Samsung XE500C13-K03US Chromebook 3-11.6 HD - Celeron N3060-4GB - 16GB SSD

I’ve always purchased laptops in the past, but am really happy with this Chromebook. It loads pretty darn quickly and offers the bare necessities required for mobile computing. I had the thing figured out while playing with it for a couple hours after it arrived on my doorstep--really basic system.So you are going to need a Google e-mail account to get started. The system will ask for one when it first loads. From that point on it’s pretty simple.What I like about this Chromebook:Overall a slick design--thin and contoured.Very lightweight and compact in size. This easily fits in my small backpack.It powers up when you raise the screen. It took me a few tries to figure this out--no need to press the power button.The initial screen is simple and offers several options, from opening programs to configuring the system. It’s a very basic format all the way around and should be easy for anyone to understand.Everything loads reasonable fast. The OS and browser open and operate quickly.The screen is small but adequate and is good and bright. I still use my reading glasses, but this is a big step up from looking at the 7” screen on my Kindle Fire.The touchpad works perfectly as far as I’m concerned.The keyboard works well, though I’m learning how to use it since it is smaller than a standard keyboard. The keys are responsive.There is a microSD slot for added storage. This thing doesn’t come with a lot of storage, but you really shouldn’t need much, since it’s mostly for online activities and cloud storage. Nonetheless, there is the microSD slot should you need it.There are two USB ports, an HDMI port and headphone/microphone jack.The battery holds a big charge. I’ve had this thing running for many hours on a single charge.What I don’t like: There isn’t much I dislike about this Chromebook, but I will mention what I’ve noticed.The male connector on the end of the power cable is very thin. It’s not huge deal, and it’s probably not a problem for most people, but when I look at it, I think it looks flimsy. I’m use to connectors with a much larger diameter.The sidebar on the Chrome browser is so small that it is nearly impossible to use. I had to add an extension (Rescroller) to the browser, so I could adjust the width of the scroll bar.So those are my thoughts on this Chromebook. I’m happy with my purchase and would do it again if given the opportunity.

I bought this because trying to use my Nexxus tablet to browse the Web was a nightmare, even after a full factory reset.PROS- While sitting on a recliner, the machine works great ergonomically.- Features a fully featured version of Chrome and Google Apps, not the dumbed down, functional but annoying Android versions. Chrome on the Chromebook fully mirrors Chrome on my two desktops.- It has enough capacity to run Chrome and Webapps without any major issues. A little slower than a desktop maybe but not terribly so.- Very light weight.IT IS WHAT IT IS- the keyboard is functional. It's a little smaller than I'd prefer but that's an expected trade-off.CON- There is no option for a simplified waking password. You need to type in your real Google password anytime you to wake it up. Mine is quite involved so it's involved every time. You can set it so your phone unlocks when nearby but that doesn't always work. With a lot of flutzing, you can get your cell phone to sort of unlock it... sometimes. Though maybe it's my iffy Huawei phone.TIPSOnce the updates downloaded and I rebooted the machine, it was fully functional. Stuff like Android Play store and phone unlocking wouldn't work until I rebooted after the updates.Google how to use a Chrome mousepad. Knowing how and when to use two and three fingers really makes Web browsing much easier. You can even right click to pin tabs (Gmail, Calendar, etc) you want to keep up permanently.OVERALLThis a great value for the money. I am extremely pleased. Easily the best of this sort of thing that I have ever owned.UPDATEI still LOVE this machine. And now it's even $30 cheaper than when I bought it.Yesterday I installed the Linux version of Blender for a night class. It took some hacking skills but eventually I got it running. Though once installed, it wasn't the best experience; I had to reboot a few times, but it was much better than I expected. I'll use my real computer for all my Blend-ing outside of class. But Blender running pretty good on a $200 machine!