Great price on a Chromebook clone

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If you are looking for a Chromebook, here is a great deal on a Chromebook clone:

Best Buy has an 11.6″ Insignia tablet with a snap-on keyboard for $74.99! That’s half the listed price!

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/insignia-11-6-tablet-32gb-with-keyboard-black/5852813.p?skuId=5852813

I went into Best Buy yesterday looking for a replacement Android tablet for my daughter, and I found this one, so I bought it.

The keyboard snaps on very securely, and has a really tight and snug fit. It has two standard USB ports, which means that when you have the keyboard attached, you can also plug in a USB mouse. In other words, this tablet becomes a laptop computer!

The whole thing has a really solid feel to it.

It has Android 7.0 installed.

I normally don’t like Google anything. But I bought this one, because my internet filter (Mobile Web Guard) gives me total control over an android device – I can whitelist or blacklist websites and apps, as well as set the allowed times of usage. It will send me reports of what she has done and where she has gone with the tablet as well, if I want. I wouldn’t feel comfortable letting my 11 year old have a tablet if I didn’t have that level of control over the device.

This tablet would be excellent for an elderly person who is totally unsavvy with a computer and who just wants to surf the web and do email.

Group "L" (Linux Mint)
with Windows 10 running in a remote session on my file server

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HiFlyer, Elly

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An Android tablet is not exactly a Chromebook clone. The Android mobile OS is quite different from the web-based desktop ChromeOS.

Android tablet PCs are usually quite cheap. …
https://www.walmart.com/c/kp/android-tablets-with-keyboards

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Microfix

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If your looking for a Google Chromebook, go buy one at a good price! is my advice.

Windows - commercial by definition and now function...

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Just curious — I’m apparently not up on Chromebooks, so what is the difference? They both use Android as the OS, correct?

It appears to me that the only real difference is that an Android tablet is basically a solid state machine, whereas a Chromebook is a laptop, with “moving parts”, a DVD drive, more ports than a tablet, etc.

Other than that, is there any difference?

Group "L" (Linux Mint)
with Windows 10 running in a remote session on my file server

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@ MrJimPhelps

They both use Android as the OS, correct?

Incorrect.
.
Android tablet PCs and Chromebooks are different category of devices and OS platforms, even though recently some Chromebooks can run Android apps from Play Store. …
https://www.lifewire.com/chromebooks-vs-tablets-832349
.
https://www.androidcentral.com/chromebook-vs-android-tablet-which-best

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Microfix

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You are recommending a Google Chromebook Clone, there is no such thing!

Google have closed source code and intellectual rights to ChromeOS on specific licenced hardware which makes it more appealing. (bit like apple)

Google Android was initially developed for mobile phones which later materialised onto tablets using the Google licence for the Google Android OS.

So, in essence what your saying is an ipad is a cheap Mac clone!

Windows - commercial by definition and now function...

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I bought the aforementioned tablet for my daughter. Without the keyboard attached, it is definitely a tablet. But with the keyboard attached (and it attaches very securely, nothing flimsy about it), it is for all intents and purposes a solid state laptop. It has two standard USB ports. I plugged a mouse into one of them, and I felt like I was using an actual laptop, because I had a keyboard and a very responsive mouse. And I was surfing the web and using the mouse and keyboard to do so.

True, Android and Chrome aren’t the same. But they both operate on the same fundamental principle of doing just about everything online. Since I don’t have any experience with Chromebooks, and very little with Android, I mistakenly called this a “Chromebook Clone”.

I personally am not looking for a Chromebook. But this ultra portable and very useful device caught my attention; and if I had and extra $75 laying around, I would immediately buy another one.

Group "L" (Linux Mint)
with Windows 10 running in a remote session on my file server

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@ MrJimPhelps

Compared to a ChromeOS laptop PC, the main disadvantages of an Android tablet PC are that it cannot be powered directly from the AC wall outlet(= battery has to be usually replaced within 2 years),
cannot usually be upgraded(eg to the latest Android 8.0 = the tablet becomes obsolete within 4 years),
cannot usually be clean-reinstalled or re-imaged from a recovery media(eg microSD card, USB flash-drive or DVD)
and tends to be hot after prolonged or intense use.

