Chromebook security

[Rainbow Quartz]

Hi there,
We're looking for a cheap small laptop to use on holiday, and like the look of the Dell Chromebook 11 3180. We only want it for browsing the internet and for emails, and we are finding that our previous small Windows laptop is very slow, plus the battery life isn't great, and chromebooks seem to be faster than similar Windows laptops, and have a good battery life. We were wondering, however, if they are OK to do internet banking on, as this is something that we might have to do while we are away?
Thanks in anticipation of your advice!
Cheers
Mandy

[ShaunJ]

I've done internet banking on my Chromebook without any difficulty. Also on my Kindle Fire. 

[Rainbow Quartz]

Thanks Shaun

[Greensleeves]

I must say I love my Chromebook, it is great.  Built-in security, small internal memory so important stuff stored on the cloud, but it does nearly everything my large HP laptop does, and more.  Loads of free apps too - I am currently familiarising myself with a photo-editing one.  And of course, with stuff stored in Google docs etc, it means they are accessible from your other devices.  And with a 12 hour battery life, what is there not to like?
Regards
GS

[andrewalston]

As long as you remember that Google is an advertising company. Their products - Chrome, Android, Search, Gmail etc. - are only there to let them sell your experience to advertisers. Your box reports back to Google everything you do. Doing online banking, for example, lets them sell your box as a target to advertisers of other financial products, say insurance or PPI claims companies.

..and yes, other companies are just as bad! 

[Rainbow Quartz]

Thanks Greensleeves and Andrew. Sadly advertising seems inevitable whatever you do, I'm actually quite good now at blocking out all those annoying adverts that appear as soon as you go online!

[ClamChowder]

Thinkpads are good laptops.

[cati]

I'm a Chromebook fan myself!

[Rainbow Quartz]

Thanks Clam & cati. I have a Thinkpad which I love, and which was recommended to me here on RootsChat! Lenovo do a Thinkpad chromebook now, so I've been thinking about getting that. (oops, 'scuse the 'thinking' pun!) Torn between that, the Dell 11 and an Asus or Acer. Whew! too much choice!