This article was reviewed by Luigi Oppido and by wikiHow staff writer, Travis Boylls. Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years.
This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.
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Are you thinking about getting a Chromebook? Maybe you have a Chromebook but think a different laptop might better suit your needs. Chromebooks have a reputation for not being as good as other computers, but they aren't all bad. While Chromebooks do lack the computing power of MacBooks and many Windows laptops, there are some advantages to using a Chromebook. This wikiHow article will teach you the best and worst things about Chromebooks, and help you decide whether a Chromebook is the right laptop for you.
Things You Should Know
- Chromebooks are affordable, lightweight, come with cloud storage, and support Android and Linux apps.
- Chromebooks are not good for gaming, multimedia editing, or graphic design.
- Chromebooks are great for students, teachers, and businesses who use Google Workspace products.
Steps
Advantages
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Chromebooks are cheaper. Chromebooks don't need the powerful hardware necessary to run Windows or macOS, so they're generally cheaper than traditional laptops. ChromeOS and its web-based apps don't need as much processing power or RAM to run. They also don't need large expensive hard drives, as they rely on cloud storage.
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Chromebooks are more lightweight. Since Chromebooks don't require the same powerful hardware as other laptops, they tend to be thinner and weigh less. Chromebooks are easy to carry around, making them a convenient laptop option for college students and travelers.
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Chromebooks have good battery life. Since Chromebooks don't need battery-intensive hardware, they don't use much power. Battery life on a Chromebook tends to be much better than the average PC laptop or MacBook.
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Apps and data are stored in the cloud. Most apps that run on Chromebooks do not need to be installed on the laptop itself. Instead, you'll access apps online through the Chrome web browser. Because apps are stored in the cloud, they're accessible when you need them, and your data is automatically backed up. It's also easy to transfer your data from one Chromebook to another.
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You don't have to update Chromebooks constantly. Unlike Windows and macOS, ChromeOS apps do not need to be updated often. Chromebook apps are updated and maintained by Google and third-party developers. You will always have the latest version of the app, and ChromeOS updates automatically.
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Chromebooks are more secure and less virus-prone. Because Google uses a compartmentalized approach to security called "sandboxing," all Chromebook apps run in their own environment and cannot interact with other apps or ChromeOS. This makes it harder for viruses and malicious web pages to infect your Chromebook or other apps.[2]
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Software is more affordable. Windows and macOS software like Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Cloud require expensive subscriptions. Google apps like Google Docs and Google Sheets can be accessed within the Chrome web browser for free. You can also install many third-party apps on your Chromebook that cost little to nothing.
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You can install Android and Linux apps. Most Chromebooks have access to the Google Play Store, which allows you to download and install your favorite Android apps. You can also install Linux on Chromebooks, which allows you to install and run Linux software.[3]
Disadvantages
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Chromebooks have small hard drives. Most Chromebooks come with hard drives that are between 32 and 64 GB. This limits the number of apps you can download and use offline. There are Chromebooks that come with larger hard drives, but they are more expensive.
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Chromebooks need an internet connection to be useful. Because Chromebooks rely on cloud storage, you'll need a steady internet connection for your Chromebook to be useful. everything that is done on a Chromebook is done online. If you're not online, your Chromebook has very limited capabilities.
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Chromebook hardware is not very powerful. Chromebooks do not have the latest processors. They also generally come with about 4 GB of RAM, which is half the amount of a standard laptop. This means that you may notice your Chromebook start to slow down if you are multitasking and have lots of tabs open. You also can't upgrade the hardware in a Chromebook.
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Chromebooks have a limited display resolution. Most Chromebooks do not come with full HD screens. Most come with either 1366 × 768 or 1600 × 900. This means that pictures and videos are not as clear and crisp. There are Chromebooks with full HD (1900 x 1080) and even 4K (3840 x 2160), but they are significantly more expensive.
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Chromebooks have limited software compatibility. While Chromebooks do support Android and Linux apps, they lack compatibility with Windows and Mac apps. If you rely on Microsoft Office or Adobe Creative Cloud, those apps are not available on Chromebook. You will need to jump through hoops if you want to install iTunes on your Chromebook.
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Chromebooks are not good gaming laptops. Chromebooks do not have the RAM, CPU, or hard drive space needed to play most of the latest game titles, and most games are not available for Chromebook. While you may be able to install the Android version of Fortnite on your Chromebook, it won't run as well as it would on a Windows PC.
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Chromebooks are bad for graphic design, audio, and video editing. Chromebooks do not offer many great options for multimedia editing. Adobe products are not available on Chromebooks and neither is Pro Tools. While there are web apps for video and photo editing, they are not as good as the desktop versions. Chromebook's low screen resolution and hardware limitations may make it so that it can't handle high resolutions and high-definition media files as smoothly.
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Printing can be an issue on Chromebooks. While many newer printers are compatible with ChromeOS, older printers may not support wireless printing on a Chromebook. You may need to connect a printer to your Chromebook using a USB cable.[4]