Mobile tablets have to be very thin and fanless. So, their processors have to be throttled to prevent over-heating and Internet access can only be Wifi or Mobile Broadband, ie not wired Ethernet.

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Mostly good points, but I believe you missed one about the AC wall outlet.  You can easily use an adapter for this.  I have an Android tablet that has worked great for over 5 years.  True, it cannot be updated anymore. But I can still plug it into the wall and access my home Wi-Fi just fine!  🙂

Windows 10 Pro 22H2

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@ JohnW

But I can still plug it into the wall and access my home Wi-Fi just fine!

What is happening is that your Android tablet is actually drawing power from its battery while the battery is being charged by the AC battery charger/adapter that is plugged to the AC wall outlet.
___ IOW, the tablet is being powered indirectly from the AC wall outlet.

If your Android tablet draws more power from its battery than the charging power from the AC wall outlet, the battery will get drained to zero eventually, eg prolonged live-streaming of videos or streaming a HD movie.

At < 5% battery charge, my budget Android smartphone cannot run for more than a few minutes while plugged into the AC wall outlet with the battery charger, without being drained to zero charge.

In comparison, a laptop can be directly powered from the AC wall outlet, eg with its battery unplugged or removed. You cannot do this with a tablet or smartphone.

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LOL.  Never been a problem for me because I use a real computer most of the time.

Maybe buy a new battery?  I only buy devices with user replaceable batteries.

Windows 10 Pro 22H2

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I would say the best distinction is the different intent of the user experience.

Android is a mobile first OS, (based on Linux), optimized for touch screen interface.  Runs factory apps + apps from the Google Play store.  A keyboard can be used, but are secondary.

ChromeOS (based on Linux) is more of a desktop OS, that is designed to interact with cloud services from a dedicated Chrome browser interface.  Works great with a conventional keyboard, mouse & monitor.  I bought one of these for my Dad in the ChromeBox form factor, to replace an end of life Mac Mini.

Both have their uses, but definitely different classes of devices.  The fact some Android apps can now run on some Chromebooks muddies the waters a bit, but does expand the ChromeOS functionality.

Windows 10 Pro 22H2

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RamRod, HiFlyer

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If you have an older laptop laying around, and are looking for a Chromium O/S ‘clone’, take a look here:

https://www.neverware.com/#introtext-3

CloudReady can be downloaded and installed on a compatible system (mostly laptops and/or Netbooks), listed here:

https://guide.neverware.com/supported-devices/

A PDF file can be downloaded from that web page for reference.

I had an old Acer Aspire One, but it was not a supported model, so wound up buying a basically new Samsung 11.6″ Chromebook system off eBay for $100. It’s a new enough one that it can use Google Play Store apps, so I have a real email client on it, and a real file browser that can connect to my home server.

I also got it running on an old desktop, but that didn’t make a very good laptop system!

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That CloudReady looks interesting.  I can see it being really attractive to education markets at that price point.

This video really hits the mark!

CloudReady Session by Huntsville ISD  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19Ybz81as9Q&feature=youtu.be

I can see why Microsoft is packing its bags regarding the Windows desktop.  They have seen the future, and it ain’t Windows. 🙂

Cloud and Office subscriptions maybe, but certainly no more growth in the MS desktop market share…

Windows 10 Pro 22H2

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A ChromeOS device is really more about the mouse and keyboard UI with the desktop/laptop metaphor.  Plus it also has an Ethernet adapter.  You can also plug in external USB drives.

But I cannot really see doing serious work on an 11″ screen of a Chromebook.  Some may be fine with that, due to the extreme portability, but that is a trade-off, IMHO.

The thing I like best about the ChromeBox, is that you bring your own mouse, keyboard, and monitor, so you can use it with the comfort of a normal desktop computer.  And a big monitor if you choose!  🙂

Windows 10 Pro 22H2

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The thing that appeals to me about the above device is portability. Also, very solid construction. And very cheap.

