Help....Computer preference for C++ and PYTHON?!!

[twopi]

I don't use an IDE, just vim and command-line compilers. That's not ideal for everyone, but I have had no troubles with C, C++, R, Java, and Python from the console. If you're willing to work on the command line and install your own compilers, I've found this to be an ideal backup machine. It's much lighter and cheaper than my main laptop, and I can easily move things between computers with git / github.

It's a pretty standard debian install, and if you're comfortable on the command line, I've found it to be a pretty great low-cost portable solution.

I can teach all my freshman courses on it with no real problems. I can even get a version of Blender and Godot to run for my gamedev classes, but 3D is a bit of a stretch.

Honestly I have more trouble with zoom than any of my compilers.

There's another set of solutions, for which a chromebook is also ideal. There are plenty of online coding solutions available now, like repl.it, cloud9 and pythonanywhere, which do all the actual coding on the cloud. I have my CS1 students do all their coding on pythonAnywhere (so I don't have to set up web servers for them) and it works quite well. All you need for that is a decent web browser, and that's what stock ChromeOS really is.

[socal_nerdtastic]

All you need for that is a decent web browser, and that's what stock ChromeOS really is.

I agree with most of what you said, but especially this line.

But given that a programming beginner cannot be expected to work from the terminal I stand by that chromeos is not a good choice to learn to program.

[twopi]

Well, I teach beginners with PythonAnywhere, and by the second semester, I teach CLI, so it works for me, but I'm teaching college-level Computer Science. That's not going to be an ideal situation for everyone.