Earlier quoted context omitted.
best buy guy is right: a cheap windows laptop can do everything a chromebook or linux machine can do and more, probably better. However (this is big) cheap windows boxes come loaded with, basically, viruses right from the manufacturer so you need to be technical enough to clean them up. Chromebooks are better if you can't uninstall all of the junk from Toshiba or whoever but vanilla windows on the same price point is…
You realize that MS lets you download an app which puts an installer for a clean Windows install on a usb stick?
does it clear this? https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to-steer-clear-of-windows-...