Chromebook upgrade? Laptop?

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Topic Author
uwbadgers
Posts: 86
Joined: Mon Aug 25, 2014 3:36 pm

Chromebook upgrade? Laptop?

Post by uwbadgers »

Hi all,

I currently use this model: samsung chromebook xe500c13-k04us

Intel Celeron N3060.
Intel HD Graphics 400 (Braswell)
4096 MB. ...
11.6 inch 16:9, 1366 x 768 pixel 135 PPI, LED, glossy: no.
16 GB eMMC Flash, 16 GB. ...
1 USB 2.0, 1 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 HDMI, Audio Connections: 3.5mm, Card Reader: microSD.
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260 (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5), Bluetooth 4.0.
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It just isn't quite fast enough for my needs/uses and I want more speed, mainly.

What I need it for
I run a nutrition coaching business and it's entirely online, thus, my main need for the upgrade.

I typically have 8-10 google sheets open at a time along with a few other pages. This is needed and closing/opening isn't what I need.....I need many tabs open at once for what I do.

Besides google sheets, email, and web browsing.....that's really all I need. A bit larger screen would be nice as well.

I don't travel or need this for things like that. No movies, no music, etc.

I just need SPEED to do tasks......while I can't directly give a number I know I spend hours each week waiting for things to load.
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This is not an internet issue as I've got blazing fast internet with google wifi which works perfectly.
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As I don't need major functions with this ideally I'd like to not spend a ton for many features I don't need.
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Suggestions?

Ideally I'd keep this to under $300, but might be willing to go a bit higher.

The other thing is I am very not knowledgeable in various differences/speeds and which things are most important for what I want.

I want to be able to click in a sheet, in a cell, and be able to type right away....not wait a few seconds for it to "load" which is what I deal with now. Too much wasted time!


Thanks in advance!
bloom2708
Posts: 9859
Joined: Wed Apr 02, 2014 2:08 pm

Re: Chromebook upgrade? Laptop?

Post by bloom2708 »

Chip and RAM.

Celeron are low end and slow. 4 MB RAM is not enough even for a Chromebook.

I would look for an Intel i5 or i7 chip and 8+MB RAM.

Blow that dough!

https://www.amazon.com/Google-Pixelbook ... B07YMM3R39
Topic Author
uwbadgers
Posts: 86
Joined: Mon Aug 25, 2014 3:36 pm

Re: Chromebook upgrade? Laptop?

Post by uwbadgers »

Ouch, that's a bit more than I want to spend :)

I found these 2 as potential options. Would both of these, given their stats, be a pretty solid upgrade for speed of multitasking?

https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Chromebo ... B07XW266D9
Samsung Chromebook 4+

Processor: Intel Celeron Processor N4000
System Memory: 4GB LPDDR4/4GB x 1, Max 4GB
Storage: 32GB eMMC
Display: 15.6" FHD LED (1920 x 1080)

PRICE: $300
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https://www.amazon.com/Chromebook-Clams ... B07VT254P6
Asus Chromebook C425

Screen Size 14 inches
Max Screen Resolution 1920 x 1080 pixels
Processor 3.4 GHz core_m
RAM 8 GB DDR3L
Hard Drive 64 GB Embedded MultiMediaCard
Graphics Coprocessor Intel HD Graphics 615
Chipset Brand NVIDIA
Card Description Integrated
Graphics Card Ram Size 8 GB

PRICE: $300
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CURRENT CHROMEBOOK:

Screen size 11.6 inches
Processor speed 1.6 GHz CPU
Operating system Chrome OS
Installed memory 4 GB RAM

Memory
LPDDR3 SDRAM
1600 MHz

Processor / Chipset
Max Turbo Speed 2.48 GHz
Number of Cores Dual-Core
Cache L2 - 2 MB
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Thoughts?

The asus has 8GB RAM vs 4GB ram which would be great for my need of multitasking, right?
bloom2708
Posts: 9859
Joined: Wed Apr 02, 2014 2:08 pm

Re: Chromebook upgrade? Laptop?

Post by bloom2708 »

Well, the first one has another Celeron processor. Ouch.

The second has: Intel 3.4 GHz core_m

A lower tier Intel processor.

How about looking at Intel i5 options with 8mb RAM?
Ptarmigan
Posts: 10
Joined: Fri Mar 10, 2017 10:02 am
Location: Connecticut

Re: Chromebook upgrade? Laptop?

Post by Ptarmigan »

A tech site that I follow (Ars Technica) has this guide (from Sept 2019) to choosing a Chromebook and some top picks for different categories such as "Budget" , "Family" etc. It might give you some ideas.

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2019/09 ... est-picks/
sycamore
Posts: 6360
Joined: Tue May 08, 2018 12:06 pm

Re: Chromebook upgrade? Laptop?

Post by sycamore »

In addition to arstechnica.com, thewirecutter.com has good reviews. Here's their latest on chromebooks.

The more expensive recommended option is HP x360 14 (around $600). No-frills option is Asus Chromebook C425TA.
Katietsu
Posts: 7676
Joined: Sun Sep 22, 2013 1:48 am

Re: Chromebook upgrade? Laptop?

