When considering purchasing a new laptop, you may wonder which option is best for your daily needs. One option worth considering is the Chromebook, which has gained increasing popularity in recent years. Chromebooks are lightweight and easy to use, as well as high performance that is suitable for work, study, and even entertainment.
Chromebooks have come a long way since their launch in 2011 and are now more capable than ever. So why do so few people consider them when buying their next laptop? This question has been bugging me for years, so I’m here to convince you to buy a Chromebook. Check out the reasons why your Chromebook is slow and the solutions to improve its performance.
Why I've Been Using a Chromebook for Years
I bought my first Chromebook in 2013, and have used it as my primary laptop ever since. I’ve probably gone through four different Chromebooks since then, but that was my choice — some new, high-end Chromebook forced me to upgrade after a few years. I currently own the Pixelbook Go, which is the most powerful (and therefore most expensive) Chromebook I’ve ever bought.
I also use a Windows PC at home, when I want to sit at my desk. But for all other times, the humble Chromebook is perfect for work, play, and everything in between. There are a number of reasons why I’ve been using Chromebooks for so many years, and here’s why I think your next laptop should be a Chromebook.
Chromebook comes at affordable prices
The first and most obvious reason to consider a Chromebook is its affordability. If you shop around, you can pick one up for as little as $150, though most cost between $200 and $500. Either way, they’re very affordable.
Compare the cost of Chromebooks to Windows laptops or MacBooks, and the difference is clear. A great Chromebook with great build quality, a good touchscreen, lots of RAM, and solid battery life will typically cost more than a low- to mid-range Windows laptop. And even the best Chromebooks are cheaper than any MacBook you might consider buying.
Chromebooks are portable
Obviously, all laptops are portable; the clue is in the name. However, Chromebooks are particularly portable because they are generally smaller and lighter than Windows laptops or equivalent MacBooks. Sure, you can spend $1,000 on the ultra-thin MacBook Air, but in addition to the high price tag, you’ll be forced to use macOS.
Portability isn’t just about size and weight. Because Chromebooks are affordable and durable, there’s an inherent portability to them. You can throw one in your backpack and use it anywhere you want without worrying too much about it being stolen or damaged.
note: To connect your Chromebook to the Internet while you're away from home, you'll need to use a local Internet connection or your phone's mobile data.
Chromebooks are easy to use.
Chromebooks are so easy to use that anyone from a kid who’s used to a phone to a senior who’s never used a computer can pick it up and use it without any guidance. As long as you have a Google account, you can use a Chromebook, basically. Press the power button, sign in, and you’re good to go in seconds.
ChromeOS is a very lightweight operating system based on Linux. Because it’s based on web-based apps and Android apps, it boots up in seconds, without the lag you’d experience with Windows or macOS. Then, once you’re on ChromeOS, your main user interface is the Google Chrome web browser. You’re probably already familiar with it, and Google is constantly improving it as well.
If you get tired of the simplicity of ChromeOS — which is highly unlikely — you can always install Windows on a Chromebook instead.
Versatile Chromebooks
When they first launched, Chromebooks were lacking in a few areas, and unfortunately, that reputation has persisted. However, modern Chromebooks are incredibly versatile devices, capable of running apps and games, handling your work and entertainment, and generally meeting most people’s laptop needs.
There will be web apps for most of the tools you might want to use, and if not, there’s likely an alternative that will do the job. Any Chromebook you buy today can also run Android apps installed from the Google Play Store, opening up even more options. That includes games, so yes, you can use your Chromebook as a gaming device.
There are even Chromebooks designed specifically for gaming, with the processing power to support cloud gaming. Check out why you should choose a Chromebook over a Windows laptop.
Chromebooks are durable.
Finally, another reason to buy a Chromebook is its durability. It’s true that some of the early models were a bit flimsy because the manufacturers used cheap materials. I had a Chromebook that I had to replace because the hinge broke. However, that was after using it every day for about two years, opening and closing it multiple times a day.
These days, Chromebooks are built to last, and are designed with students (their biggest customer base) in mind. The cheaper Chromebooks may still feel a bit plasticky, but once you get to the mid-range options, the build quality means these machines are more than capable of withstanding some bumps and tumbles.
Don't forget battery life and security.
Chromebooks have other, smaller advantages that I didn't have time to delve into: long battery life and top-notch security are just two examples.
Chromebooks have some of the best battery life of any laptop you can buy, thanks to the lack of moving parts (like a hard drive) and their use of efficient components. As a lightweight Linux distribution, ChromeOS requires much less power than Windows or macOS.
ChromeOS is also extremely secure, thanks to Google’s sandbox approach to security. Any app you use will run in a standalone environment, preventing it from infecting the rest of your system. And because of their always-on nature, Chromebooks will always be up to date with updates, as long as your hardware is new enough to support them.
For all these reasons, the next laptop I buy will be a Chromebook — my fourth in a row. If you’ve been fooled into thinking your choice is a binary between Windows and macOS, it’s time to rethink. For most types of work and entertainment, there’s a perfect Chromebook you can buy. Now you can see what a Chromebook can do. Explore the possibilities.
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