If I get one for myself, I’ll probably wipe the drive and install Linux on it.

But for serious work, I’ll stick to my regular computer with the 24″ monitor and IBM Model M keyboard.

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@ MrJimPhelps

If I get one for myself, I’ll probably wipe the drive and install Linux on it.

This cannot be easily done because of the ARM processor, non-availability of peripheral device drivers and lack of touchscreen support for Linux.
___ Only Debian, Archlinux and Ubuntu have some measure of support for Android tablets and it will need a tech-geek to do the install. Even if successfully installed, a few peripheral devices will likely not work, eg camera, Bluetooth, auto-rotation, Wifi, etc.

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Pretty much all the ‘budget’ Chromebook ‘laptops’ have multiple USB ports, and an HDMI port.

So, you can connect any monitor with and HDMI port, and a wireless KB/mouse combo.

I had a private message exchange with another user in February about setting up a Chromebook as a ‘real’ computer, as long as you can get by with the Google apps, or apps from the Play Store and Google Drive for storage beyond the built in local storage, or adding, say, a 32GB external micro SD card, or whatever SD card expansion slot a unit might have.

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Got that, but why buy a laptop, if all you need is a desktop computer?  No need to pay for the screen and keyboard in the laptop form factor if all you want is to dock it.

With VESA mount you can attach a 5″ x 5″ ChromeBox to the rear of a flat screen monitor for use as all-in-one desktop.

https://www.asus.com/us/Chrome-Devices/Chromebox/

Intel Celeron with 2GB RAM $169 https://www.amazon.com/Asus-CHROMEBOX-M004U-ASUS-Desktop/dp/B071N9QCZ3/

Intel Core i3 with 4GB RAM $356  https://www.amazon.com/Asus-CHROMEBOX-M004U-ASUS-Desktop/dp/B071Y6F1W7/?th=1

Windows 10 Pro 22H2

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It is an extremely portable device which has a keyboard, and to which I can connect a mouse.

The ONLY reason I would want this device is portability. In other words, to take to my local coffee shop; to take on the road; to use in the break room at my job.

For real work, I use Linux Mint, never Android! And I do it at home, on my desktop computer, with my 24″ monitor and IBM Model M keyboard!

Group "L" (Linux Mint)
with Windows 10 running in a remote session on my file server

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JohnW

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I understand, and agree.  I typically will either use either my Android or a conventional desktop.  My laptop usually gathers dust, as I am not really a fan of that form factor, unless I absolutely need a full mobile office.  So I keep it charged up, and up to date, just in case.

I was really addressing my comments to SkipH, regarding features of Chromebook vs. ChromeBox.   I would not consider a ChromeOS device an acceptable replacement for my Android.  But it could replace a desktop or laptop, for certain types of users, like my Dad.  He’s 90 years old and appreciates the fast boot, logs on with Chrome to everything he needs!  🙂

Windows 10 Pro 22H2

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I just recommended to my 80 year old father-in-law that he get the Insignia Android tablet I posted about above. It is perfect for him, because the only thing he ever does is post a few things on Facebook, do a little bit of email, and surf the web a little. He is aware that Google is constantly vacuuming up information, and so he isn’t going to put any sensitive information on it, such as credit card numbers.

He moves around a little; he spends some time out in his shed; and he currently doesn’t have a computer, because his computer was bricked by a Windows 10 upgrade. The above described Insignia tablet is absolutely perfect for him.

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@JohnW:

Funny, but I consider the Samsung Chromebook a much better “Android” device than my similar Android tablet (10″ screen, attached/detachable keyboard, folds up into it’s own carrying case).

Granted, it’s now 2+ years old, but the Samsung Chromebook runs circles around it.

Back before Christmas, I was thinking about getting a newer device, similar to what MrJimPhelps wound up getting, in the sub-$100 level.

But then I saw some basic Chromebooks at the local Walmart-type store, and about that time, remembered about a previous client had a bunch of Chromebooks from a closed down private school.