Post by Katietsu »

How about a Chromebox with an external monitor? It seems like it might be more appropriate for your stated needs and could be more affordable. You could look for a used monitor and I know a lot of people with extra keyboards in their basement. I got a 26” monitor for free from a friend who was upgrading to a larger size.
Nekrotok
Posts: 214
Joined: Wed Aug 10, 2016 3:44 pm

Re: Chromebook upgrade? Laptop?

Post by Nekrotok »

https://slickdeals.net/f/13798283-motil ... rchV2Algo1

Wait for this deal to come back again or else pay $400 to buy it now.
Topic Author
uwbadgers
Posts: 86
Joined: Mon Aug 25, 2014 3:36 pm

Re: Chromebook upgrade? Laptop?

Post by uwbadgers »

Thanks for the help everyone! Been spending the last few hours researching and trying to figure out this out.

Decided to go with the Lenova Chromebook C630

Found it on best buy, certified open box excellent condition for $100 off :) So, only $450. There was just no way to upgrade what I wanted/needed in the lower price range......a good time to spend a bit more for long term quality.

Specs:

15.6 inch touchscreen screen
8GB RAM
8th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-8250U mobile processor
128 GB storage
Great reviews and should be a fast moving device which is really what I want and need.
pochax
Posts: 1380
Joined: Tue Oct 21, 2008 11:40 am

Re: Chromebook upgrade? Laptop?

Post by pochax »

the lenovo C630 seems a bit overkill for your needs. not sure you already purchased, but asus has an 8GB RAM, Intel M3 model (non-flip version) for <$370 on amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VT254P6/?c ... _lig_dp_it

personally i am waiting out for this tablet/hybrid coming out in May this year:
https://www.androidcentral.com/lenovo-d ... os-tablets

but this may not be powerful enough for your needs.
User avatar
JoMoney
Posts: 16260
Joined: Tue Jul 23, 2013 5:31 am

Re: Chromebook upgrade? Laptop?

Post by JoMoney »

If you don't travel with it or need a laptop, I like a "ChromeBOX"
You can get higher end processors with fans, more memory, and put as big a monitor (or multiple) as you want on it. I use my big screen TV.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CLQZHF9/

I would wonder about how much of the 'slowness' you're seeing can be attributed to the network/internet speed though, rather than your computer.
"To achieve satisfactory investment results is easier than most people realize; to achieve superior results is harder than it looks." - Benjamin Graham
User avatar
Watty
Posts: 28859
Joined: Wed Oct 10, 2007 3:55 pm

Re: Chromebook upgrade? Laptop?

Post by Watty »

uwbadgers wrote: Wed Feb 05, 2020 5:15 pm Found it on best buy, certified open box excellent condition for $100 off So, only $450.
There can be great deals on refurbished or open box computers but one thing to be aware of is that many credit cards provide an extended warranty but you might only get that on new merchandise.
Alaska_Skeeter
Posts: 84
Joined: Thu Dec 05, 2019 11:12 am

Re: Chromebook upgrade? Laptop?

Post by Alaska_Skeeter »

I have a $500 Chromebook and it is fine for web browsing.
It has a USB port but Chromebooks will not support plug and play USB DVD drives,
for watching DVD movies for example.
User avatar
JoMoney
Posts: 16260
Joined: Tue Jul 23, 2013 5:31 am

Re: Chromebook upgrade? Laptop?

Post by JoMoney »

Alaska_Skeeter wrote: Thu Feb 06, 2020 4:34 pm I have a $500 Chromebook and it is fine for web browsing.
It has a USB port but Chromebooks will not support plug and play USB DVD drives,
for watching DVD movies for example.
It supports some USB DVD drives, but it does not have the CODECs or a media player capable of playing movie/music disks.
If you're reading files off of a data disk, that can be done.
"To achieve satisfactory investment results is easier than most people realize; to achieve superior results is harder than it looks." - Benjamin Graham
Alaska_Skeeter
Posts: 84
Joined: Thu Dec 05, 2019 11:12 am

Re: Chromebook upgrade? Laptop?

Post by Alaska_Skeeter »

Yes I spent hours trying various work-arounds, ended up purchasing a new windows based laptop
so I can surf the web and play DVD movies at the airports.
Topic Author
uwbadgers
Posts: 86
Joined: Mon Aug 25, 2014 3:36 pm

Re: Chromebook upgrade? Laptop?

Post by uwbadgers »

Thanks again for the advice here. As mentioned, I ended up purchasing the Lenovo Yoga Chromebook c630.

I LOVE IT! :)

Wish I did this a while ago. The screen size is just what I was hoping (15.6 inch) and the speed is 500x better than my old chromebook.....at least it feels that way.

I tested out my workflows, mainly for my business, and the loading of my sheets and web pages will save me SO much time and productivity will increase big time.

Ended up spending $475 total and the open box purchase that was $100 off came in perfect condition in all packaging and such.

Typing from it now :)

Kind of funny that I haven't bought a computer of any kind for ~12 years but this one cost less than the one 12 years ago and that one is pretty much non functional these days, where as this one flys. Technology, eh?
pochax
Posts: 1380
Joined: Tue Oct 21, 2008 11:40 am

Re: Chromebook upgrade? Laptop?

Post by pochax »

congratulations! that one is a well-reviewed powerhouse whose only "ding" was the retail price but you found a way to get a good deal. it should work for you for many years to come!
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