Thinking of buying a Chromebook as an inexpensive laptop, but aren’t sure if it will meet your needs? Let’s explore exactly what a Chromebook can and cannot do, and what it is good for.
1. Bang for Your Buck
On average, a Chromebook laptop costs considerably less than an equivalent Windows one, sometimes 50% cheaper. That’s mainly because the web-focused ChromeOS is a far less bloated operating system than Windows and requires fewer computer resources to run everything on the desktop. A Chromebook is a lean and speedy machine—and easy to use too, thanks to ChromeOS requiring little maintenance other than the occasional system update, which it can handle automatically.
Chromebooks also require less local storage, typically packing around 64GB, because you’ll mostly be accessing documents stored in the cloud, which also makes it easy to share them with friends, family, and colleagues. This includesphotos and videos backed up from any device with Google Photos.
2. Secure System
Since little software is installed locally, ChromeOS is known for being a far more secure operating system than Windows and others. ChromeOS is a read-only operating system, while sandboxing is used to isolate processes, limiting the scope of any attempted attack. Even the data stored locally on the Chromebook is encrypted using tamper-resistant hardware, making it more difficult for hackers to access your files.
3. Two Devices in One
Many modern Chromebooks are in effect two-in-one devices, doubling up as a tablet. Special hinges enable you to rotate the display all the way to the rear of the keyboard so you’re able to use the Chromebook’s touchscreen as a tablet. Not only that, but access to the Google Play Store means you can install a huge assortment of Android apps, including popular games.
You can also connect your Android phone via Bluetooth to sync up messages and notifications and read them on the Chromebook. The phone can even be used to unlock the Chromebook instead of entering a password.
4. Media and Entertainment
As well as playing Android games, you’re able to enjoy watching TV shows and movies on your Chromebook, from most of the major streaming services, either using a web portal or by installing the relevant Android app. The Google TV app can also aggregate the content from your favorite streaming services, so you can find everything in one place to browse and search.
Naturally, Google’s own YouTube is also well integrated into a Chromebook, along with YouTube Music and Google Books. So all your entertainment needs are covered.
If you want to play more hardcore games, it’s also possible toinstall Steam on a Chromebook, providing you have a powerful enough model. Alternatively, you can use the Steam Link Android app to play games running on another computer.
5. Office and Productivity
Integrated with your Google account, the Google Workspace apps include Google Docs (word processor), Google Sheets (spreadsheets), Google Slides (presentations), Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Calendar. Files can be set to offline access, so you can still access them even when you don’t have an internet connection.
In addition to Google’s apps, you use lots of other office and productivity software, including accessing Microsoft 365 online. you’re able to also use all the major video conferencing services, such as Google Meet, Zoom, Skype, and Microsoft Teams. So you won’t feel left out of the conversation.
6. Install Linux OS
Since ChromeOS is based on the Linux kernel, it’s possible toinstall and update Linux on your Chromebook. Many newer Chromebooks come preloaded with Linux containers that you may simply switch on and off. Naturally, enabling Linux opens up a whole load of possibilities, as you can then install a wide variety of standard Linux software and use it.
7. Run Windows Apps
As if all that weren’t enough, it’s even possible toinstall and run Windows apps and games on a Chromebook. This is achieved by installing the CrossOver app for ChromeOS, which runs Windows in a virtual environment. So, you could still use some of your favorite Windows software that isn’t available for ChromeOS, such as the desktop version of the Microsoft Office suite, or creative apps such as Adobe Photoshop. The downside is that not everything may work as expected, or run smoothly.
Why Buy a Chromebook Laptop?
Being web-focused, a Chromebook may not be able to run all your favorite software or games natively—although there are workarounds, as discussed above—but you may still do most things you would on a standard laptop. Many Chromebook models can double as an Android tablet, so you get even more functionality and versatility for your money.