I contacted the ex-principal, and then got in touch with the organization that still had the TWENTY, 4 year-old HP Chromebooks stored away for the last 2 years.

Long story short, I wound up getting one (just happened to be an ‘unlocked’ one), playing with it, (a crash course in Chromebook management) in then eventually getting access to the education administrators account, and ‘de-provisioning’ the 19 remaining ones. They’d all been locked down to just the web site where the kids’ education material was coming from, and a few regular web sites. Plus the principal could monitor every one of them to see what the kids were doing.

After I unlocked them, quite a few of them were basically given to previous students and other families to use at home, etc.

I was offered one for my work (was doing it gratis), but those models **might** go out of support (updates to the O/S) by the end of this year. Google has a schedule of how long they will supply updates to the Chrome O/S, but can extend that if they feel like it. Basically it’s 6 years from the date of the release of the brand/model. I declined the ‘free’ one, as those HP’s could not use Google Play Store Android apps, and I wanted one that could.

I scrounged around on eBay for a couple of weeks, and finally scored a basically new Samsung 4GB RAM, 16GB ‘storage” unit for $100 in the door. It can run lots of ‘Android’ apps from the Play Store, so I can use a real non-Gmail account email client, and a couple of other apps I use on my phone and that older tablet. I still do use it for some basic stuff (works fine for Internet radio and email), but for watching videos, I use the Chromebook.

So, I guess which kind of a device you might like or use depends on what you are using it for.

A Chromebook can be converted into almost a ‘real’ computer (if all a person uses is Chrome and Gmail), and is still portable. An Android tablet, maybe sort of, as some/most? of them have a mini-HDMI port on them, don’t know about hooking up an external KB and/or mouse, never did that with my tablet.

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My husband is interested in a Chrome book because he is having trouble walking up the stairs where my new IMac is.  He needs something very simple to use just for a few emails and a few visits to internet sites.  That is the total of his computing.  Since the Chrome book doesn’t have to be monthly updated  that is a plus.  My question is which Chromebook?  The more I read the more complicated it gets to pick a brand.  Any help will be deeply appreciated.  He wants to use it while sitting on the couch preferably with an eternet cable.  Thanks!!!

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I recently bought this for my daughter:

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/insignia-11-6-tablet-32gb-with-keyboard-black/5852813.p?skuId=5852813

It is an 11.6″ Android tablet with an attachable keyboard (the keyboard attaches very securely). You can plug in a mouse and use it like a laptop computer.

The mouse doesn’t always work, and I believe the reason for that is that Android doesn’t support a mouse natively. But it almost always works. Of course, it has a touch screen, so you don’t have to use a mouse. (I prefer a mouse over a touch screen.)

You can download and install Android versions of Microsoft Word and Excel from the Google store for free.

I really like this machine.

It doesn’t have an Ethernet port; he will have to use wifi. If that’s ok, then I think it would be perfect for your husband.

Update: You could probably use something like this to connect an Ethernet cable to this device:
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/insignia-usb-2-0-to-ethernet-adapter-white/6233049.p?skuId=6233049

Walmart also sells these USB-to-Ethernet adapters.

I’m not sure that it would work with this tablet, since the tablet is Android. But if you buy it locally at Best Buy, you can probably get your money back if it doesn’t work.

Group "L" (Linux Mint)
with Windows 10 running in a remote session on my file server

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I bought 2 of these a few months ago when Best Buy had them on sale 50% off. They have bluetooth, so a bluetooth mouse works. Much better than a cord mouse or a USB mouse. Save the USB port for something important.

We are trying out the Android ecosystem. Our phones are android, and these tablets are supposed to complement the phones.

My conclusion so far is that Android is not a fully functional operating system. A work in progress is a little better description. Almost makes me appreciate the Windows ecosystem, even without a phone there.

As I said, we are trying the android ecosystem. I use an iPhone at work so I also have some insight into that ecosystem. I think our next purchases might be iPads.

I just wish Windows would stop mucking up the update process and cede control back to the users a little. And develop a good phone.

