Looking for a laptop for my wife $300 - $400 budget

Chromebooks are great simple devices, and they can open and edit documents online. The downside (as I had with University of Phoenix) would be the encryption model used for the PDF based school materials (books, chapters, etc. required reading) are incompatible with the ChromeOS.

As you just need basic use, any simple low cost computer would do. There is a TON of sales currently online today here in the US (Black Friday) till Monday for CyberMonday sales. You can check www.fatwallet.com or simple google searches; or bravely head down and pick up one. They range from real low end laptops for $99 to $400 for a decent i3 laptop.

I personally would just stick with (unless you want to fess up a better load of money for the added supreme support you get with Apple brands) Windows based computers to ensure 100% compatibility with your wife's school demands. You might also check your wife's classes requirements; if you bought a cheapo computer for example, but she is taking Business Marketing, she may then have issues with using the computer to do SQL Queries on the SAP simulator software for market sales trend analysis segment of her classwork.

I have never used a Chromebook, but in my opinion they seem to be very limiting in terms of what you can do with it. Chrome is a web based operating system which primarily relies on cloud storage instead of storing files on the Chromebook itself. They do have some internal storage since they have 16GB or 32GB SSD, but you need to take into consideration that the OS will also use that SSD so actual available storage is less.

Get a Windows 8 laptop because it is more versatile since you can install Windows programs on it. Get the following Toshiba laptop with a Core i3-4005u CPU which is more powerful than the CPU in the Chromebook. It also cost less at $280 after rebates. The Intel HD 4400 is good enough to play some games to pass the time if need be.

http/www.staples.com/Toshiba-C55-B5362-Intel-Core-i3-4GB-RAM-500GB-Hard-drive-156/product_1389315?cmArea=home_box1

Actually you would be AMAZED at how much can be done on a Chromebook just like any Windows based laptop, all the same 'things', while not done the same 'way'. As their focus was in competition with Apple, that anything done on a Android Phone, can be done on a Android Tablet can be done on a Chromebook (aka iPhone, iMac, etc.) that "there is a app for that" same thinking, there is a plethora of apps out there to do 'everything' portably, be it look at CAD drawing, Powerpoint Presentations and so on that is common in business.

As you pointed out the storage would be normally 'online', hence why before ChromeOS release was the need and demand was for OFFLINE MODE, which meant the same or some applications and the DATA you referred to that 'lived' on the Cloud was also on the ChromeBook. Again thinking portability like Cell Phone, the inclusive slot for a SD allowed larger storage medium (was up to 64Gb at the time of release I believe) plus the included USB port allowed full compatibility with common/consumer of the shelf (COTS) portable 2.5mm based USB drives to have unlimited amount of storage capability offline as well. So the Chromebook passed the 'Businessperson - Plane' scenario, where they were working waiting for the plane in the airport, closed the Chromebook, opened it at the 'safe' altitude, instantly got back to work AND could use all the GoogleDOCS, Spreadsheet, GMail Offline, etc. apps nearly flawlessly.

For your own confirmation, simply go to the Google Store, and do a search for the TYPE of application you would common use in a business day, or by file extension (aka DOCX, PPT, etc.) and you will find a APP for that. ChromeOS is capable of being on par contender with any Windows laptop, and has sold and continues to sell extremely well.

BUT I would NOTE to you Mod: Windows now is becoming ChromeOS, as of the Windows 8 iteration, and per Microsoft's / everyone else's Business plan. If SmartPhones can do what a computer 'does', if a Tablet does all that a computer can do, then why can't the computer be more like Phones/Tablets: aka CloudOS? Check out Microsoft Blue, and Azure, both pushed this and the defining Office 360 is now pulling the main centerpointe (Office Suite Applications) of 'why' we had 'desktop' computers to begin with, and moving it all to the 'Cloud', no more software to install, no more OS to install, just replace your 'device' every 2 years.

If they were targetting the $99 or under price range I would say they did fine in it, based on the specs, but for the $259 Amazon price I think this is a joke. A simple google search for that immediately brought up two HANDS ON reviews, you can read for yourself on what they found themselves.

See, when your with Windows, right off it is going to consume SPACE, the storage part where you keep things, and add on Office, and normally your between 24-40GB used "just to turn on and type a letter", so having a hardware with only 32-64GB of storage when you have 1TB drives for only $49, doesn't seem to make much sense.

I mean, if you compare the specifications, it is easy to see the difference between that and say this for only $249 http/www.officedepot.com/a/products/703765/Dell-Inspiron-15-Laptop-Computer-With/?cm_mmc=Affiliates-_-CJ-_-358129-_-11263938 Never you mind any of the Cyber Monday sales going on today, that will have better specs than the HP Stream 13.

Uhmmm that link works when I CLICK on it (do NOT try to COPY and Paste it) fine. *shrugs* As for the one you picked, just as good as any others IF you only stick to "open/edit documents, browse the internet" but again the caveat what the school says for your wife's classes requires to be able to use any needed software.