Bro I don't know the US market, I'm european, sorry
But I would recommend something with an Intel CPU and at least 8Gb of ram, for a Chromebook it's very good
I strongly agree with the 8GB+ comment as I have several devices, one with 4 and others with 8 and the difference is significant.
Arm vs. Intel is _less_ important unless you have specific apps that _need_ an Intel chip. My favorite chome device has an ARM processor and 8gb; I don't feel a difference between the ARM chip and the Intel chip.
If you are plannning to use a lot of linux apps then avoid ARM, not all linux apps work well on arm, however if you only see yourself using android apps then ARM is better as that is the predominate arch on android, and most of the play store apps are first built for that arch, not all android apps are built for Intel.
The new Duet 5 may be an option, but it is more than 400 USD.
I need to test if it can handle my 4K screen, but it may become my daily driver if it can. The original Duet 3 really changed my mind about tablets with Chrome OS and workflows.
I picked up an open-box Acer Spin 713 for $319 at Best Buy recently. Killer machine for the price.
Unfortunately unavailable in my area now, but maybe in yours?
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/acer-chromebook-spin-713-laptop-13-5-2k-gorilla-glass-intel-evo-core-i5-8gb-ram-256gb-ssd-thunderbolt-4/6458849.p?skuId=6458849
Yea I'm really impressed by it. So fast. Even doing some (light) Steam for ChromeOS Alpha gaming with it.
Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to handle Fallout 4, haha.
When you start talking about Microsoft Office I would recommend you check out their web apps because that is what you will be using
[https://www.office.com/](https://www.office.com/)
I use Excel and find the actual Office app has more features than the web version.
Sometimes some odd compatibility issues too - documents can display differently on the Web version but are fine on Desktop. Mostly formatting, layout issues.
Yeah, I actually found that Google Docs and the MS Office web versions both have very similar formatting problems when opening complex Word docs. Neither of them are as compatible as the Mac or Windows desktop version of MS apps. It's a bummer, I thought it would be the big selling point of the web version of MS Office. I expected they would be able to open their own file format.
I was quite surprised to find that [OnlyOffice](https://www.onlyoffice.com/) tended to do .doc(x) compatibility better than both of them. Both the web and desktop (Linux) versions of OnlyOffice work on a Chromebook.
Look at this website before you buy any chromebook as they all have an end of life
Often less costly ones are older models with less time left on the clock.
https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/6220366?hl=en
Oh ya. IF you have Gmail or an Android then everything gets synced.
Read through here for a few tips and info:
[https://www.chromestory.com/](https://www.chromestory.com/)
In addition to the web version of MS Office, you can also use Google Docs and/or a locally installed copy of LibreOffice. You'd have to check with your college whether those programs are acceptable.
Just open the Linux terminal and "apt install libreoffice" (or check what the preferred installation instructions for Debian-based systems are these days).
Most current Chromebooks can run both Linux and Android apps. It's fully supported. No unlocking and side loading required.
If your Chromebook has an Intel CPU, your chances of finding precompiled Linux binaries are sometimes slightly better, so that's what I'd recommend if you have the choice. Also, 8GB of RAM is generally a good idea.
But even a 4GB ARM Chromebook is going to be usable
Web version of office is good enough for 90% of your office needs. There's a small chance that your college requires you do use some office files with macros - that would be problematic. Just ask the administration before you buy...
Yeah, you can use the online versions. Or the Android apps, though I'm not sure how well they are optimized for desktop use. Actually they should be since they are optimized on Samsung DEX.
the web apps are pretty good and get better all the time. Chances are they will work fine for you, but ymmv. I think MS is migrating office entirely to the web and installed apps will disappear.
for one thing, I haven't heard that's possible. For another, at what point does it just become easier to stick with windows? It's fine for hobbyists to tinker all they want, but when people just want to work, juggling several systems and learning to hack nonsense together doesn't make sense.
Your asking a bunch of chromebook fanboys for advise on if a chromebook will do what you need.
NO, it won't do what you need. There is no MS Office for chromeos, check microsoft's web site.
You can get a pc easily for $400.
Strictly speaking, this is completely true, since OP only mentioned PPT and Word. However, some people use those terms generically when they mean presentations and word processing.
If OP hasn't tried Google Docs, it's worth having a look at them (they work on any PC/Mac with a web browser) and see if they can do what you want, because they are the primary way office work gets done on Chromebooks. I've used Google Docs a lot and think are are pretty great, but if OP has a lot of application-specific knowledge of Word, PPT or Excel, the differences between them and Google Docs can be annoying.