Will report back later if we make a more permanent and complete move away from the Windows ecosystem. The others have to be worthy or we may be stranded in broken Windows land.

RamRod

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Cheap Chromebook deals > https://www.techradar.com/news/cheap-chromebook-deals

Most Chromebooks will not have an Ethernet port, but you can add a simple USB to Ethernet dongle if you wish to plug it in, rather than use the included wi-fi.  > https://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Description=usb%20to%20ethernet&Submit=ENE

Connecting Chromebook to Ethernet  > http://cbookreviewguide.com/chromebook-ethernet-adapter-usb-dongle/

To do this, it is necessary to find a Chromebook compatible ethernet adapter. One of the best things about ChromeOS is that it’s a plug-n-play OS. Since you can’t manually install drivers/programs to make something work, things either work or they don’t. Luckily, almost all USB ethernet connectors will work on ChromeOS.

Windows 10 Pro 22H2

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AlphaCharlie

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Thanks Mr.JimPhelps and JohnW for the speedy detailed responses.  Much appreciated.   I’m veering towards another brand than the Android because hubby would be frustrated by the mouse not always working.  I have saved the links provided by JohnW — there is a lot to ponder and I will do so. 🙂

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@ Peacelady:

Sort of repeating information I posted back in April (see post # 181843), but some additional information that might help you decide what to get:

Last November/December, I help a person who had come into a bunch of 14″ HP Chromebooks. They had come from a local private school that had shut down. So I had to jump into a crash course on Chromebooks. The 1st big step was to get the school computers ‘unlocked’ from being managed by the closed school. This is done with an online ‘app’ from Google, it the administrators console. Luckily I knew the ex-principal, so he told me his account name and some guesses at the password to get into the management console. I finally did that, and unlocked the 20 Chromebooks. Some of them were given to previous students, the rest of them wound up at a place where homeless type persons go for help finding food, places to stay, jobs, etc. So they are getting some good use.

I liked the Chromebook for it’s basic functional ability: any updates take about 2 minutes, and the HP model, even though it was about 4 years old was pretty fast opening the “Chromium” web browser and browsing the ‘net. They were a 4GB RAM model, but only 16GB of ‘storage space’ (only about 10GB usable after it is running).

I could have gotten one of the systems for the work I did (gratis), but decided I wanted a smaller sized Chromebook for use in the evening while sitting in my recliner. The 14″ size was a bit too big to be used comfortably while ‘lounging’ in my chair.

I wound up finding an 11.8″ Samsung Chromebook on eBay for $100 in the door (just barely used by a little old lady…really!!), so it was 99% like new, not a scratch on it.

The 11.8″ size is easier to use and carry around, BUT…for ‘older’ persons…the 11.8″ screen is just on the lower boarder of being easily readable, even with reading glasses. The system does have a built in ‘zoom’ function, so a web page such as AskWoody can be made ‘bigger’ so is easier to read. I use the zoom function at times on any web sites that is using a smaller than normal font, or when my eyes are tired.

Another reason for wanting the Samsung was that it was new enough to be able to use ‘apps’ from the Google Play Store, so I could install a file manager I like, and a ‘real’ email app (I DO NOT use GMail), just like I have on my cell phone. So I can check and send emails from my chair, or the basement, or anyplace I can get WiFi.

So, if your husband is in the ‘senior citizen’ group (as am I), I would suggests you look at a Chromebook that has least a 14″ screen, or for more $$, you can get one with a 15.6″ screen.

Probably more important from a functional aspect is you should absolutely get one with 4GB of RAM, as they perform much better than a basic unit with 2GB. Since the usage you described for it is pretty minimal, the ‘storage space’ size is not all that critical, so one with 16GB of storage space should be fine. Mine has that much, but I don’t download anything on it, or keep old emails on it, those get removed after I’ve read any that are important…my main computer gets the same messages, I deal with them there if I want to keep them around. I still have 8+ GB of ‘space’ on mine, don’t really care about that. Besides if I want more ‘storage space’, the Samsung (and other Chromebooks) can use an SD or micro-SD memory card, or a USB thumb drive.

