Stan wants to know what he should get for his first real computer. Leo advises a Chromebook. Namely the Acer Spin. Easily the best choice, especially for someone who already has an Android phone.
Lee wants to know if she can buy a computer to use as a word processor. Leo says that since Lee has a Chromebook, she already has all she needs. Just use Google Docs. Or, she can also use Microsoft Office Online. So there's no need to buy a separate device. And the best thing is, Chromebook will back up everything you do in the cloud, protecting data automatically. Learn to love the cloud.
Jim uses Chromebooks, has three of them. But on his newest one, he keeps getting a notice to add Gmail to his Google Account, even though he already has one. Leo suggests that it may be time to "powerwash" it. Make sure all your local data is stored in the cloud and then select powerwash in the settings and relog in. You should never get that message again.
Ross is ready to upgrade his laptop. Budget about $400. Leo says that if your computer is slowing down, that's a sign that your hard drive is less reliable, not the computer itself. So you may be satisfied with replacing that old spinning drive with an SSD. Then reinstall Windows to clean things up. That will cost you about $100, which could put your computer in a better position to keep working moving forward. This is ideal for those who have a low budget and would have to sacrifice quality for affordability. If money is tight, extending the use of your current laptop is a smart idea.
Andy is thinking of getting his mother a Chromebook. But how can he access it remotely? Leo says that ChromeOS has remote access built-in. But he'll need to run the extension Chrome OS Remote Desktop. Set it up and then use the Chrome Browser on any PC and then navigate to hers. But he won't really have to do much with it. It's not like a Windows computer. If something goes wrong, he can always "Powerwash" it. Most of what he does on a Chromebook is online.
Pente's Chromebook has an issue of stalling during a Zoom meeting. Leo says that the Chromebook could be underpowered for video conferencing and as such, have problems keeping up. But it could also be an issue with the Chromebook's radio or network card. You get what you pay for and if the Chromebook is a budget model, it may not be able to handle the bandwidth. You can help by making sure there's no other tab or extension running.
A higher-priced Chromebook will have a faster processor, more memory, and better quality parts.
Dave has a Chromebook. Leo says that Chromebooks are secure, and now you can run Android apps on it. Soon, you will be able to run select Windows 10 apps as well. Your Chromebook doesn't run Windows per se, at least not without a lot of modification, but soon you'll be able to use some Windows apps, which is cool.
Elizabeth calls in to talk about what new mobile phone to buy. She's looking at the iPhone SE and Leo says it's an excellent choice for her. But she also heard Leo talk about Samsung's latest phone. Leo says that there are dozens of new phones out there now that could work, but Leo says that the iPhone SE is ideal for Elizabeth. It has the same processors and other features of the more expensive iPhone 11, but it's half the price.
Linda is saving up for a new Chromebook, what should she get? Leo says that the Lenovo Duet is a pretty good model. Nice screen. Asus makes good ones, and Samsung makes a good high-end model.
John is working from home and needs to get a new computer. Would a Chromebox work? He already has a Chromebook, but it's too small for daily use. Leo says that you can get Chromebooks in just about any price and performance level. It just depends on how much John wants to spend and what he needs. John's budget is $500. Leo says that the ASUS Chromebox 3 is a good option starting at $300. It's an i3 processor and 4K graphics. But you can upgrade to an i7. But that's almost $1000. If you want a Chromebox, that's the brand Leo would go with. What about Linux? Can he buy a Linux machine?
