5 or more of the Chromebooks for the price of a Windows laptop, so if the use case is web browsing then you really don't need the extras that Windows can "provide".

          B DashrenderD 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • B
            BMarie @coliver
            last edited by

            @coliver said:

            @BMarie said:

            @coliver said:

            @BMarie said:

            @scottalanmiller said:

            @BMarie said:

            Yes most people will do only that, but also what happens when it crashes on you numerous times because of the protection you have on it isn't doing it's job.

            Protection?

            Virus/Malware

            This doesn't make sense for a chromebook... or even a cheapy Windows device. For Windows you are going to want to have AV regardless... will it run like crap on low end hardware? Yes, but that doesn't change the fact that you will want it.

            For Chromebooks they are locked down in such a way where this isn't a really big issue. Everything is working from the browser.

            That's the point I was making. That AV software was gonna be crap and let more "junk" though.

            So why buy a more expensive machine with Windows on it when you can get a viable ChromeOS box for the same price and not have to worry about malware? Especially if the only things the user is doing is on a web browser?

            Like I said you can buy 5 or more of the Chromebooks for the price of a Windows laptop, so if the use case is web browsing then you really don't need the extras that Windows can "provide".

            It really just depends on what the user wants out of there machine and what they want/capable of paying.

            coliverC 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • coliverC
              coliver @BMarie
              last edited by

              @BMarie said:

              @coliver said:

              @BMarie said:

              @coliver said:

              @BMarie said:

              @scottalanmiller said:

              @BMarie said:

              Yes most people will do only that, but also what happens when it crashes on you numerous times because of the protection you have on it isn't doing it's job.

              Protection?

              Virus/Malware

              This doesn't make sense for a chromebook... or even a cheapy Windows device. For Windows you are going to want to have AV regardless... will it run like crap on low end hardware? Yes, but that doesn't change the fact that you will want it.

              For Chromebooks they are locked down in such a way where this isn't a really big issue. Everything is working from the browser.

              That's the point I was making. That AV software was gonna be crap and let more "junk" though.

              So why buy a more expensive machine with Windows on it when you can get a viable ChromeOS box for the same price and not have to worry about malware? Especially if the only things the user is doing is on a web browser?

              Like I said you can buy 5 or more of the Chromebooks for the price of a Windows laptop, so if the use case is web browsing then you really don't need the extras that Windows can "provide".

              It really just depends on what the user wants out of there machine and what they want/capable of paying.

              Agreed. that was the point I was trying to make.

              B 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • B
                BMarie @coliver
                last edited by

                @coliver said:

                @BMarie said:

                @coliver said:

                @BMarie said:

                @coliver said:

                @BMarie said:

                @scottalanmiller said:

                @BMarie said:

                Yes most people will do only that, but also what happens when it crashes on you numerous times because of the protection you have on it isn't doing it's job.

                Protection?

                Virus/Malware

                This doesn't make sense for a chromebook... or even a cheapy Windows device. For Windows you are going to want to have AV regardless... will it run like crap on low end hardware? Yes, but that doesn't change the fact that you will want it.

                For Chromebooks they are locked down in such a way where this isn't a really big issue. Everything is working from the browser.

                That's the point I was making. That AV software was gonna be crap and let more "junk" though.

                So why buy a more expensive machine with Windows on it when you can get a viable ChromeOS box for the same price and not have to worry about malware? Especially if the only things the user is doing is on a web browser?

                Like I said you can buy 5 or more of the Chromebooks for the price of a Windows laptop, so if the use case is web browsing then you really don't need the extras that Windows can "provide".

                It really just depends on what the user wants out of there machine and what they want/capable of paying.

                Agreed. that was the point I was trying to make.

                Agreed 🙂

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • DashrenderD
                  Dashrender @coliver
                  last edited by

                  @coliver said:

                  Like I said you can buy 5 or more of the Chromebooks for the price of a Windows laptop, so if the use case is web browsing then you really don't need the extras that Windows can "provide".

                  Sure you can buy 5 or more laptops - and I guess since all data is now stored in the cloud swapping machines is much less painful - so even if you have to swap machines every 2 years - who cares because it's not like the old days of installing 10's of apps, configuring them, etc.. it's all in the cloud.

                  But cheap devices do seem (from my experience) to have a 2-4 year use life before it ends up broken. Just look at cell phones.

                  coliverC scottalanmillerS 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • coliverC
                    coliver @Dashrender
                    last edited by coliver

                    @Dashrender said:

                    @coliver said:

                    Like I said you can buy 5 or more of the Chromebooks for the price of a Windows laptop, so if the use case is web browsing then you really don't need the extras that Windows can "provide".

                    Sure you can buy 5 or more laptops - and I guess since all data is now stored in the cloud swapping machines is much less painful - so even if you have to swap machines every 2 years - who cares because it's not like the old days of installing 10's of apps, configuring them, etc.. it's all in the cloud.

                    But cheap devices do seem (from my experience) to have a 2-4 year use life before it ends up broken. Just look at cell phones.

                    You can pay 500$ for a laptop that will last you 5-7 years... or 100$ for a laptop that will last you 2-4 years. Even if we take the long 7 years and the short 2 years. You are still looking at saving 100$ overall. Again depending on the use case....

