I've had a Chromebook for over a year now, and I think it's great. Trackpad is a pain though.

I like tablets a lot for some things, but it really doesn't replace a laptop for me. When it comes time to create content instead of consuming it, I always reach for the laptop instead.

Put a keyboard on a tablet, and I don't have a problem creating content on it--I cannot work out why I'd want a netbook or Chromebook over an Asus Transformer. They're quite similar.

Consuela - that's the takeaway I got from the story too. Although, I'm very happy he found his pup again.

Put a keyboard on a tablet

That's what annoys me, though - the keyboard is a separate piece I have to carry around and keep track of.

Do you HAVE to use the trackpad on the Chromebook, or can you put a mouse on it? (Yes, I know... the mouse is a separate piece.)

Am I right that you can't save anything to the Chromebook? You have to save everything to Google Docs or the Cloud (neither of which I've ever used before)?

I hate trackpads, and that's with using one everyday on my Mac Air, so it's not just 'an occasional thing that if I'd give it only a little chance I'd get used to it.' Whatever brain/hand-eye-coordination thingie you need to like one of those, I don't have it.

I like tablets a lot for some things, but it really doesn't replace a laptop for me.

Yeah, but my Dad also has a regular laptop. I tried to sell him on a Windows or Android tablet but he really wanted a keyboard.

My dog, my family are so difficult to deal with. My mom, dad and my sister are in town b/c my dad has a medical appointment. My mom has dementia, and my dad has a really bad hip and can't walk that far.

Last night my parents got lost in their hotel. They came downstairs to see me off, even though I told them it wasn't necessary, and in the five minutes they were out of it, they forgot what their room number was. I was home before the got back to their room.

The place of my dad's medical appointment is a block away from my work. I am around it a lot since it also has the closest Starbuck's and a pharmacy. It's on a super busy intersection with not a lot of parking and two busy bus stops. I called my dad and offered to go there and meet them and help getting my mom and dad into the building, while my sister found a place to park. My dad said sure. I made arrangements with my boss to leave.

My sister calls me back, gets huffy because I warned her that it's going to be bad weather tonight for their drive back. Then hems and haws about when I should meet them to help get my dad to his appointment, and finally tells me she doesn't want my help. I don't know why I bother sometimes.

and finally tells me she doesn't want my help

Argh. Can you show up anyway? Because they will need your help, if there's not much parking. Although--is there handicapped parking nearby they could use? I've found that a real life-saver with my parents.

Otherwise I have to park, decant them, and leave them on the sidewalk while I go park, risking the chance of them wandering off and getting lost.

I love trackpads. For me they are almost as easy to use as a mouse. I hate that nib thing on on the ThinkPad, but I probably would get used to it if I actually owned a ThinkPad.

I use my iPad quite a lot for web browsing. When I need to type or access to my music and video, I use my MacBook Pro. My iPad has pretty much replaced my 11" MacBook Air--maybe I should sell the Air.

One of these days I gotta replace the MacBook Pro (which is now almost four years old) with a new 13" MacBook Pro Retina.