Are you in the laptop market for a new one? If so, did you find yourself a Chromebook?
If you need a laptop running Windows or macOS to get things done, the days are gone. Inside your browser, you can do so much without installing any software or applications, since the browser is the place where almost all the action takes place.
That means that unless you want to do things that require tons of grunt processing or specific software, then you’ll probably be able to use a Chromebook to do things without much compromise.
Its essence, a Chromebook is a mobile device that looks and behaves like a laptop but is designed for the ever-connected world its which we now live — which has been exacerbated by the pandemic of COVID-19.
A Chromebook is definitely something better suited to those of us who spend most of our time on the internet or using the internet, before we delve any further. Need more assertiveness? Okay, here are 5 reasons you ‘d probably want your next laptop to be a Chromebook.
Price
To get a Windows 10-powered laptop or even a Macbook, you ‘re looking up to $1000 + (with Apple pricing) anywhere between $400. For a machine that can only be used for document editing, Netflix, YouTube, and mostly browser-based tasks, that is quite a large financial outlay.
Since Chromebooks aren’t really specifications oriented, you can easily get a sub-$500 laptop that will last you for 5 years or more without any huge issues. They ‘re great just to pick up a machine for online meetings, homework and perhaps as a shopping portal.
Battery Life
Because you’re running the Chrome browser only, you ‘re not actually doing a lot of intensive processor tasks. That means your Chromebook should last longer than a comparable MacBook or Windows laptop.
It’s very amazing to get a laptop with battery life that hits double digits and there are many more Chromebooks capable of reaching the 10-hour mark than similarly priced Windows machines. It’s more pronounced towards the high-end but mostly with a Chromebook you’ll get better average lifespans than with a Windows 10 or macOS-powered laptop.
Form Factor
Because Chromebooks are less hardware-reliant, they tend to be lighter and more compact than Windows laptops that are relatively priced. In addition to a dockable “traditional” laptop form factor, you can also get 2-in-1 machines that give a tablet’s flexibility.
You have choices on all forms of laptops, of course, but there are strong advantages of the form factor for Chromebooks that don’t always exist on the side of things Windows and Mac. Do you want a durable plastic build? You did. You got it. Do you want more “premium” materials? Clearly. You have screen sizes, finishes and more options.
Stability and support
Chrome OS is nowhere near as resource-hungry as the Chrome browser, unlike on desktops or other laptops. It’s much lighter, and runs smoothly and consistently even with modest internals. Often Windows and macOS will grind to a halt due to the resource overheads required to keep it running concurrently.
That’s not all though, as Chromebooks also provides the ability to run Android devices, meaning you can enjoy some of your favorite mobile apps without even needing to use your nearby smartphone. It might not be exactly the same as standalone software but if you want a great Chrome window support, then Android apps are a great addition.
For those who are concerned about viruses and other crapware, Chrome OS is not susceptible to the same issues with Windows 10 laptops that others would find. As a result, you are much safer online, even without having to install antivirus software.
Backup and Restore
One of Chromebooks’ significant benefits is that it’s all done within Chrome. Which means you can switch devices for that matter without losing any files , images or anything else. Basically, the cloud backups are built-in.
That means you can switch from device to device without losing any files-except for any content offline. Just log in to another machine and you’ll have everything waiting for you without needing any kind of recovery or transfer.
But what’s the best Chromebook you can buy?
Some of our favorite Chromebooks include the IdeaPad Duet with its dual form factor and pricing sub-$300. Samsung’s Chromebook Galaxy is one of a couple of high-end Chromebooks we suggest looking at, with prices starting at $999 — though it comes with some caveats. The Google Pixelbook Go is another no-brainer, amazing keyboard, 4K displays for consistency, plus more starting at about $649.
