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Changing (metaphorical) Horses

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Ranchi
Senior Second Officer
Senior Second Officer
Posts: 919
Joined: September 2014

Changing (metaphorical) Horses

Unread post by Ranchi »

Looking for advice:
I’ve got an old laptop (probably >12 years old) running Windows 10 or 11 ( can’t remember which & I haven’t patience to switch it on again.) It also has Office 2007 on it (inc Access [which I don’t use] & Publisher.)
Mostly I use my iPad for everyday use.

I am treasurer of a local group and use Excel for accounts and Publisher for menus & flyers for the group ( though I could just about manage using Word)
I do use Google sheets via the iPad for the day to day running of the group accounts ( though crucially (I think !) I design the spreadsheet in Excel & export through Google drive) At the end of the year I open the updated ‘Sheets’ spreadsheet in Excel & do any calculations there. (I’m happier using functions in Excel than Sheets.)

This morning I fired up the laptop and it took about 40 minutes to eventually start up. It also hangs up for a while quite often during normal working. I’m thinking it’s on its last legs (I’ve tried a few trials on disc speed up/ clean up programmes.) I think I’m probably going to have to bite the bullet & investor in some new hardware.

1. As I see it I can buy a new laptop (I was surprised how expensive Windows laptops are.)
2. Go for a MacBook
3. Try a Chromebook

3 Would be the cheapest - my daughter uses one & is quite happy with it but she uses it if she can access her work Office software. If I went this route I would have to up my game on Sheets & Docs etc.

1 has the advantage that I could use my old Microsoft Office - assuming they still put disc drives in laptops. What worries me is that in a couple of years time I would probably have similar slowing up problems I’m encountering now.

2 is the most expensive option - I wouldn’t be looking at one of the mega expensive Macs (probably cheapest or second cheapest) and I could buy Office for ~ £120. ( but wouldn’t have Publisher -I could live with that.)
The quick start up and the easy running of Apple products does appeal, but I’m not 100% sure.

Has anyone had experience of making the change from Office to Google based programs on a Chromebook?
Or has anyone any good or bad experiences going from Windows to Apple based products?

Thanks.
Steve

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