If you live in an area where there are some ‘big box’ stores, you can go to one or more of them and take an in-person look and ‘play’ with some, see how readable the screens are, and if any of them are actually online live, see how they browse the ‘net.

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@SkipH
You have been exceedingly helpful in helping us to narrow down our requirements. Yes, we are definitely in the “Sr. Citizens Group”!

Therefore we will go with either the 14″ or 15.6 screen and the 4GB of Ram. My husband deletes all emails after reading them so he will not require a large amount of storage at all. He will be using his GMail account on it.

I agree with you that our next step is to go to a big box store and actually “play” with chrome books and see for ourselves.
(Originally, I was so ignorant of Chrome books that when I read Woody’s recommendation about them I thought it was only a product of Google – not realizing that Samsung, HP, Asus, etc. all made Chrome books. So we need to educate ourselves to say the least!). Thanks again everyone for your input. I have learned so much from the generosity and expertise of Woody’s contributors.

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@ Peacelady:

Since the main ‘program’ on a Chromebook is a specialized version of the Chrome web browser, that can be used to log into a Gmail account. So it will work like it does on a ‘real’ computer.

Hopefully your husband is familiar with Chrome, although since it looks like he might be a Mac user, he (or you) might not use Chrome on it. So both of you will have to get used to Chrome. I see that Chrome can be installed on a Mac, so that might help.

Since he already has a Gmail account, he has a user name and password that can be used to set up and use a Chromebook, and then get access to his Gmail messages by going to Gmail.com

If he doesn’t like the touchpad for running the cursor, as I mentioned in post # 181670, Chromebooks usually have at least 2 USB ports, so a regular wireless USB mouse can be attached. I’m not a touchpad fan, but using the Samsung Chromebook while ‘lounging’…if you can master the multi-touch finger movements, and the keyboard short-cuts, it’s OK. It will take some research to figure out the keyboard short-cuts, but a help file is built in, so you can read about them there.

Good luck on your shopping quest.

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Anonymous wrote:

we will go with either the 14″ or 15.6 screen and the 4GB of Ram. My husband deletes all emails after reading them so he will not require a large amount of storage at all. He will be using his GMail account on it.

Peacelady:

Keep in mind that 4GB of RAM is the memory, not the storage space. You could think it like this:
* Memory is like how big your desk is.
* Storage is like how much filing cabinet space you have.

The 4GB would correspond to a moderately-sized desk – you can lay a lot of papers on the desk, shifting from paper to paper, because the desk is big enough to do so. However, if you had only 2GB of RAM, you couldn’t fit very much on that desk. If you wanted to work on several things at once, you would constantly be shuffling papers from the desk to the filing cabinet, so as to make room for the task you are currently working on. Obviously, the more RAM, the better; but 4GB should be fine for what your husband will be doing.

SkipH mentioned “16GB of ‘storage space’ (only about 10GB usable after it is running).” He is speaking of how big the hard drive is. This corresponds to how big your “filing cabinet” is. Although 10GB is not a huge amount of usable space, it should be fine for what your husband will need, because as you said, he deletes his emails after reading them. And if he does Gmail on the web, his email won’t take up any space on the hard drive; it is all kept on Google’s email server.

Personally, I would get a bigger drive than 16GB, because I store lots of stuff on my drive.

I just wanted to point out the difference between “RAM” and “storage space”.

Jim

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Elly

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Also, since external USB drives are plug and play with Chromebooks, no need to buy extra internal storage space in the base unit for all the stuff you wish to “file” away.

Windows 10 Pro 22H2

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Often you can plug in a big SD Card or Micro SD Card (and leave it plugged in) to gain additional storage space.

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Much obliged to all who have weighed in!  I previously had a Windows7 where hubby had a gmail account and used the Chrome browser.

Hubby has not familiarized himself with the new IMac so we are thinking he will be more at home on the Chromebook where we will set up his current GMail account and he will continue to use the Chrome browser.

Many thanks to MrJimPhelps for the much needed tutorial on RAM vs storage space — and to all the contributors helping us to make a good decision.

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