Looking for Chromebook for Uni

[u/Catstielli]

Hi everyone! I was wondering if anyone can help me decide. I'm in need of a lighter laptop for writing notes, assignments, doing light research, maybe watching some lectures. I have a PC and also a windows laptop so I don't need amazing specs, I just need it to be light because my laptop is so heavy it hurts my back lol and also able to handle some light work. I saw some on sales and here are some options but I don't know if they're good enough.

Other suggestions would also be helpful. My maximum would probably be $400 CAD tbh. I don't want to spend a lot since this is mainly for doing coursework on the go. Thank you 😊

[u/Baardmeester]

Depends on what you mean with assignments and light research. Do you need specific Windows applications for these assignments or just a office suite and a browser? Also if you get one from these three get the Lenovo 3i since it has the n100.

[u/Catstielli → u/Baardmeester]

Thank you! And apologies I should've been more specific, I honestly just need access to browser since I'd just need access to research databases and I write my notes & assignment drafts on Google docs anyway. This would be for doing work on campus and commute, since at home I would use my windows PC.

[u/Romano1404]

I've got the Lenovo Flex 3i 12.2"with 8GB and it's a compact Chromebook that doesn't have any major weaknesses but doesn't excel anywhere either. It's basically a cost optimized "meh product" that does it's job but nothing to brag about.

The Acer has a terribly outdated CPU and a low res trash screen, the Lenovo Slim 3 14" also has a very weak CPU and is much heavier than the Flex 3i.

The Flex 3i 12.2" fits your use case best.

[u/Catstielli → u/Romano1404]

Thank you! I honestly don't mind "meh product" since this would be for doing work on campus and commute & i don't want to spend a lot because I already have a PC. So my main factors was that it should be lightweight and can handle basic things like Google docs and have a few tabs open, maybe a lecture video.

[u/giantcandy2001 → u/Catstielli]

Any Chromebook can"handle" that workload but it's the amount of tabs you have open and the multi-tasking you wanna do... I opted for a Chromebook with a N305 cpu and 8gb of RAM. So it has a bit of power but not a lot to drain the battery fast and enough RAM to have lots of tabs and a few android apps open and no struggle to switch between them all. I couldn't find the perfect form factor with the right specs so I gave up getting the body of the original Google Pixelbook.. oh well.

I got the HP Chromebook plus 14" for 400 USD off Amazon.

[u/TrickedCoyote13_YT]

I would just recommend a small Windows laptop. Chromebooks are almost always super annoying to work with, especially when you need to run an app or program that is only available as a .exe file. Chromebooks seem good but then just freeze or slow down randomly

[u/theJonahinator → u/TrickedCoyote13_YT]

I agree with you, as much as I like my Chromebook, a windows laptop is more capable.

[u/Catstielli → u/TrickedCoyote13_YT]

Thank you! I was looking at windows laptops but within my price point theyre either 15 inch (and heavy) or more expensive 😭. The cheapest one available are chromebooks. I will try to research more.

[u/PVT_Huds0n]

The first one is fine if you are truly going to do very light work with it, however the 3rd one will be the most versatile and will allow you to do more than just light work.

[u/Development_Echos]

I mean you could get a light windows laptop

Or any light laptop that has support for flashing Linux honestly

I would stereo away from Chromebooks if you can but that's just my opinion Linux will run objectively better though

[u/Foreign_Fill4813]

I highly recommend to buying any standart laptop because chromebooks are not as powerful as other laptops you can buy any laptop you want and then you will have 2 options

1. Install FydeOS (its just very similar to chromeos, you should check their website) its based on chromium os but it feels so fluent and similar to standart chromeos.

2. Installing the real ChromeOS but it is more complicated than installing FydeOS. You should check brunch github.

I think you want chromeos just taking notes and using google services like notes drive etc. so you can check FydeOS i recommend it to you.

But also you just use linux or something atp