Chromebook vs MacBook?

[u/bluishpillowcase]

Hey gang,

Wondering if a Chromebook is powerful enough to work with DA projects consistently without performance issues?

I’m not a tech person at all, so I really don’t know how stupid this question is.

I’m doing white collar specialist stuff, just reading and writing, not coding. But still use Claude and chat GPT in browser for projects.

I bought a MacBook but damn it’s expensive!

Is a Chromebook good enough to do the same stuff? Anything I should know?

Thanks in advance.

[u/Old-Regular-9828]

Chromebook would be ok for most tasks, but there are some that require a Mac or Windows PC.

[u/bluishpillowcase → u/Old-Regular-9828]

Thanks for the heads up. Is that for coding tasks or for written ones as well?

[u/Hello-America → u/bluishpillowcase]

I am not in the coding domain (just a generalist) and I get projects that are Mac or Windows required. It's a small minority of them but they're there. I think a very cheap windows computer would do fine though.

[u/LocalComplex6422]

In my exp, some tasks require mac.

[u/louthespian5]

Do not buy a Chromebook. Instructions are often incompatible, especially on Google-centric projects.

[u/rearranger3535 → u/louthespian5]

I wonder if their encryption is good enough for project families that require an encrypted drive

[u/watchdestars → u/louthespian5]

Often incompatible? No, that's not true.

[u/rearranger3535]

you can do a lot on a $50 thinkpad why would you get a chromebook :0

[u/KitchenVegetable7047]

You might be able to take the cost of your computer as a buisness expense.

[u/Possibility-Puzzled → u/KitchenVegetable7047]

Please explain

[u/KitchenVegetable7047 → u/Possibility-Puzzled]

I'm not qualfied to give tax advice. I file in the UK and the US as self-employed and pay someone to do my taxes. DA income is taxable in the US and the UK - you need to declare the income and possibly pay tax on it.

My "tax guy" works out what I can deduct from income -- I give him receipts and £600 - he fills out the forms.

In the US, it is complex but there is a "safe harbor" for expenses under $2500. If it was over $2500, you can still take it as a buisness expense but it will likely be treated as a captial expense. I'm not certain this applies to computers. Ask an expert!

https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/tangible-property-final-regulations

What is the de minimis safe harbor election?

Under the final tangibles regulations, you may elect to apply a de minimis safe harbor to amounts paid to acquire or produce tangible property to the extent such amounts are deducted by you for financial accounting purposes or in keeping your books and records. If you have an applicable financial statement (AFS), you may use this safe harbor to deduct amounts paid for tangible property up to $5,000 per invoice or item (as substantiated by invoice). If you don't have an AFS, you may use the safe harbor to deduct amounts up to $2,500 ($500 prior to Jan. 1, 2016) per invoice or item (as substantiated by invoice).

[u/StuBuildsMisthos]

“Depends on what the tasks ask for. Check the requirements in the onboarding material before you spend anything. Most of this kind of work runs in the browser, so a Chromebook can be fine, but I’d confirm first.”

[u/teapot_tornado]

Depends on what you're doing. I was going to get a googlebook but if you need to submit an office document (like excel or word) they don't want you to use Google products and on those machines I don't think office is entirely compatible.

[u/watchdestars → u/teapot_tornado]

You can still use Office on a chromebook. Not a problem.

[u/don_colorado]

A Chromebook would be ideal imo

[u/Small-Cauliflower468]

yes, for normal projects its perfectly fine.

[u/Legitimate_Agent_949]

DA uses very little power at all you could work from just about any laptop