Main Takeaways
- Chromebooks are very affordable, with most ranging in price from $150 to $500.
- Chromebooks are portable due to their small size and weight, making them easy to carry anywhere.
- Chromebooks are easy to use with their lightweight interface, and are suitable for users of all ages.
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 buying one when they buy their next laptop? This question has been bugging me for years, so I’m here to convince you to buy a Chromebook.
Why I've Been Using Chromebooks For Years
I bought my first Chromebook in 2013, and have used it as my primary laptop ever since. I’ve probably used four different ones in that time, but that was my choice — shiny new Chromebooks forced me to upgrade after a few years. I currently own a 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 upright at my desk. But all other times, my humble Chromebook is perfect for work, play, and everything in between. There are many reasons why I’ve been using Chromebooks for years, and why I think the next laptop you buy should be a Chromebook.
Affordable Chromebooks
The first and most obvious reason to consider buying a Chromebook is their affordability. If you shop around, you can pick one up for as little as $150, though most are priced between $200 and $500. Either way, as laptops, they’re very affordable.
Compare Chromebooks to Windows laptops or MacBooks, and the difference is clear. Premium Chromebooks with great build quality, good touchscreens, plenty of RAM, and solid battery life are cheaper than mid-range to low-end Windows laptops. And even the best Chromebooks are cheaper than any MacBook you might consider buying.
Chromebooks are portable
All laptops are obviously portable; the name says it all. However, Chromebooks are particularly portable because they’re generally smaller and lighter than Windows laptops or equivalent MacBooks. Sure, you could spend $1,000 on a super-slim MacBook Air, but in addition to the high price tag, you’ll be stuck with macOS.
Portability isn’t just about its size and weight. Because Chromebooks are affordable and durable, they’re easy to carry around. You can throw them in your backpack and use them anywhere you want without worrying too much about them being stolen or damaged.
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 young children who are used to phones to seniors who have never used a computer, can pick up a Chromebook and use it without any instructions. As long as you have a Google account, you can use a Chromebook. Press the power button, sign in, and you’re ready to go in seconds.
ChromeOS is an extremely lightweight Linux distribution. Since it’s based on web-based apps and Android apps, it boots up in seconds, without the lag you’ve experienced when using Windows or macOS. And once you’ve actually used 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 some areas, and unfortunately, that reputation has stuck. 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.
You’ll find web apps for most of the software 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 also Chromebooks designed specifically for gaming, featuring the processing power to support cloud gaming.
Chromebooks are durable.
Last but not least, 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 (the company’s largest 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 rigor.
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 absence of moving parts (like a hard drive) and their use of efficient components. And as a lightweight Linux distribution, ChromeOS requires much less power than Windows or macOS.
ChromeOS is also extremely secure, thanks to Google’s protectionist approach. Any app you use will run in a separate 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, and it’s my fourth in a row. And if you’ve fooled yourself into thinking your choice is a binary one between Windows and macOS, it’s time to rethink. For most types of work and entertainment, there’s a Chromebook that’s perfect for you.