Can you model on a Chromebook?

Hi everyone,

I am currently contemplating purchasing a chromebook for my next laptop due to the performance and price point. My concern, and the reason I have not pulled the trigger yet though, is whether you can model in excel on a chromebook and utilize shortcuts ect... There are two reasons which I think it may not be possible.

1) Can you run fully native microsoft office apps (like excel) - or do you have to use the web based versions? --- Because you can't use shortcuts really on the web-based one --- I have heard you can run fully native microsoft office apps on a chromebook, but I have also heard people say the opposite and that you cannot and that you can only use the web browser based verisons

2) There are no function keys or "F keys" --- I have found a way to reprogram the top small keys which chromebooks come with to be function keys - but I have only read about how to do it in theory and have not found or spoke to anyone who has actually done it.

If anyone could comment on either whether they have or have not had a successful experience modeling on a chromebook, and / or, whether they can confirm or deny either of the two points mentioned above from personal experience, it would be beyond appreciated.

Thank you everyone.

2 Comments
 

From what I've read, this seems to be the general consensus: "Chromebooks do not support Windows, Mac or Linux apps, so you will not be able to run the full-fledged desktop version of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint) on Chrome OS."

If you're building out or running any sort of large model, I have the feeling that a Chromebook is probably going to continually perturb you. They don't seem to be very useful beyond very basic tasks (e.g., browsing, word document editing, etc.). In my opinion, you'd be much better off buying a used ThinkPad. Thinkpaddepot . com is a great source.

 

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