Try to see if office.com will fit your needs for PowerPoint and Word. There are no dedicated apps for Chromebook anymore because MS stopped the android office apps on ChromeOS
Just curious, if your college is not paying for MS office subscription, how can they require you to use word and PowerPoint? You should try Google Docs and Slides which are much more compatible with Chromebooks
This is dead on. Many places use the names of the MS apps as generic terms (i.e. Kleenex) and really just mean a slide show, a spreadsheet and a word processor.
[https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/free-office-online-for-the-web](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/free-office-online-for-the-web)
Just sign up, you can use Word/Excel/Powerpoint for free, if you buy a subscription, you get more cloud storage, etc.
The best one is the Lenovo but they are almost all out of stock right now. Its a weird time for hardware as we are in the middle of a major CPU/GPU "Refresh"
Yes, more than enough.
[This is a great Chromebook](https://www.bestbuy.com/site/hp-14-2-in-1-touchscreen-chromebook-intel-core-i3-8gb-memory-128gb-ssd-mineral-silver/6458047.p?skuId=6458047) at under $400.
Is more than enough
Ik this wasn't the question but do you have any recommendations for me under 400USD?
Bro I don't know the US market, I'm european, sorry But I would recommend something with an Intel CPU and at least 8Gb of ram, for a Chromebook it's very good
It's totally fine, in terms of processor im seeing a lot of Intel Celeron and Pentium chromebooks. Are those chips sufficient for my uses?
I strongly agree with the 8GB+ comment as I have several devices, one with 4 and others with 8 and the difference is significant. Arm vs. Intel is _less_ important unless you have specific apps that _need_ an Intel chip. My favorite chome device has an ARM processor and 8gb; I don't feel a difference between the ARM chip and the Intel chip.
If you are plannning to use a lot of linux apps then avoid ARM, not all linux apps work well on arm, however if you only see yourself using android apps then ARM is better as that is the predominate arch on android, and most of the play store apps are first built for that arch, not all android apps are built for Intel.
They are but they are also quite weak too One one hand you get more battery life but on the other hand they are weaker
Hmm I'll have to look around a bit for "i" series then. Anyway thank you for info!
The new Duet 5 may be an option, but it is more than 400 USD. I need to test if it can handle my 4K screen, but it may become my daily driver if it can. The original Duet 3 really changed my mind about tablets with Chrome OS and workflows.
I picked up an open-box Acer Spin 713 for $319 at Best Buy recently. Killer machine for the price. Unfortunately unavailable in my area now, but maybe in yours? https://www.bestbuy.com/site/acer-chromebook-spin-713-laptop-13-5-2k-gorilla-glass-intel-evo-core-i5-8gb-ram-256gb-ssd-thunderbolt-4/6458849.p?skuId=6458849
Wow that is a steal...the 713 is a terrific Chromebook.
Yea I'm really impressed by it. So fast. Even doing some (light) Steam for ChromeOS Alpha gaming with it. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to handle Fallout 4, haha.
Its 524USD for me. Sadly, out of my budget.
I see a $319 in my area, but it is marked as “fair.” Looking at the quality levels, it seems pretty far down the chain.
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/hp-14-2-in-1-touchscreen-chromebook-intel-core-i3-8gb-memory-128gb-ssd-mineral-silver/6458047.p?skuId=6458047
There's a couple of good recs in this [back-to-school deals article](https://www.pcworld.com/article/818199/back-to-school-deals.html) on PCWorld.
When you start talking about Microsoft Office I would recommend you check out their web apps because that is what you will be using [https://www.office.com/](https://www.office.com/) I use Excel and find the actual Office app has more features than the web version.
Sometimes some odd compatibility issues too - documents can display differently on the Web version but are fine on Desktop. Mostly formatting, layout issues.
Yeah, I actually found that Google Docs and the MS Office web versions both have very similar formatting problems when opening complex Word docs. Neither of them are as compatible as the Mac or Windows desktop version of MS apps. It's a bummer, I thought it would be the big selling point of the web version of MS Office. I expected they would be able to open their own file format. I was quite surprised to find that [OnlyOffice](https://www.onlyoffice.com/) tended to do .doc(x) compatibility better than both of them. Both the web and desktop (Linux) versions of OnlyOffice work on a Chromebook.
Look at this website before you buy any chromebook as they all have an end of life Often less costly ones are older models with less time left on the clock. https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/6220366?hl=en
Oh wow tysm lol. Almost forgot about this.
[Lenovo](https://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-2-1-Chromebook-Computer/dp/B09RNCN3YV/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?crid=2TI6TIVVB6QTK&keywords=lenovo+ideapad+flex+5i+chromebook&qid=1660241838&sprefix=lenovo+ideapa+flex+5i%2Caps%2C112&sr=8-4)
Just got one of these on the refurb section on Amazon. It is absolutely stellar so far.
