[xxcrapperzxx]

Probably, but I don't want to ask. They might get suspicious.

[TechnoProdigy]

I never really understood school's imposing restrictions on what you can do with a school laptop (To a point; like infecting it with tons of viruses and the like). Whatever you do on it will just be erased when they reformat it and pass it on to the next student after you're done with it.

[xxcrapperzxx]

This is my laptop. ._.

[Meowrocket]

Does you school have an email or something you can ask them on?

Probably, but I don't want to ask. They might get suspicious.

You could quite easily create an anonymous email account, log onto a computer that is not yours (ex. a public library) and send them and email asking them about it so they cannot trace it to you.
(Not like I've ever done that before... )
Just my thoughts.

-Meow

[TechnoProdigy]

This is my laptop. ._.

....you just said you're worried about playing Minecraft on your school's laptop, did you not?

-Edit- Looking over everything, I'm actually confused as to the ownership of the laptop and where you're using it.

[Aelcalan]

You contradict yourself; it's both "only for school purposes" and "anything but games." Those aren't the same thing. It almost seems like you're trying to get someone here to give you the go-ahead to do what you want with it, but we can't. The person that CAN tell you what's ok is the one that coughed up the cash for it, and if you're not sure about what's allowed, you REALLY need to go and get them to clarify that, or else you could wind up in a great deal of trouble, depending on the circumstances.

TL;DR: Go ask whoever gave the thing to you!

[Wormoxide]

Use Chrome. For an anti-virus use something like Norton, or if you're looking for a free anti-virus use malwarebytes or AVG.

Lol Techno... the laptop has windows 8... he does not need anti-virus. Any aftermarket anti-virus would not only slow down the system but conflict with windows defender allowing the virus to get through. I thought I made this very clear once before you should not be given advice on an OS you have no technical experience with.

As for the OP's actual questions those are loaded guns... a browser is a matter of preference and what works for you. However, I will say one major con about chrome is that the majority of sites and services I use, chrome is completely incapably of rendering the page correctly if at all. Secondly major development tools do not and will never work on chrome, because the plugin API, you can argue for good reason, does not allow a plugin to write anywhere it wants on the filesystem. For those reasons I will always use Firefox.

My personal comparison of chrome and Firefox is thus:
Chrome = OSX... simple, works okay to get basic tasks done, not really customizable, but that all equals better stability and speed. You really cannot poke around much and accidentally "break" things.

Firefox = Windows ... no two people on the planet will have the same settings because every little detail is customizable, It can be easily broken accidentally if you do not know what you are doing. It may not always have the best stability or speed and can become a memory hog very quickly. However it is far more flexible and does not even attempt to restrict the user from making a change... even if it is a "bad" one.

[Wormoxide]

Use Chrome. For an anti-virus use something like Norton, or if you're looking for a free anti-virus use malwarebytes or AVG.

Lol Techno... the laptop has windows 8... he does not need anti-virus. Any aftermarket anti-virus would not only slow down the system but conflict with windows defender allowing the virus to get through. I thought I made this very clear once before you should not be given advice on an OS you have no technical experience with.

As for the OP's actual questions those are loaded guns... a browser is a matter of preference and what works for you. However, I will say one major con about chrome is that the majority of sites and services I use, chrome is completely incapably of rendering the page correctly if at all. Secondly major development tools do not and will never work on chrome, because the plugin API, you can argue for good reason, does not allow a plugin to write anywhere it wants on the filesystem. For those reasons I will always use Firefox.

My personal comparison of chrome and Firefox is thus:
Chrome = OSX... simple, works okay to get basic tasks done, not really customizable, but that all equals better stability and speed. You really cannot poke around much and accidentally "break" things.

Firefox = Windows ... no two people on the planet will have the same settings because every little detail is customizable, It can be easily broken accidentally if you do not know what you are doing. It may not always have the best stability or speed and can become a memory hog very quickly. However it is far more flexible and does not even attempt to restrict the user from making a change... even if it is a "bad" one.

I never really understood school's imposing restrictions on what you can do with a school laptop (To a point; like infecting it with tons of viruses and the like). Whatever you do on it will just be erased when they reformat it and pass it on to the next student after you're done with it.

In the mean time we have laptop X on our network acting as a botnet... maybe we should have imposed better security policies. Don't be silly Techno says that does not make any sense, we are going to wipe that laptop once the student gives it back... so just ignore the bogged network for the next 4 years.

[TechnoProdigy]

Use Chrome. For an anti-virus use something like Norton, or if you're looking for a free anti-virus use malwarebytes or AVG.

Lol Techno... the laptop has windows 8... he does not need anti-virus. Any aftermarket anti-virus would not only slow down the system but conflict with windows defender allowing the virus to get through. I thought I made this very clear once before you should not be given advice on an OS you have no technical experience with.

I never really understood school's imposing restrictions on what you can do with a school laptop (To a point; like infecting it with tons of viruses and the like). Whatever you do on it will just be erased when they reformat it and pass it on to the next student after you're done with it.

In the mean time we have laptop X on our network acting as a botnet... maybe we should have imposed better security policies. Don't be silly Techno says that does not make any sense, we are going to wipe that laptop once the student gives it back... so just ignore the bogged network for the next 4 years.

I have had Windows 8 with Norton and it has been working without a single hitch for quite some time now, you condescending fool.

Also, can you read? I said to a point (like infecting it with viruses and the like) which includes botnets.

[MEMYYSELFANDME!!]

Well, I am going to take the assumption that your parents bought you the PC and intended to cause they love you and want you to do well educationally. What could be a recommendation is having it have two different users (aka two different server to do) These could be titled as School, which isn't parental blocked with password, and one that is titled Games/Others, which would be locked with a parental password created by your parents. It isn't a bad idea because my parents did this for me as well. If you need to know where that users setting is, it is one of the options for the shutdown bar in the windows settings.( the one with the options Switch User, Log off, Lock, etc. ) Another option I would suggest, which may not be the best(depending on how well you can write) is to make a strongly worded persuasive essay, which is not like those types of three letter responses. When I say essay, I mean 1 intro paragraph, 3 body paragraphs (first two paragraphs stating the two reasons supported by evidence, facts, or expert opinions, and the second one having a counter argument that could possibly happen and how to defend your position), and a conclusion (restating thesis and call to action, a.k.a the final argument that would change a person's opinion). As i said, this suggestion might not be the best because it depends on how well you are with writing essays, which might not be fun. I would try to do the first suggestion as your go to option before doing the second option.

Also, a word to the wise, do not be a bad xxcrapperzxx and try finding the password if it does happen because that will just make you lose the privileges of playing games on that pc that you like.
Good luck
~kevinmoon