Chromebooks are cheap but are they any good?
Overall Findings
Must use cloud based apps.
Almost unusable without internet.
Lifewire
Limited support for USB peripherals.
Price far less than Windows laptops.
Use cloud based and installed apps.
Stay productive both online and offline.
Supports any machine with Windows drivers.
A Chromebook is a viable option for a large portion of people who use laptops.
Internet Use: Chromebooks Are Fully Capable
Access to all web based apps.
Include high-end Wi-Fi adapters.
No wired Ethernet adapters.
Internet connection required (mostly).
Still useful without internet.
Various Wi-Fi adapter options.
Typically include Ethernet port.
Since Chromebooks depend on internet connectivity, you’ll typically find the best Wi-Fi installed on these devices.
However, there’s nobuilt-in Ethernet portif you ever want to plug directly into your internet router.
If you lose your internet connection, a Windows laptop remains usable thanks to the locally installed applications.
you’ve got the option to continue writing a Microsoft Word doc without any internet connection.
Using Software: Windows Laptops Are a Must
Installed “apps” are all web-based.
Can’t install any local applications.
Chrome is the only available online window.
Access to both web apps and local apps.
Runs any web client you prefer.
Can handle processor-intensive tasks.
With all that said, there are workarounds for Chromebook users.
Using Peripherals: Chromebooks Only Offer Limited Options
Supports basic USB peripherals.
No direct printer support.
No support for new equipment drivers.
Supports any USB gear with drivers.
Print directly to printers on your web connection.
Larger family of devices supported.
However, support for external devices beyond that is limited to only those external devices currently supported by ChromeOS.
Windows Laptops, on the other hand, support any USB equipment with Windows drivers.
you’re free to also run older drivers usingWindows 10 Compatibility Mode.
A significant limitation ofChromebooksis you’re free to’t print directly to any printer on your data pipe.
The printer needs to be supported by theGoogle Cloud Printservice.
There is no such limitation for Windows laptops.
Cost of Ownership: Chromebooks Win Hands Down
Priced at a fraction of laptop’s cost.
When it comes to upfront costs, Chromebooks win every time.
Chromebooks are also smaller and lighter than laptops, which makes them more portable.
Finally, if a Chromebook ever does fail, they’re easy to replace.
You could buy 2 or 3 Chromebooks for the price of a full Windows laptop.
Buying a Chromebook instead of a Windows laptop could save you quite a bit of money.
However, you’re going to be limited in a lot of ways if you purchase a Chromebook.
Plus, printing is possible but will take some extra work.
