I bought a Chromebook. What can I expect from it?
Acer Chromebook Plus 514 for €150: Ryzen 5, 8GB RAM. Is it a PC in disguise or a tablet with a keyboard? The key points of the debate.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Chromebook with Ryzen 5 for €150: low-cost alternative or trap?
For €150 second-hand, an Acer Chromebook Plus 514 with a Ryzen 5, 8 GB of RAM and a 256 GB SSD promises to be a bargain for browsing. But the 'Chromebook' label is misleading: its x86-64 architecture makes it a regular laptop, not a limited ARM device. The debate centres on whether ChromeOS is enough or whether it's worth installing Windows or Linux.
Hardware: a PC disguised as a Chromebook
The model comes with an AMD Ryzen 5 7520C processor, equivalent to a 9th-generation Intel i5. Far from low-end mobile chips, this machine can run any x86 operating system. However, the Windows drivers are not official and require third-party patches, which puts many people off. For exclusive use with ChromeOS, performance in browsing and web apps is more than enough, but those who need traditional desktop software will have to consider switching OS.
ChromeOS: simplicity with limitations
ChromeOS is fast and secure for basic tasks, but it depends on the cloud and connectivity. Without internet, many antiestéticatures are reduced. Android app support is limited and Google can stop updating the device at any time. Even so, for a user who only uses the browser, it's a valid option. The more sceptical recommend installing a Linux distribution or even Windows, even if that means losing the factory warranty.
Delivery of the machine has been complicated: the courier company Inpost lost the package. The buyer is waiting 20 days for the claim. Meanwhile, the debate remains open: is a second-hand Chromebook worth it, or is a cheap Windows laptop better?
Related debates in the forum
For €150 second-hand, an Acer Chromebook Plus 514 with a Ryzen 5, 8 GB of RAM and a 256 GB SSD promises to be a bargain for browsing. But the 'Chromebook' label is misleading: its x86-64 architecture makes it a regular laptop, not a limited ARM device. The debate centres on whether ChromeOS is enough or whether it's worth installing Windows or Linux.
Hardware: a PC disguised as a Chromebook
The model comes with an AMD Ryzen 5 7520C processor, equivalent to a 9th-generation Intel i5. Far from low-end mobile chips, this machine can run any x86 operating system. However, the Windows drivers are not official and require third-party patches, which puts many people off. For exclusive use with ChromeOS, performance in browsing and web apps is more than enough, but those who need traditional desktop software will have to consider switching OS.
ChromeOS: simplicity with limitations
ChromeOS is fast and secure for basic tasks, but it depends on the cloud and connectivity. Without internet, many antiestéticatures are reduced. Android app support is limited and Google can stop updating the device at any time. Even so, for a user who only uses the browser, it's a valid option. The more sceptical recommend installing a Linux distribution or even Windows, even if that means losing the factory warranty.
Delivery of the machine has been complicated: the courier company Inpost lost the package. The buyer is waiting 20 days for the claim. Meanwhile, the debate remains open: is a second-hand Chromebook worth it, or is a cheap Windows laptop better?
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (47 replies).
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