Topic: Users of Chromebooks, I need your help.

Hello you all!

I know that a time will soon come when I need to get a new laptop. I am pretty familiar with Windows OS, but I am not the biggest fan of the Metro interface. It doesn't mean buying a Windows 8 laptop is out of the question, but it's something I am not excited to go out and buy. As a result, I have been considering other OSs. I'd love to jump on the Mountain Lion crew with Mac, but they are so expensive . The other alternative is Chromebook.

I am interested in Chromebook, but I am quite ignorant regarding what Chromebooks are actually about. Is it required to have an internet connection in order to use a Chromebook? Can I only use Google services if I have a Chromebook? Can I still code (using IntelliJ, Notepad++, Eclipse, etc) if I have a Chromebook like I can with Windows or Mac. Are there benefits to using Chromebook vs a Macbook or a Windows laptop?

Thank you all for helping me out, here.

Chromebooks are very lightweight, both figuratively and literally, so I suppose that's their advantage. Know you're essentially getting a (fantastic) browser plus some web apps, however. If that sounds less functional than your average Win/Mac laptop, it's because it is. You can use some apps without an Internet connection, such as Google Drive. Not sure what you mean by only being able to use Google services, but Chrome is obviously a Google-centric browser. No idea about whether you can code on it (my guess would be you'd have to use a web client, if you can even code with a Chromebook at all).

@Odentnin
Wow . This really doesn't sound like something for me. By only being able to use Google service, I was wondering about the ability to download and run programs on the Chromebook that aren't, essentially, extensions and add-ons for the Chrome Browser. However, at this rate, even if it could run other non-Google Chrome applications, I don't think it would be in my best interest to buy one.

It looks like I'm all but forced to go for a Windows 8 laptop. Are there any kind of cheap Macbooks (just grasping for straws at this point). And thank you for your response

Chromebooks run Chrome OS, so yeah, all of your programs/applications are going to be browser-based. I would recommend a Macbook Air to you, but it looks like they start at $1,000. You could always look into how much they cost used. I'm not a huge fan of Windows 8, but it seems like your best option is to find a cheap laptop running it. If you're willing to do so some research, The Verge has great reviews.