Welcome to Ask Jerry, the place we speak about any and all of the questions you might need concerning the sensible issues in your life. I am Jerry, and I’ve spent the higher a part of my life working with tech. I’ve a background in engineering and R&D and have been protecting Android and Google for the previous 15 years.
Ask Jerry
Ask Jerry is a column the place we reply your burning Android/tech questions with the assistance of long-time Android Central editor Jerry Hildenbrand.
I am additionally actually good at researching information about every little thing — that is a giant a part of our job right here at Android Central — and I like to assist folks (one other large a part of our job!). You probably have questions on your tech, I would love to speak about them.Â
E-mail me at askjerryac@gmail.com, and I will attempt to get issues sorted out. You possibly can stay nameless in the event you like, and we promise we’re not sharing something we do not cowl right here.
I stay up for listening to from you!
Selecting the correct product is so onerous
G. asks:
I’ve by no means used a Chromebook earlier than however I believe I am enthusiastic about altering that. I am in search of one thing reasonably priced (underneath $800), sturdy, travel-friendly, with nice battery life.
I like to attract, binge-watch collection, and stream motion pictures. I additionally do a lot of sporadic internet searching so I’ll have a number of browser tabs open (normally a dozen or fewer). One of many important causes I point out battery life is that I journey so much. I am not a lot of a gamer however I do play gentle or reasonable video games generally.
I simply need one thing that may deal with all this (and hopefully extra). I’ve learn critiques and seen movies and even requested folks on-line and in individual, and what I collect is that one of many newer Acer fashions would work for me.Â
I am nonetheless unsure. Why is that this so onerous?!
Hello there, G.! I paraphrased your query a bit, so it is higher formatted for the net, however I’m so glad you wrote in and requested. That is onerous. It is good, however it’s onerous as a result of there may be a lot stuff on the market to select from.
I like to offer a fast reply for anybody looking earlier than I speak extra about something, so this is what I believe may work finest for you:
You talked about the Acer Chromebook Spin 714 (the older mannequin with its personal stylus that does not use a flawed Intel CPU) and it is the Chromebook that leaps to my thoughts primarily based on every little thing you are in search of. It has an excellent display screen, glorious stylus assist, loads of ports, and good battery life. No Chromebook is nice at gaming, however a mannequin with an Intel core CPU can play some gentle Steam video games. For what you point out you want it matches the invoice whereas nonetheless coming in underneath your value level.
However I additionally should ask in the event you’ve thought of a pill. An iPad Air or a Galaxy Tab S9 goes to be higher than a Chromebook relating to drawing, portability, and battery life. After all, you do not have entry to a desktop internet browser such as you would in a Chromebook and also you’re restricted to cellular video games. Both will even meet your set funds.
The purpose is that it is extremely tough to discover a single system that may meet all of our wants, however there are normally selections on the market that may come actually shut. In your case, you are not in search of one thing to make use of for workplace work or faculty work, prioritize usability over specs, and are not looking for some kind of tech unicorn that may do loopy issues.
You need one thing good on the regular issues a whole lot of us need out of our gadgets. Your wants are so much like my very own — I would like to have the ability to work utilizing the net browser, I need my battery to final, I like to relax and stream a present or a film, and I like to attract infrequently. I am nonetheless utilizing an historical Google Pixelbook, and at any time when I take into consideration upgrading, I discover I am flooded with good selections. Then I quit as a result of I am apprehensive I will make the flawed alternative and complain that my Pixelbook battery is not as much as snuff.
In the end, it’s a must to resolve what’s best for you and reside with the way you spend your cash. I gave you a number of fast, straightforward selections, however that is much more to contemplate: ARM Chromebooks have higher app compatibility (vital for gaming and drawing) and battery life, and tablets suck to kind on and have a far worse internet browser however are higher than Chromebooks in some areas vital to you, and so forth., and so forth.
One factor I believe you completely ought to do is take the time to see these gadgets in individual. Go to a retailer like Greatest Purchase and see what’s on show you could play with for a bit to see if there’s something you do not like.
Ultimately, I believe you’d be pleased with both the Acer Spin 714 or the iPad Air/Galaxy Tab S9. If you wish to cease attempting to decide on and begin having enjoyable, both is the best way to go.
If you wish to hold wanting so you recognize you made the easiest alternative you would make, you are not alone. Having so many issues to select from makes this a extremely onerous choice.
