How to Choose Between a Chromebook and a “Real” Laptop

Posted on March 5, 2024 by resourcefulman

When Chromebooks were first released in 2011, they didn’t offer the same capabilities that they do now—as Google continues to refine the Chromebook formula, they’re becoming more and more capable machines. But sometimes a Chromebook just isn’t up to the task. Here’s everything you need to know to determine which portable computer system is best for you.

What is a Chromebook?

Before we dive into the comparison, let’s talk a little about Chromebooks. For those who aren’t already familiar with it, Chromebooks are essentially stripped-down laptops that run ChromeOS. While the 2024 Chromebooks aren’t as cheap as they were in 2011, their hardware has improved significantly, and their functionality and the apps they have access to have also changed. The best way to think about a Chromebook is to think of it as a more cost-effective laptop that primarily uses the Internet to get things done.

Of course, you can download several different types of apps to your Chromebook, and Google’s support for offline editing in documents like Google Docs and Google Sheets has improved. But at the end of the day, a Chromebook will rely on apps and your online connection much more than a laptop. It will also run on less powerful hardware, which may not be an issue for many, especially since many solid Chromebooks cost less than $300.

What can I do with a Chromebook?

The entire Chromebook system is built on the Android and Chrome browser ecosystem, which means you’ll rely on the Google Play Store for many of the apps you download. There is some VMware software that allows Chromebooks to run Windows apps, but you’ll end up losing access to many of the full-featured apps that Windows and Mac laptops offer. But if you don’t need them, this shouldn’t be a problem.

Ultimately, you can do most basic computing tasks on a Chromebook. Microsoft has all its products online, and it’s always possible to use all of Google’s free office apps. You can surf the Internet, write in Google Docs or Microsoft Word, download a variety of apps through the Play Store, and do anything that requires accessing it through a browser.

In fact, you can now even play games on a Chromebook thanks to expanded access to cloud gaming through programs like Nvidia GeForce Now, Amazon Luna, and Xbox Cloud Gaming.

What can’t I do with a Chromebook?

So, if you can do the basic functions you need on a laptop on a Chromebook, what can’t you do? Well, if you need to edit videos or photos like a pro, you’ll have a tougher time on a Chromebook. This is because most of your pro-grade apps won’t run natively on a Chromebook, and most Chromebooks won’t have the amount of RAM you need to run those programs well. Of course, there are online systems that will give you access to some pretty popular photo editing features, but they often have expensive subscriptions and limited features.

If you want to play games without an Internet connection, you will also find that your options are limited. No Chromebook currently released offers the kind of graphics or processing power needed for most PC games these days, and even if they did, none of those games are designed to run on ChromeOS. So, you will have to rely on cloud gaming to get the benefits of gaming on your Chromebook.

If you need or want to do any of these things, then using a Chromebook may not be the best choice. Instead, you can choose a great budget laptop .

Chromebook vs Laptop: Which to Choose?

If you’re deciding between a Chromebook and a laptop, the main thing to ask yourself is, “What do I need to do with it?” If your answer is simple online tasks, then a Chromebook is best. But if you think you’ll need access to more pro-grade apps or want to be able to download full-fledged Windows apps, then a laptop will be your best choice.

But don’t let the more limited nature of Chromebooks fool you. Just because they are cheaper doesn’t make them a bad choice. Many lower-cost laptops will provide below-average performance compared to your best Chromebooks, and since very few Chromebooks cost above $1,300, you’ll have a lot more options in the budget range.

What are some good Chromebooks?

At the end of the day, most Chromebooks will appeal to different people, whether it’s a more premium look or a really low price. But if you don’t want to settle for the cheapest and slowest Chromebooks on the market, there are some really good options.

ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 is one of my favorites. It has an elegant and sophisticated design and comes with a 14-inch 1080P display. It’s really easy to work with, and the built-in i3 processor should be more than powerful enough for all your basic computing needs. It also comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of UFS storage, which isn’t the best, but it should keep you going while you take advantage of cloud storage as well. There are no touch capabilities—not a big deal in my opinion, but some people prefer it—and it’s rated for Wi-Fi 6 and has a rugged, MIL-SPEC-certified design. It also often sells for under $300, although it typically retails for around $499.99.

If you want to stick to a tight budget, then the Lenovo Flex 3 ChromeBook is a good option. It has a responsive 12.2-inch touchscreen and is really lightweight and compact. It usually retails for $349 but goes on sale frequently. However, this price comes at a price as the Lenovo Flex 3 has a slower Intel N100 and only 4GB of RAM. It’s also limited to 64GB eMMC storage, although that should still be enough for cloud storage on ChromeOS.

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