Is Anyone Here Familiar With Google Chrome Book laptop?

by toivo
6 replies
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Please don't laugh at my following question as it is relatively serious but need to know if a Google Chrome Book laptop will connect to and work with a 56K modem? I ask this on behalf of a friend in a wheelchair who has very little funds and although he does have a beat-up laptop connected at home to a 56K modem, is wondering if he buys a Chromebook if that will hook up to the 56K line OK? If his old machine does, he wonders if this new machine would. He currently isn't home but is at a medical facility that has wi-fi and is considering one for there and of course if he gets home, will it work there? He has broadband cable at home for TV (his only source of entertainment) but adding high-speed broadband via modem (from his cable provider) would cost him an additional $40 per month. Money is a consideration, I realize. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thank you.
  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    TELEPHONE MODEMS are yet ANOTHER item that is considered OBSOLETE! Chrome books, and almost any computer you can get at any store, no longer has RJ11/RJ12 sockets(to direct connect to the telephone line via an internal modem), OR RS232C connectors(used to hook up to serial devices, such as EXTERNAL modems). NO BUS adapter is likely to work on chromebooks, but THEY are rare ALSO!

    I think the ONLY way you could do this would be to find an ethernet to telephone modem(They HAVE made them in BANKS for companies and ISPs, and MIGHT make a single unit), USB to telephone modem, or use a USB->RS232C(aka SERIAL)converter with an old 56K modem

    BTW the problem with the USB->RS232C converters is that they DID work with XP, and I would think they work with newer versions of windows(I believe it only used a standard driver in windows ITSELF), but they may not work with android, which never really supported such a device.

    Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author Patrician
    I have heard Chromebook is wireless - and you do not need an internet service provider (ISP) - so you wouldn't need a modem of any kind.

    This site has lots of info about Chromebook.

    Chromebooks: Overview
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    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by Patrician View Post

      I have heard Chromebook is wireless - and you do not need an internet service provider (ISP) - so you wouldn't need a modem of any kind.

      This site has lots of info about Chromebook.

      Chromebooks: Overview
      It is WIFI, so you can't use it unless there is a provider within like 1000 feet that will allow you access through wifi. SO, if you are at star bucks, most hotels, many other places, NO PROBLEM! If you are at home, and don't have wifi up, you may be out of luck.

      Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author Patrician
    I don't think it is ONLY WIFI - I think it is something else also - I am still trying to find out exactly what and if there are any connectivity fees at all -

    I know there is cloud storage and some of the vendors for the machine include so many MB of storage for free for 2 years or some deals like that - so I am pretty sure there are charges somewhere - (but on the good side I did glance over a story about how Google drastically reduced their cloud storage fees.)

    As everyone has advised me - go in to like Best Buy or somewhere to buy one of the machines and play around with it and ask about these issues I am concerned with.

    Wish I could actually get up there but I guess I am not ready to buy it - just still kicking things looking at my 2 PCs that have XP that I need to replace - at least the laptop -

    I am very attracted to this WEB PC - no Windows no Microsoft no security problems.

    but what will it be like being under MORE Google domination? Probably sux so I will think about this for a while - but so far the benefits way far out weight the negativity.
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    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by Patrician View Post

      I don't think it is ONLY WIFI - I think it is something else also - I am still trying to find out exactly what and if there are any connectivity fees at all -

      I know there is cloud storage and some of the vendors for the machine include so many MB of storage for free for 2 years or some deals like that - so I am pretty sure there are charges somewhere - (but on the good side I did glance over a story about how Google drastically reduced their cloud storage fees.)

      As everyone has advised me - go in to like Best Buy or somewhere to buy one of the machines and play around with it and ask about these issues I am concerned with.

      Wish I could actually get up there but I guess I am not ready to buy it - just still kicking things looking at my 2 PCs that have XP that I need to replace - at least the laptop -

      I am very attracted to this WEB PC - no Windows no Microsoft no security problems.

      but what will it be like being under MORE Google domination? Probably sux so I will think about this for a while - but so far the benefits way far out weight the negativity.
      Some DO have what amounts to be a cellphone connection, lokk for "3G" or "4G". And they DO offer 100MB of "free service" for two years, from verizon. There may be other carriers with different plans. BTW some devices won't be compatible with some carriers. Cell phone service is limited and has a cost, so you can bet you will pay somehow. Kindle IS a bit different withthe books and all. Still, most plans,with ads, end up charging. Again,I am talking about when there is an equipment cost that can't be mitigated.

      They are like: Amazon.com: HP Chromebook 11 Model : 11-1121us -...Amazon.com: HP Chromebook 11 Model : 11-1121us -...
      It looks like they START is the mid $300 range

      Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    BTW DON'T believe the hype about no security problems. They HAVE to be updateable, etc... Apparently, the chromebooks HIT THE STREET with a supply of viruses at the ready. DON'T FORGET! These computers use the SAME processor family and SAME operating system as an android phone! According to antivirus programs, like avast, there ARE anti virus programs out there.

    Steve
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