Netbooks

[Shadow Reaper]

I can't really do our work online, it is far too confidential. However, what I did note is that in the pic of this cheap android netbook:

https://www.ebay.com/p/Atoah-10-Inch-Mini-Notebook-Android4-4-2-Jellybean-Computer-Netbook-Via8880-for/528175265?iid=312116523580&_trkparms=aid=222007&algo=SIM.MBE&ao=2&asc=50999&meid=5540dee6b11743a7aef815c150113a1b&pid=100005&rk=3&rkt=3&sd=382452748834&itm=312116523580&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

There is an icon labeled "Kingsoft Office" I then looked that up and found this:

https://kingsoft-android-office-international.fileplanet.com/apk?msclkid=16e8d800e5fa1f8eac0b82f0bacbca20&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=ADir: Productivity > Writing & Notes&utm_term=Kingsoft Office&utm_content=kingsoft-android-office-international

What I have not found it how much functionality it has in ppt, for example. Still checking this.

Personally i thought things like MS Word hit their apex back in the 90's. the newer versions just require you to memorize more,a d don't add significant utility So I don't need a powerful, premium grade word processor, but I do need something that can write and edit Word files, ppts, etc.

 

[Shadow Reaper]

Yeah, this is what I want: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=cn.wps.moffice_eng&hl=en_US

And $65 delivered is just cheap as dirt: https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Atoah-10-Netbook-Android-4-4-2-Jellybean-512-4GB-Storage-Wifi-HDMI/382452748834?_trkparms=aid=111001&algo=REC.SEED&ao=1&asc=50687&meid=74203b1ad12843fa8addd54c13bb6ebe&pid=100033&rk=3&rkt=8&sd=142782708558&itm=382452748834&_trksid=p2045573.c100033.m2042

And Firefox will run on Android: http://download.cnet.com/Mozilla-Firefox/3000-2356_4-75330349.html

so one suspects I can find a way to move my bookmarks.

 

[Sirus7264]

These are available on the android google play.

 

[Radegast74]

I think the problem is going to be, if you have confidential doc's, your ability to work with them on Chrome OS or Android is going to be severely limited. The app's for these devices are really go-betweens for stuff in the cloud (think about it, if you could do all your work on a $100 device, why would anybody buy a $1000 laptop?. I think Google & Microsoft are purposely crippling things so you have to pay more).

One hit from Google search of "can I work offline with Chrome OS"
https://www.computerworld.com/article/2471963/cloud-computing/chrome-os-offline--can-you-really-use-a-chromebook-without-the-cloud-.html

One hit from Google search of "can I work offline with Android tablet"
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/msoffice_word-mso_amobile/how-do-i-work-offline-with-the-android-version-of/d043ebaf-9585-4004-8c2d-3b762265d463

The other thing to consider: if your work is that confidential, are you going to take a risk with a third-party software that you may not understand all the security risks?

 

[Lorddarthvik]

There is no such thing as a cheap used Mac. Android tablets are $80 new. Win 10 tablets are about twice that, as are Chromebooks. Used Macs are again twice that price, and since I only need it as a temporary fix (till my iMac gets moved to FL) I am hesitant to spend more than I need to. If I thought the Android solution would give me full MS Office like capability, I'd go that route, but I am not seeing that yet.

Another concern is if I can install Firefox on the Netbook, and somehow port over all my bookmarks, that would be great. That would be worth some extra pesos. Do Androids run Firefox? Chromes? Win 10 I expect would. . .

That's why I said iPad, as in Tablet, not Mac as in Macbook. Those are ridiculously overpriced, but, I just got a barely used iPad Mini 2 Retina with the latest iOS11 for 110 USD + shipping... It's not exactly what you are looking for, but it's perfectly capable of handling some text documents, for over 8 hours on one charge.

