Gordon hears that after about 3 years, routers become less secure and outdated. So does he have to replace his ASUS AC3200 router? Leo says often, news agencies read copy from an electronic press kit. Routers are getting hacked, but if he bought a good router from a company that updates the firmware regularly, then he's OK. ASUS uses DD-WRT, which is updated regularly. So all he has to do is keep them updated.
Carole wants to get her grandson a new laptop, because the iPad is too fragile. Leo says they can break because of that large glass screen. Leo recommends a Chromebook. If she would rather get him a desktop, there are Chrome Boxes as well. The Acer Chromebase is the one to get. Nice and secure, and easy to use.
Can you trust a motherboard for $59? Leo says that it depends. Gigabyte, Asus, Acer are all good brands, and they're also very affordable. PC Perspective likes MSI and they're around that price.
Ryan's bank wants him to do more banking online. He wants to buy one computer that is 100% dedicated to online banking. Leo says that's a good idea, and Leo would recommend a Chromebook. Chrome is incredibly secure and is the most popular browser out there. The Acer Chromebook 15 is one of the best for the money, and at $250, it's a bargain.
Sherry is looking for an affordable Chromebook with a budget of $350. Rich says that to be sure he doesn't get one so cheap that it's underpowered. Acer makes a good model in that price range. She should also get one that has a touch screen so that she can use Android apps. Unfortunately, Chromebooks won't let users install third party apps other than Android apps, but if she can live with that, Rich recommends going to Costco to pick up one.
Craig wants a tablet with a keyboard that he can use as a computer or a tablet. Leo says that Acer has great convertibles, and the screen is fully hinged to go all the way around. It's a great bargain. Dell makes some rugged ones, like the Dell ATG. They're more expensive because they're designed to take a beating. But if he's on a budget, Acer is the way to go.
Caesar's daughter gets all her homework assignments from a website online, and he's going to have to update their computer so it will work better. What should he get? Leo recommends Chromebooks because most schools are using them now. Leo prefers Acer because they have a wide array of models in his price range. Leo recommends going down to a local Best Buy and see which one is best. The 15" is a great option for about $200, but the 11" may be good enough.
Barb bought a Chromebook and the screen really isn't that great. Leo says that with a Chromebook under $400, corners have to be cut somewhere and it's likely the Chromebook manufacturer opted for a lower quality screen. If she paid more, she could get a better screen. The Acer 14" model Chromebook has a nice screen. Or, she could return the Chromebook and get a Chrome Box that she could use an external monitor with.
Larry has an Acer Chromebook that freezes up intermittently. Leo says that it may be a good idea to "Powerwash" it from time to time, but it's not a normal thing for the Chromebook to be doing. Powerwashing will completely reset his Chromebook, though, so he should make sure he's backed up.
Debbie has a GPD Pocket netbook computer and it's really slow. How can she get it to run faster? Leo says that an Acer netbook computer is slow because it's cheaply made and underpowered. She was paying for the size, not the power. A better option is to go with a Google Chromebook. It's light, cheap, and has far more power. Another good option is to take that GPD Pocket and install Linux on it for more speed.
