If you’re shopping for a new laptop and you’re
on a tight budget, a Chromebook may be the way to go. Before you jump in head
first, though, there are many things worth considering.
The Chromebook first hit shelves in 2011 and
were manufactured by Acer and Samsung. It launched as a Linux-based machine
running Chrome OS, an operating system that utilizes Google Chrome as its user
interface.
If you’re a Google Chrome loyalist, navigating
a Chromebook should feel incredibly natural. However, Windows fans are going to
notice that Chrome OS is an extremely stripped-down operating system.
Chromebooks give up on a lot of functionality in favor of affordability, ease
of use, and portability.
Knowing if a Chromebook is right for you or a
loved one is a matter of knowing what the exact use case is. For power users, a
Chromebook is borderline useless. For others, it might even provide advantages
over the typical Windows or Mac laptop. In this article, let’s explore some of
the most important differences between a Chromebook and your ordinary laptop.
Chromebook Operating System vs.
Traditional Laptops
The biggest and most noticeable difference
between a Chromebook and a traditional laptop is the operating system. A
Chromebook without Chrome OS simply isn’t a Chromebook—that’s more of a
netbook, a very uncommon breed of laptops nowadays.
Chrome OS is an operating system by Google
based on the Linux kernel. It’s built entirely around the popular Google Chrome
web browser, and thus, its overall functionality is limited to only a bit more
than what you can do within Chrome on a Windows or Mac machine.
Chrome OS is currently only available
pre-installed on hardware that Google has partnered with, namely from Acer,
Samsung, HP, Dell, and Asus.
Chromebook Software vs.
Traditional Laptops
Chrome OS has its own integrated file manager and media player. Along with a few other applications, like Chrome Remote Desktop, these are the only applications that open in their own window and not within the Google Chrome browser.
On a Chromebook, everything runs as a web app. You can go to the Chrome Web Store right now and see the full library of web-based applications that you can install on your Chromebook.
This means that there’s no iTunes, Photoshop, or Audacity available to Chromebook owners, among many other standalone applications. However, plenty of popular desktop applications have web-based alternatives available via Chrome Web Store. These include Skype, Discord, Netflix, and many others.
Additionally, some Chromebooks even have
access to the Google Play Store, which allows them to install apps that Android
phone and tablet users can access. Although the functionality of these apps can
be awkward and limited, unless you have a Chromebook with a touchscreen
display, this definitely widens the array of software available.
Chromebook Hardware vs.
Traditional Laptops
The majority of Chromebooks use MultiMediaCard
(eMMC) storage. eMCC is a form of flash storage comparable to solid-state
drives in the way that there are no moving parts. However, SSDs deliver vastly
superior performance and are available in much larger sizes.
Chromebooks come with storage sizes typical to
smartphones: often 16 GB, 32 GB, and 64 GB. With a 16 GB eMMC, Chrome OS is
small enough to where you’ll have around 9 GB of usable space.
Chromebooks often come with low-resolution
displays, and many of them are also fanless. Since they can’t be used for
intensive tasks like video editing, most Chromebooks can do just fine without
internal cooling. This helps cut down on noise and weight.
Lastly, Chromebooks are well-known for their
battery life. As a result of their low profile and intended workload, the
majority of Chromebook models will outlast laptops while on battery. For
example, the Dell Chromebook 13 will last for around 12 hours of
general-purpose use and 7 hours on Netflix.
Chromebook Cost vs. Traditional
Laptops
Cost may be the biggest benefit of picking up
a Chromebook. Here are just a few prices of popular models at the time of
writing this:
- Dell C3181-C871BLK-PUS Chromebook
(11.6″, Celeron N3060, 4 GB/16 GB): $167.00 - Samsung XE500C13-K03US Chromebook
3 (11.6″, Celeron N3060, 4 GB/16 GB): $188.50 - ASUS C223NA-DH02-RD Chromebook
(11.6″, Celeron N3350, 4 GB/32 GB): $189.99
All three of these Chromebooks are on the
lowest end of what’s available, but when’s the last time you’ve seen a
brand-new laptop under $200? You aren’t getting a beast of a machine when you
purchase a Chromebook, but it fills its role, and it’s good to see affordable
alternatives on the market.
Chromebook Portability vs.
Traditional Laptops
Chromebooks are ultra-portable in terms of
both size and weight. Most feature an 11.6-inch display and weigh just 2.5
pounds. This can be compared to the MacBook Air, a 13.3-inch model that weighs
3 pounds.
Chromebooks are also incredibly durable. Some
come in special “ruggedized” models that boast water and shock resistance.
Combined with a full-body case, available for practically every Chromebook
model I’ve seen, these things are tough to break.
Another underrated feature about the Chromebook is how fast it boots up. In less than 8 seconds after pressing the power button, you can reach your browser’s homepage.
If you’re often on the move, this makes coming and going very painless. Combined with the cloud capabilities of Google—which you get 100 GB and 12 months of with every purchase—stopping and starting up work again isn’t a major inconvenience.
Chromebook Security vs.
Traditional Laptops
The difference in security between Chromebooks and most other laptops is something that isn’t often discussed. First and foremost is the obvious: Chrome OS has a tiny market share, just 1%, so it isn’t a target when it comes to things like trojans, malware, and keyloggers.
There are some pretty nasty extensions that can get installed on your Google Chrome browser, but malicious software can completely wreck a Windows machine.
Chromebooks have built-in, automated updates
and virus and malware protection. Furthermore, your entire OS experience is
sandboxed. This means that if one of your apps or tabs gets infected by
something dangerous, it won’t spread and affect anything else on your
Chromebook.
Lastly, everything on your Chromebook syncs to
your Google account and remains encrypted. You have to be signed in to your
Google account to access this data, as well as your Chromebook, and Google
offers multiple forms of two-factor authentification.
Chromebooks are slowly gaining market share as
buyers are demanding more affordable solutions to simple access to a web
browser. They make especially great gifts for less-experienced users and older
folks! There’s no denying that your standard laptop is tenfold as functional
and flexible, but Chromebooks fill a simple void that many are searching for.
If less is more for your laptop needs, consider picking up a Chromebook.
