Please help me choose a new computer.

[bwildt]

I've heard multiple stories about how Chromebooks need to be replaced regularly...

I have no direct experience with Chromebooks, but I was thinking about getting one. I was thinking about a used unit, just to get familiar with them. When researching, I discovered that Google supports versions of hardware and OS for only about three years. Then they are obsolete. They still work, but the OS no longer receives updates.

That kind of soured me on them.

 

[SteveC]

I have no direct experience with Chromebooks, but I was thinking about getting one. I was thinking about a used unit, just to get familiar with them. When researching, I discovered that Google supports versions of hardware and OS for only about three years. Then they are obsolete. They still work, but the OS no longer receives updates.

That kind of soured me on them.

But it's cheaper to get a new Chromebook than a new MacBook. Apple products don't upgrade well after a few years either. You get about 3 years with your iPhone. iMacs and MacBooks fare a little better I suppose. I'm not anti Apple or pro Chromebook, just an interesting debate that I have had with myself many times.

I'm waiting for unexpected expenses (car repairs, house maintenance) to end so I can spare the $999 for a MacBook Air. Or maybe $1,299 for a beefed up version.

 

[Splash7]

I have two laptops and several tablets. I use my Chromebook almost exclusively.

 

[fdeck]

But it's cheaper to get a new Chromebook than a new MacBook. Apple products don't upgrade well after a few years either. You get about 3 years with your iPhone. iMacs and MacBooks fare a little better I suppose. I'm not anti Apple or pro Chromebook, just an interesting debate that I have had with myself many times.

I'm waiting for unexpected expenses (car repairs, house maintenance) to end so I can spare the $999 for a MacBook Air. Or maybe $1,299 for a beefed up version.

You can always expect more unexpected expenses.

I've thought about this same thing. Oddly enough when the first affordable Apple Mac came out in 1993, I bought it. In addition to the computer itself being under $1000, there were instructions floating around for jailbreaking the video connector so you could hook up a non-Apple monitor, which resulted in an additional cost savings.

But I've always had a policy, that lower-priced gear is like having an insurance policy on my stuff, except that I pocket the premiums. That way I not only save on gear, but also avoid the need for extended warranties and protection plans. When I need a new cellphone, I go to Tracfone and buy whatever reconditioned phone is 20 bucks.

But I'm definitely intrigued by Apple silicon. My only misgiving is that Apple is making people nervous about whether they will try to control software development, like they do on iOS.

Nothing upgrades well after a few years if you expect to run the latest stuff, thanks to eroom's law.

 

[Jefenator]

I had to start over this summer with my Mac. I chose the Mac mini with a Samsung 28" 4K monitor. Didn't feel like going all out on the overpriced internal storage options so I got an external solid state drive, half for my photos and half for a time machine backup.
So far, so good.
I am not a computer expert, but there is one bit of advice I can give emphatically: get a good surge protector!

 

[Mushroo]

Setting aside my personal feelings on the PC/Mac debate:

If you do decide to go with Apple, you'd be foolish (in my opinion) to buy an Intel-based Mac, at this juncture. Not a good moment in history, to buy an older refurbished Mac. The new M1 chip is a "game changer."

 

[SteveC]

Setting aside my personal feelings on the PC/Mac debate:

If you do decide to go with Apple, you'd be foolish (in my opinion) to buy an Intel-based Mac, at this juncture. Not a good moment in history, to buy an older refurbished Mac. The new M1 chip is a "game changer."

Yeah, the new M1 MacBook air gets really good reviews. That's what I'm going to get. I can get the 8 core, 8/512 for $1,149 as an educator. The bass model ($899) would probably be fine, but it's only $250 to get the 8 core and 512 instead of the 7 Core, 256 for memory so...