Wanted to get my mom a netbook for Xmas. All she needs is the Internet and at least a 13' screen. Can I get away with spending $200? Thanks guys.
I bought my dad a windows netbook 2 years ago. Worst decision ever. It's underpowered for any serious work. Too small to put on a desk and work for extended time. Too clunky to hold and use in your lap for reading and browsing. In other words, he doesn't use it at all. Worst of all, every so often I have to turn it on to update windows and antivirus and charge the battery. He keeps it because it runs iTunes for his iphone. If he needs to go online, he goes on his ipad or my nexus 7 tablet. Tablets are also easier to update. Chromebook suggestion is great if she plans to use it at a desk.
Chromebook is perfect for what you have described. http://www.pcworld.com/article/2453...ud-everything-chromebooks-can-do-offline.html No, but you have to go out of your way to set your Chromebook up to function offline.
Are chromebooks suitable for school work? Mainly writing papers. I'm thinking about getting my gf one for Xmas.
Chromebooks suck. Get an HP Steam. Chromebooks allure used to he price, now a lot of windows PCs beat them in price. Don't run fake office, run real office.
I got a chrome book on cyber Monday for a great deal. And I love it. I'm getting a new imac next year, I'm waiting on the new processors to come out to support the retina screen. But this will work just fine for the classes I'm taking and to stream ballstreams to watch the rockets.
http://www.thestreet.com/story/1299...review-a-super-affordable-windows-laptop.html One of many positive reviews for the HP stream*
You could easily boot Windows or a Linux-based distro onto it. For $200 it really doesn't matter since everyone pirates Windows OS anyway lol. In that range the differences in hardware should be irrelevant. Just buy the cheapest one and boot your own OS.
i got mine for 169$ no tax free shipping. and it works fine. a far cry from the $2000 plus that i will spend on an imac this next year.
HP Steam is cheaper than Chromebook and includes a real version of office with a real OS. http://www.microsoftstore.com/store...-Signature-Edition-Tablet/productID.308781600