I am a bit torn about the Chromebook. I like it but it has some negatives as well. First of all, I use a tablet to store my knitting patterns and use with other crafts related items (row counter, etc.). I use a tablet to watch Netflix and AmazonPrime shows while sewing. I also check on my email and do some light word processing as well as some light gaming, mainly HOGs. My old beloved 9-inch Google tablet no longer has enough battery power and constantly overheats and shuts down, and the 10-inch cheapo I switched to is okay with Netflix and PDF viewing but not much else. So, when the opportunity arose to try a HP Chromebook, I jumped on it.
Here are some of the negatives and positives as I see them.
Positives:
1. Comes with full keyboard, no more tapping blindly and missing keys but it does have an onscreen keyboard too, generously sized, when needed
2. Takes a mini SD card (not sure up to what capacity) so I can actually store more
3. 14-inch screen, no more squinting
4. Two USB ports (the new 3.0)
5. A power socket on both sides, now this is ingenious, I don't know how many times I wished for that on other PCs and such
6. Can be used flat with keyboard at front, or folded in two different ways to be used more like a tablet
7. Uses Google PlayStore for Android apps, almost all I used on my tablet are available for the Chromebook as well
8. Flash drive (no data loss when moving the Chromebook), much bigger than in any of my previous tablets
9. Fast enough for my purposes
10. Some of the settings and functions you are used to from an Android tablet are also available here (do not disturb, for example)
11. Keyboard is great but has a bit different layout than Windows PC
12. Power button is backlit so easy to locate at night
13. Speakers are nice, at least for my games
14. The Chromebook only heats up very slightly
Negatives:
1. The power button is right next to the SD card slot and I keep ejecting the card instead of turning the Chromebook on or off
2. Screen is not all that bright, have to use it at 100%
3. Awkward to move around due to the screen size and integrated keyboard, maybe a 10 or 12 inch would have been sufficient for me
4. No way to bypass the sign in (that I can figure out), so you have to type in your Google/Gmail password every time and I am more likely to keep the Chromebook on
5. No build in screensaver, you have to download an extension for the Chrome browser for that.
6. The whole Chromebook centers around the Chrome browser and not so much around the OS as it is for Windows systems, so after turning it on, I was a bit floundering as to what to do next. There is no desktop as on a Windows PC, just a taskbar with some of the apps on it and you can add apps to it, but you cannot add widgets or links to apps or folders on the desktop itself. So the Chromebook feels like a Windows laptop but does not act like a Windows laptop and you cannot use Windows programs. However, it can run a light and modified version of Linux, but I have not tried that.
7. I have several crafting related apps not available on the PlayStore and you cannot install from external sources. There is a workaround for that, which consists of using the Chromebook in developer's mode (basically rooting it). This results in a nag screen and nasty beep but the Chromebook boots fine after that and it looks and acts normal.
8. Screen is a fingerprint magnet but otherwise very responsive.
9. Keyboard is not backlit
To sum it up, I like being able to see things in more detail and larger size and I like the speed and options/functions of this Chromebook but I think a smaller size would be more convenient for me since I have to keep my Windows laptop for work anyhow. I like using it, I like to watch Netflix on it, I like playing a game or two on it, but it does and will not replace my Windows laptop.