Seeking Chromebook recommendations

[Sidewinder]

Time to get a Chromebook.

 

Major purpose will be working on spreadsheets (Google Sheets, obviously), writing (have not yet tried Google's cloud-based word processing options (is "word processing" even still a phrase, or am I stuck in the 90's...)) also light web browsing, email, etc., much more so than for consuming video content; and not at all for gaming.   (Gaming schmaming.)

 

Requirements:  17" screen (you heard me), and also apparently a glass trackpad is comfier than the other trackpads?  I hate all trackpads because if any part of your hand comes within three millimeters of them the system decides that you are purposefully using it and your cursor jumps to where you don't want it.  I've read that one manufacturer, I think it was either Asus or Acer, had introduced a trackpad that can tell the difference between your finger and your palm but I am not remotely convinced that that's possible.

 

In addition to whatever the best type of trackpad is, I also require that my Chromebook have a long battery life.

 

Things that I think would be nice extras are a backlit keyboard (or is this the battery-drain that some tell me it is?) and maybe also that spin-around type dealy, where it folds up in such a way as to function as a tablet.  I'm not a fan of tablet computing but if I'm to take this on a plane and want to watch a movie then that would be a nice feature to have, though spare in-flight time like that is better spent reading books and I'm currently telling myself that that's what I will in fact do.

 

One thing I don't understand about Chromebooks so far is the different storage capacities; 'cause I thought the whole purpose of a Chromebook is that it's only used when connected; and that all your data is stored in the cloud.

 

Also would I be able to plug my phone into a USB port and share my phone's Internet connection that way?  I don't want to burn through my mobile hot-spot allowance if I can help it.

[Sidewinder]

: /

[Kat58]

Acer and Asus are the only two choices for 17 inchers AFAIK.

[pwd847]

When it gets old, install GalliumOS on it.