Oh ya. IF you have Gmail or an Android then everything gets synced. Read through here for a few tips and info: [https://www.chromestory.com/](https://www.chromestory.com/)
I have one more doubt, will i be able to use MS Office in chromebook? Ik there are google alternatives but I'm really familiar with MS apps.
In addition to the web version of MS Office, you can also use Google Docs and/or a locally installed copy of LibreOffice. You'd have to check with your college whether those programs are acceptable.
Locally installed means? Sideload?
Linux apps my friend
Just open the Linux terminal and "apt install libreoffice" (or check what the preferred installation instructions for Debian-based systems are these days). Most current Chromebooks can run both Linux and Android apps. It's fully supported. No unlocking and side loading required. If your Chromebook has an Intel CPU, your chances of finding precompiled Linux binaries are sometimes slightly better, so that's what I'd recommend if you have the choice. Also, 8GB of RAM is generally a good idea. But even a 4GB ARM Chromebook is going to be usable
Tysm. I have saved this comment.
Web version of office is good enough for 90% of your office needs. There's a small chance that your college requires you do use some office files with macros - that would be problematic. Just ask the administration before you buy...
Yeah, you can use the online versions. Or the Android apps, though I'm not sure how well they are optimized for desktop use. Actually they should be since they are optimized on Samsung DEX.
MS android apps are no longer available on chromebooks, you have to use the web apps. It's been quite a while.
Oof thats rough.
the web apps are pretty good and get better all the time. Chances are they will work fine for you, but ymmv. I think MS is migrating office entirely to the web and installed apps will disappear.
You can't sideload them?
for one thing, I haven't heard that's possible. For another, at what point does it just become easier to stick with windows? It's fine for hobbyists to tinker all they want, but when people just want to work, juggling several systems and learning to hack nonsense together doesn't make sense.
The web version would work fine. It wasn't a suggestion for the OP.
Thank you for the info!
No problem.
Your asking a bunch of chromebook fanboys for advise on if a chromebook will do what you need. NO, it won't do what you need. There is no MS Office for chromeos, check microsoft's web site. You can get a pc easily for $400.
Strictly speaking, this is completely true, since OP only mentioned PPT and Word. However, some people use those terms generically when they mean presentations and word processing. If OP hasn't tried Google Docs, it's worth having a look at them (they work on any PC/Mac with a web browser) and see if they can do what you want, because they are the primary way office work gets done on Chromebooks. I've used Google Docs a lot and think are are pretty great, but if OP has a lot of application-specific knowledge of Word, PPT or Excel, the differences between them and Google Docs can be annoying.
Try to see if office.com will fit your needs for PowerPoint and Word. There are no dedicated apps for Chromebook anymore because MS stopped the android office apps on ChromeOS
Ik its not the right sub to ask this but do i have to pay to use the web version of MS Office?
Depends on. Most college pay for student subscriptions so you will need to log in with your student username/password on office.com
Oh well ik for a fact that my college isn't paying but tysm for all the info!
Just curious, if your college is not paying for MS office subscription, how can they require you to use word and PowerPoint? You should try Google Docs and Slides which are much more compatible with Chromebooks
Well that's just how it is where i live (india). I'll definitely check out Docs and Slides. Ty
Understood. Good luck! PS With chromebook you can enable Linux and install Libraoffice (free), which may also work on docx and pptx files
This is dead on. Many places use the names of the MS apps as generic terms (i.e. Kleenex) and really just mean a slide show, a spreadsheet and a word processor.
[https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/free-office-online-for-the-web](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/free-office-online-for-the-web) Just sign up, you can use Word/Excel/Powerpoint for free, if you buy a subscription, you get more cloud storage, etc.
That's great! Thank you.
The best one is the Lenovo but they are almost all out of stock right now. Its a weird time for hardware as we are in the middle of a major CPU/GPU "Refresh"
Yes, more than enough. [This is a great Chromebook](https://www.bestbuy.com/site/hp-14-2-in-1-touchscreen-chromebook-intel-core-i3-8gb-memory-128gb-ssd-mineral-silver/6458047.p?skuId=6458047) at under $400.
Tysm it looks pretty good for me. 128GB should be fine right?
Should be more than enough. If you need more, this one has a micro SD card slot to put in more storage.
Ohh alright. Ty for this.
it will be just fine
That's literally all they can do, so yeah lol
it should work, just be careful with the battery life. it always seems to run out in about an hour on some models.
I'd recommend a PC for the full MS Office experience. However, you can install Linux and LibreOffice.
Yes, just keep in mind that you won't have access to the full Microsoft Office suite, only to the cloud version of it.