Considering buying a chromebook

[Clyde]

My old laptop is in bad shape, and I want to buy a replacement. I want a computer that I can download,edit, and share photos; view movies (on youtube and netflix); and shop. Can a chromebook do all of these things well?

I am looking into a chromebook because they are cheap, I'm not considering the pixel model at all. Being able to use steam would be nice, but I haven't used it in about a year. I don't need the windows applications at all, and I can't use any personal computer for work.

 

[SnowyGamester]

A Chromebook run ChromeOS which is little more than a web browser, file browser and a media player. You shouldn't have any problem downloading and sharing photos or shopping online, however editing photos may be a bit trickier and will require a web-based photo editor (I know they exist but how well they work I couldn't tell you). Watching video should be fine when it comes to YouTube however I'm unfamiliar with Netflix since it isn't available here so I can't guarantee that. That being said if it allows you to watch video through a browser as YouTube does it should be fine.

And no, you won't be able to use Steam, or at least is isn't very likely...ChromeOS may have some hacks that let you install more applications and since it's Linux-based the Linux Steam client could potentially run but don't expect to play any games with it. You should be able to install a different Linux distribution though.

 

[OneCatch]

As Snowy said, a Chromebook is basically a big browser. It's what the entire OS is built around, so for doing anything else it may get difficult. Even changing settings on it are done through the browser.
This site gives a rough idea of what it's like to navigate: http://www.chasms.com/chrome1/chromebook/cdesktop.htm

It looks like you can modify charts and documents and stuff using google apps (tile pattern button on taskbar), but I'm not sure about picture editing. It might literally be Paint-level stuff. It can store files (click files button from there), but you cannot install applications on it, except for google apps.

So no Steam: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/chromebook-central/Ot1uMqqTzvI
It might be possible to modify it, or install a different OS altogether, but frankly you're probably better off just getting a normal laptop instead.

On the bright side, Netflix just requires Silverlight which is supported on Chrome for Windows, so one would hope it would work on a chromebook as well. You might want to confirm that before buying though.