If you’re in the market for a new laptop, it might be in your interest to consider buying a Chromebook instead of a traditional laptop. A Chromebook is likely a cousin to a regular laptop. The major difference is that instead of relying on a Mac or Windows system to function, a Chromebook uses the internet for most tasks.
What Is A Chromebook?
Chromebooks were first introduced in 2011 as relatively inexpensive, lightweight laptops that worked using Google’s Chrome OS. This means that Chromebooks relied on the internet and cloud applications to function rather than regular operating systems.
Well-known companies like HP, Dell, Samsung, and Acer all sell their own Chromebooks of different sizes and capabilities. Chromebooks are often used in schools and educational institutes as first-time laptops for younger kids.
What Can A Chromebook Do?
The Chromebook’s own operating system, called Chrome OS, is based on Linux and uses the Google Chrome internet browser as its main user interface. You can use a basic file manager and an app launcher, but mostly, the Chromebook works by using web-based apps, and there is no need to download anything substantial.
Many people hear about the basic premise of how a Chromebook works and assume that it would be quite limiting. This is not necessarily the case. Many commonly used apps have web-based versions available.
A few examples include Netflix, Spotify, Microsoft Office, and so on. This makes transitioning from a regular laptop to a Chromebook quite simple and seamless.
Chromebooks also offer Google Play Store so that any apps that don’t have web-based versions can be downloaded. However, you are limited to just android apps when using Google Play Store.
And finally, if you desperately need other desktop applications, Chromebooks can support Linux operating systems and software. You can use various Linux-based apps on Chromebooks, then.
What Are A Chromebook’s Limitations?
You might want to use certain applications that Chromebooks simply cannot support. Some examples can include all of the Adobe suite applications. Adobe suite can be quite a lot to handle for some traditional laptops, too, but they are entirely incompatible with Chromebooks.
Additionally, Chromebooks are very lightweight and fast, but that comes with the downside of having generally lower processing power than traditional laptops. If you get a cheaper or lower-end Chromebook, then multitasking can become quite difficult, and your Chromebook can start lagging.
Who Are Chromebooks Best Suited For?
Chromebooks aren’t for everyone, that’s for sure. They were designed to keep a few specific kinds of people in mind, such as students. Many schools favor Chromebooks because they offer security benefits and are relatively cheap, lightweight, fast, and sturdy.
That is not to say that Chromebooks are only well suited for students. If you consider some of the higher-end options that are more expensive but come with extra processing powers, those Chromebooks can be perfect for college students and other professionals that work mostly online.