Anyways, as you now said it should work offline, and handle confidential stuff offline, with a projector, and run PPT-s, I think any old windows laptop would serve you much better than a cheap android tablet or a pricey chromebook (which is still a glorified android tablet with a fixed keyboard)

Look at laptops like this, it is a perfectly fine laptop for displaying PPTs and words and shit.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Lenovo-ThnkPad-T410s-Intel-i5-120GB-HDD-4GB-RAM-Win10-Pro-Wifi-Webcam/163031259888?hash=item25f56b9af0:g:ZZwAAOSw8Mda645T#viTabs_0

Or look at something like this, for less than a chromebook, and it even has a damn touchscreen! Even if you want to junk it after use, that SSD alone is worth like 25 bucks in it, or you can just pop it into you PC as a dedicated boot or gaming disk.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/HP-Elitebook-2740p-Core-i5-4GB-128GB-SSD-Win-10-Pro-Touchscreen-Stylus-Grade-B/232755661520?hash=item3631518ad0:m:msuC56NRxfqHdRFturW5CFQ#viTabs_0

Here's another decent one,no SSD but for a 100 bucks, it is ready to work with a fresh battery and win10 pro.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-Latitude-E6320-i5-2520-2-5GHz-320GB-4GB-Win10-Pro-New-battery/263397334930?hash=item3d53b45f92:g:mDgAAOSwnVhaOohu#viTabs_0


The point I'm trying to make is, that if you want to spend as little money as possible, spend it on something that you Know will actually do what you want it to do. That 65USD android laptop thingy will sure as hell not run the latest microsoft apps, or at least not well enough to be of any use. Also, 65 bucks for android 4.4... what is this, 2013?
Just as a side note, in my experience, the win10 implementation on tablets is outrageously bad. I had a few cheap (<100usd) ones from oppo/onda/etc. and they all sucked hard, I would stay away from those and rather go with a pure android tablet. But an android 7 tablet at least.

 

[Shadow Reaper]

I was liking the idea of a 10" screen and don't want to go smaller, but I like the idea of a 12 or 13" screen more, and the laptop makes good sense.

The other thing to consider: if your work is that confidential, are you going to take a risk with a third-party software that you may not understand all the security risks?

Actually my partner is our security specialist. I'm looking for options to bring to him. It is really his decision, and I think you're correct--security is the primary concern. I can't do this stuff on the Cloud.

FYI, none of this "on the cloud" stuff is by accident. All of these machines have enough storage for thousands of docs. They are moving this stuff to the cloud so they can be searched by Google and others more efficiently and effectively. Google really is the horrid monster you have heard, and they want to stick their noses in everything we do. They have been reading all our mail for years, with no excuse why--just because we let them.

 

[DirectorGunner]

What about a used macbook? Could be about the same price as a netbook, and is OSX. You could always dual boot windows on it too. I've got an old macbook pro I use windows on for years, it's SUPER stable.. and OSX for apps that don't exist on windows.

 

[BUTUZ]

I can't really do our work online, it is far too confidential. However,

Ah yes. Online stuffs is all insecure. Avoid at all costs. Download Chinese copy version of MS Office for extra security. :D

 

[Shadow Reaper]

What about a used macbook? Could be about the same price as a netbook, and is OSX. You could always dual boot windows on it too. I've got an old macbook pro I use windows on for years, it's SUPER stable.. and OSX for apps that don't exist on windows.

I have looked at them but to compare with price, you need to buy 7-10 years old, and they all have HDDs. That seems a little behind to times to me.

I am curious about the no-name Chinese knockoffs: https://www.ebay.com/itm/14-1-Windows-10-Ultra-Thin-Intel-Celeron-N3450-Laptop-Netbook-4GB-64GB-Storage/273156522518?hash=item3f9965c216:m:mNfkv3AfGRJQ6D2EnOHX3mQ

 

[Sirus7264]

I agree cloud is never safe i avoid all clouds especially after all the nude photos were leaked from icloud. when we use our phones tablets or computers here we use encyption on our devices and special apps. also web apps via encypted vpn is a good solution.

edit forgot to add you can always encypt your documents anything sent over the web should use aes encyption on way or another.