As a longtime advocate of Chromebooks, I’ve repeatedly heard the identical outdated myths and misconceptions about Google’s laptops time and time once more.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time since I switched from Windows to ChromeOS, and I can say numerous these once-true objections at the moment are outdated.
Here are a number of the most typical Chromebook misconceptions that also get handed round but might be safely ignored.
Myth: Chromebooks at all times must be related to the web
Dave Parrack / Foundry
Lots of individuals assume that Chromebooks should at all times be related to the web and that they grow to be ineffective bricks when offline. That simply isn’t true! Yes, ChromeOS is designed to be cloud-based with a give attention to internet apps, however there’s lots you are able to do with an offline Chromebook.
Some of these issues embrace utilizing offline-capable apps, enjoying downloaded video games, watching downloaded media, managing information and dealing on paperwork, amongst different issues. (But how usually this present day are you not related to the web, anyway?)
To guarantee you possibly can preserve utilizing your Chromebook whereas offline, you should definitely obtain apps and video games with offline assist, retailer your vital information domestically, and/or allow offline mode in Google’s core productiveness apps reminiscent of Gmail, Drive, Docs, and Sheets.
Myth: Chromebooks are just for college students
While it’s true that the Chromebook has developed an identification because the inexpensive laptop computer choice for instructional environments, that doesn’t imply Chromebooks can’t be helpful elsewhere. I’m a middle-aged man who writes for a dwelling and I’ve been utilizing Chromebooks for years, each for private {and professional} use circumstances.
Given how simple 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 incredible device for the coed demographic.
In truth, I contemplate Chromebooks good for older folks who simply want entry to the web with minimal tech interference. Not solely are Chromebooks simple to make use of, however they arrive with several built-in security features which can be vital 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 essential. While plenty of Chromebooks are fairly low-cost and gradual, 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 accessible, from the plasticky low-end fashions to the high-end fashions made with premium supplies.
The secret’s to do your analysis before you purchase, and don’t accept the most cost effective mannequin accessible. 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 in a roundabout way—I do know from expertise—whereas the higher-end fashions might be nearly as good as Windows laptops. On that word, it’s vital to know the differences between Chromebooks and Windows laptops so that you get the fitting 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 assume it’s only a wrapper for the Chrome browser—and who see that as a destructive—are misguided at greatest. Even although Chrome sits on the core of the working system, you would (in case you actually needed 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 through the Google Play Store, you possibly can really do a lot with a Chromebook past Chrome. Throw in some progressive internet apps that may run other than the browser and you’ve got a successful 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 acquired discontinued. Users had been additionally unfamiliar with ChromeOS’s printing interface.
And so Chromebooks developed a popularity as laptops that had hassle 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 out there on 98% of printers being offered.
In brief, this implies you can print with a Chromebook so long as it’s up-to-date and so long as you might have a considerably fashionable printer. Some superior printing options could 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 is determined by what Chromebook you purchase and in what configuration.
My Pixelbook Go, for instance, has 64GB of inside storage—and I haven’t felt restricted by that within the years I’ve been utilizing it—however I might’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 nice so long as you take note of what you’re downloading and clear up your information each on occasion. That means uninstalling apps you not use, deleting information once you’re performed with them, and utilizing cloud storage when you possibly can. The perceived lack of offline storage is just a problem in case you neglect this.
Myth: Chromebooks can’t run the apps it is advisable to use daily
Dave Parrack / Foundry
One of the most important misconceptions about fashionable Chromebooks is which 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 internet apps. And given that almost all app builders preserve assist for at the very least a kind of platforms, you must have the ability to run most of the apps you want on ChromeOS. The one caveat right here is in case you depend on apps which can be solely accessible on Windows and/or macOS.
Worried about Microsoft Office? Slack? Photoshop? Evernote? They all run on Chromebooks! And when you have any apps that merely aren’t accessible on ChromeOS for no matter purpose, you possibly can often discover a good enough alternative to fill in the gap. Chromebook software program accessible is just a problem in case you’re utilizing area of interest and/or trade software program.
Myth: Chromebooks can’t play video games
Dave Parrack / Foundry
This one we have to strategy with some nuance. Yes, you possibly can play video games on a Chromebook—with caveats. We wrote a complete 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 cellular gaming. You have entry to Android video games and internet video games, plus you can even run a beta model of Steam for Chromebooks. With Steam, you’ll want a higher-end machine with at the very least 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 fashionable, and that’s nice information for Chromebooks. Notable platforms embrace 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, nevertheless it’s a darn good approach to play a a lot wider choice of video games on a Chromebook!
Further studying: The best Chromebooks to buy this year