As a longtime advocate of Chromebooks, I’ve repeatedly heard the identical outdated myths and misconceptions about Google’s laptops time and time once more. It’s been some time since I switched from Windows to ChromeOS, and I can say plenty of these once-true objections are actually outdated.
Here are a number of the commonest Chromebook misconceptions that also get handed round but could be safely ignored.
Myth: Chromebooks at all times should be related to the web
Dave Parrack / Foundry
Lots of individuals suppose that Chromebooks should at all times be related to the web and that they change into ineffective bricks when offline. That simply isn’t true! Yes, ChromeOS is designed to be cloud-based with a deal with net apps, however there’s a lot you are able to do with an offline Chromebook.
Some of these issues embody utilizing offline-capable apps, enjoying downloaded video games, watching downloaded media, managing recordsdata and dealing on paperwork, amongst different issues. (But how typically at the moment are you not related to the web, anyway?)
To guarantee you possibly can preserve utilizing your Chromebook whereas offline, make sure you obtain apps and video games with offline help, retailer your essential recordsdata regionally, and/or allow offline mode in Google’s core productiveness apps corresponding to Gmail, Drive, Docs, and Sheets.
Myth: Chromebooks are just for college students
While it’s true that the Chromebook has developed an id because the inexpensive laptop computer choice for academic environments, that doesn’t imply Chromebooks can’t be helpful elsewhere. I’m a middle-aged man who writes for a residing and I’ve been utilizing Chromebooks for years, each for private {and professional} use circumstances.
Given how straightforward it’s to set up and use ChromeOS, a Chromebook is appropriate for anybody of any age—it simply so occurs that the convenience of use makes it an awesome device for the scholar demographic.
In reality, I take into account Chromebooks good for older folks who simply want entry to the web with minimal tech interference. Not solely are Chromebooks straightforward to make use of, however they arrive with several built-in security features which can be essential for customers who’re much less tech-savvy.
Myth: Chromebooks are low cost, low efficiency, and disposable
Dave Parrack / Foundry
There’s a distinction between a laptop computer that’s “affordable” and one which’s “cheap”—and within the context of Chromebooks, that distinction is vital. While a number of Chromebooks are fairly low cost and sluggish, not all of them are. The outdated adage that “you get what you pay for” is true right here. There’s an enormous vary of Chromebooks obtainable, from the plasticky low-end fashions to the high-end fashions made with premium supplies.
The key’s to do your analysis before you purchase, and don’t accept the most affordable mannequin obtainable. You wouldn’t purchase a bottom-of-the-barrel Windows laptop computer after which say all Windows PCs are trash, proper?
Weigh up the fee versus construct high quality, specs, and model. The cheaper fashions usually tend to suck indirectly—I do know from expertise—whereas the higher-end fashions could be pretty much as good as Windows laptops. On that observe, it’s essential to know the differences between Chromebooks and Windows laptops so that you get the precise machine to your wants.
Myth: Chromebooks are only a wrapper for the Chrome browser
Dave Parrack / Foundry
ChromeOS is actually a easy and chic working system. But individuals who suppose it’s only a wrapper for the Chrome browser—and who see that as a unfavourable—are misguided at finest. Even although Chrome sits on the core of the working system, you may (when you actually wished to) go months with out ever really launching Chrome.
Actually, ChromeOS is predicated on Linux—and you may really enable the Linux subsystem to unlock more power. Between that and the flexibility to run Android apps by way of the Google Play Store, you possibly can really do a lot with a Chromebook past Chrome. Throw in some progressive net apps that may run other than the browser and you’ve got a profitable combo.
Myth: Chromebooks can’t print something
Dave Parrack / Foundry
Back when ChromeOS first debuted, some older printers weren’t appropriate with it as a result of they wanted proprietary drivers that couldn’t be put in on a Chromebook. Google Cloud Print tried to get round that with a print-over-the-web service, however then that obtained discontinued. Users had been additionally unfamiliar with ChromeOS’s printing interface.
And so Chromebooks developed a fame as laptops that had bother printing. But that isn’t true anymore. ChromeOS now helps Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) for sending print jobs to network-attached printers, and as of 2019, IPP is obtainable on 98% of printers being offered.
In quick, this implies you can print with a Chromebook so long as it’s up-to-date and so long as you’ve a considerably trendy printer. Some superior printing options may be lacking, however today you possibly can print virtually something you’d want with a Chromebook.
Myth: Chromebooks lack offline storage
Dave Parrack / Foundry
While Chromebooks are designed to rely totally on cloud storage, all of them include some quantity of offline storage. That quantity will depend on what Chromebook you purchase and in what configuration.
My Pixelbook Go, for instance, has 64GB of inner storage—and I haven’t felt restricted by that within the years I’ve been utilizing it—however I may’ve chosen 128GB or 256GB choices. There are others like that on the market, together with the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus with 256GB storage and the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 with 512GB storage.
Regardless of quantity, you’ll be tremendous so long as you take note of what you’re downloading and clear up your recordsdata each from time to time. That means uninstalling apps you now not use, deleting recordsdata while you’re completed with them, and utilizing cloud storage when you possibly can. The perceived lack of offline storage is simply a problem when you neglect this.
Myth: Chromebooks can’t run the apps that you must use every single day
Dave Parrack / Foundry
One of the most important misconceptions about trendy Chromebooks is you could solely run extensions and apps from the Chrome Web Store. If that had been true, I’d perceive the grievance—any laptop computer can be significantly hampered by such restricted entry to software program.
These days, Chromebooks can run Android apps, Linux apps, and progressive net apps. And given that the majority app builders preserve help for no less than a kind of platforms, you must be capable of run most of the apps you want on ChromeOS. The one caveat right here is when you depend on apps which can be solely obtainable on Windows and/or macOS.
Worried about Microsoft Office? Slack? Photoshop? Evernote? They all run on Chromebooks! And you probably have any apps that merely aren’t obtainable on ChromeOS for no matter cause, you possibly can normally discover a good enough alternative to fill in the gap. Chromebook software program obtainable is simply a problem when you’re utilizing area of interest and/or business software program.
Myth: Chromebooks can’t play video games
Dave Parrack / Foundry
This one we have to method with some nuance. Yes, you possibly can play video games on a Chromebook—with caveats. We wrote a whole article about whether Chromebooks are good for gaming, however right here’s a recap.
If you care about native gaming, you possibly can consider Chromebook gaming like cell gaming. You have entry to Android video games and net video games, plus it’s also possible to run a beta model of Steam for Chromebooks. With Steam, you’ll want a higher-end machine with no less than an Intel i3 or Ryzen 3 CPU and 8GB of RAM, and solely a small fraction of Steam video games are natively appropriate with Chromebooks.
However, cloud gaming is rising increasingly more widespread, and that’s nice information for Chromebooks. Notable platforms embody Nvidia GeForce Now and Xbox Cloud Gaming, which let you remotely stream demanding games for a monthly subscription. You’ll want a quick web connection and also you’ll run into enter lag, but it surely’s a darn good option to play a a lot wider collection of video games on a Chromebook!
Further studying: The best Chromebooks to buy this year