                    MattSpellerM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                    • MattSpellerM
                      MattSpeller @coliver
                      last edited by

                      @coliver said:

                      You can pay 500$ for a laptop that will last you 5-7 years... or 100$ for a laptop that will last you 2-4 years. Even if we take the long 7 years and the short 2 years. You are still looking at saving 100$ overall. Again depending on the use case....

                      You keep stuff way way longer than I do lol

                      coliverC 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • coliverC
                        coliver @MattSpeller
                        last edited by

                        @MattSpeller said:

                        @coliver said:

                        You can pay 500$ for a laptop that will last you 5-7 years... or 100$ for a laptop that will last you 2-4 years. Even if we take the long 7 years and the short 2 years. You are still looking at saving 100$ overall. Again depending on the use case....

                        You keep stuff way way longer than I do lol

                        I've got a laptop that I bought my freshman year of college... it is now well into its 8th year, I've done some minor upgrades on it, new SSD and doubled the RAM. That thing is now running Linux Mint and my Fiance uses it for day-to-day stuff.

                        MattSpellerM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • MattSpellerM
                          MattSpeller @coliver
                          last edited by

                          @coliver said:

                          I've got a laptop that I bought my freshman year of college... it is now well into its 8th year, I've done some minor upgrades on it, new SSD and doubled the RAM. That thing is now running Linux Mint and my Fiance uses it for day-to-day stuff.

                          I don't even own a laptop, but my desktop gets constant parts churn every year. I set aside $1000 and that's extravagant, granted, but it is also what I spend the most time using (more than my car or my couch).

                          coliverC scottalanmillerS 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • coliverC
                            coliver @MattSpeller
                            last edited by

                            @MattSpeller said:

                            @coliver said:

                            I've got a laptop that I bought my freshman year of college... it is now well into its 8th year, I've done some minor upgrades on it, new SSD and doubled the RAM. That thing is now running Linux Mint and my Fiance uses it for day-to-day stuff.

                            I don't even own a laptop, but my desktop gets constant parts churn every year. I set aside $1000 and that's extravagant, granted, but it is also what I spend the most time using (more than my car or my couch).

                            I really would like to start doing that. I want to do 500$ a year for my desktop/technology in the house just haven't had the budget for it yet.

                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                            • scottalanmillerS
                              scottalanmiller @Dashrender
                              last edited by

                              @Dashrender said:

                              @coliver said:

                              Like I said you can buy 5 or more of the Chromebooks for the price of a Windows laptop, so if the use case is web browsing then you really don't need the extras that Windows can "provide".

                              Sure you can buy 5 or more laptops - and I guess since all data is now stored in the cloud swapping machines is much less painful - so even if you have to swap machines every 2 years - who cares because it's not like the old days of installing 10's of apps, configuring them, etc.. it's all in the cloud.

                              But cheap devices do seem (from my experience) to have a 2-4 year use life before it ends up broken. Just look at cell phones.

                              2-4 years at $100 - $150 is a HUGE benefit. And moving between Chromebooks is transparent. Keep them in stock, just hand them out. They "just work" for new users. So not only do you save a fortune in hardware, you save a fortune in migrating users to their new machines.

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                              • scottalanmillerS
                                scottalanmiller @MattSpeller
                                last edited by

                                @MattSpeller said:

                                @coliver said:

                                I've got a laptop that I bought my freshman year of college... it is now well into its 8th year, I've done some minor upgrades on it, new SSD and doubled the RAM. That thing is now running Linux Mint and my Fiance uses it for day-to-day stuff.

                                I don't even own a laptop, but my desktop gets constant parts churn every year. I set aside $1000 and that's extravagant, granted, but it is also what I spend the most time using (more than my car or my couch).

                                My desktop budget is under $50/year!

                                DashrenderD 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • DashrenderD
                                  Dashrender @scottalanmiller
                                  last edited by

                                  @scottalanmiller said:

                                  @MattSpeller said:

                                  @coliver said:

                                  I've got a laptop that I bought my freshman year of college... it is now well into its 8th year, I've done some minor upgrades on it, new SSD and doubled the RAM. That thing is now running Linux Mint and my Fiance uses it for day-to-day stuff.

                                  I don't even own a laptop, but my desktop gets constant parts churn every year. I set aside $1000 and that's extravagant, granted, but it is also what I spend the most time using (more than my car or my couch).

                                  My desktop budget is under $50/year!

                                  I take it you don't game on your desktop then? or do much that wants processing power?

                                  scottalanmillerS 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                  • scottalanmillerS
                                    scottalanmiller @Dashrender
                                    last edited by

                                    @Dashrender said:

                                    I take it you don't game on your desktop then? or do much that wants processing power?

                                    Don't "game" on my work machines and as I work in IT, I can't imagine what would take power on my desktop. Even development tasks are pretty good from a Chromebook. Only issue I've had there is that JetBrains stuff won't install there. But c9.io is a nice replacement.

                                    Actually what gaming I do IS on that desktop. Seven year old desktop plays most of our games just fine. I only play games with the kids.

                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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