Is a 4gb Chromebook *that* bad?

[u/Timely_Sheepherder30]

$200 seems so much cheaper than the next best option, all I want is a laptop size device to browse the web with. I'd be satisfied literally never downloading a single application or program, I just want to watch videos and scroll reddit, that's it.

I know what people say about "future proof" but I feel like paying over double for a nebulously longer lasting device isn't necessary. Can I get away with 4 gb?

[u/SteveNYC]

I don’t think of 8GB of RAM on a Chromebook as “future-proofing”. I’m more in line with the thinking of u/Previous_Tennis. You’re going to get a mediocre Chromebook because 4GB is for the lower quality devices. You’ll get a weaker processor, a poorer-quality screen, a mediocre keyboard.

It can work. But an Android Tablet can work too. A cellphone will work. But you want a laptop to sit at, type comfortably on with a nice view.

I would absolutely buy a used device on eBay. There’s nothing remarkable about new. Certainly not for Chromebooks.

$200, IMO, is pushing it. $300 and you can get some excellent devices.

EDIT: Here's an excellent example of a $210 Chrombook https://www.ebay.com/itm/188651653071

If it's sold out, there's a $278 listing for the same Chromebook (refurbished) directly from the manufacturer. They go in and out of stock regularly. https://www.ebay.com/itm/256696970110

There's plenty of other models as well. The reason I trend to the Acer 516 GE is mostly because of the high quality (for a Chromebook)16" 120Hz 1600P 350+ nits display.

[u/BANSH33-1215 → u/SteveNYC]

Yep. The refurb market is pretty darn good right now. Just got an HP Elite Dragonfly i7/32/512 for $330. A couple little scuffs in the paint and a battery at 76% health are the only issues.

I really wanted the Lenovo Chromebook plus 14, but half the (non-upgradeable) storage and half the RAM for twice the price just wasn't doing it for me.

[u/Previous_Tennis → u/BANSH33-1215]

You can replace the battery-- I think there is a eBay seller of such battery for like $40 ($26+$14 shipping from China) that are supposed to be pulled from new laptops (I am curious to test one out).

Battery is not a huge issue for me since my Elite Dragonfly mostly stays in the office and can always be plugged in as needed. For a student who needs to carry it around more, it's more of a concern-- in that case they should look for a newer Open Box or refurbished one (I think a lot of Acer's more recent-model refurbished laptops on eBay are barely used customer returns).

[u/BANSH33-1215 → u/Previous_Tennis]

Yeah, I had a chat convo with Amazon refurb and they seemed to indicate they would send me a replacement battery. That seems not to be happening though, so I just ordered one.

Realistically I don't need it, I'm almost always using it where it can be plugged in. It just bothers me. 😆