Keatah

My brother's GF just took a new job working from home doing mortgage underwriting type stuff (which is what she's done in the past).  She came to me to "fix" her computer.  It's a low end HP Stream laptop with 32 GB eMMC storage.  It couldn't even download latest Windows 10 updates -- critically low on storage.  I tried deleting some crap, but still not enough space.  She couldn't even download the bank's software package she needs to use (only a gig or so).  I told her their IT dept. won't want her using a Windows 10 laptop that's not updated with the latest patches.  I said you should go and buy a new laptop, and she said she can't afford it, so I gave her a spare Lenovo laptop I have lying around (has a 200 GB SSD and Windows 10).  Too bad the software she needs to run is only for Windows, or I'd have slapped Chrome OS on her HP Stream. 

I love the HP Stream -- but yeah, it barely can fit Windows 8, let alone Windows 10. You could probably image it and reinstall from scratch using the latest media creator -- zap the recovery partition and you get more space. The latest big updates are multiple GBs in size and there's simply not enough space on 32GB drive for it. 
 

I wonder if her company software could run in WINE? The Stream runs Linux really nicely, there are drivers for everything. Only a little more complex than ChromeOS but way more versatile. 
 

Back to Windows...I know she doesn't want a new machine, but Costco has a Surface Go bundle with type cover and 128GB SSD for $400. Only 4GB RAM but that's OK for how she's going to use it. Bright sharp screen (much nicer than Stream) and a cute portable package too. 

Those laptops that rely on the cloud storage as part of the usable space (like those 32 gb drives) are a horrible computer design.   My wife bought one, and I have sterred other friends from those.