I am definitely a fan of the Chrome OS user interface. "What do you want to do with it?". Can a Chromebook replace a laptop? But the experience falls short of what you'll get when you install Steam on a Windows or Apple laptop. Although you can edit images and video on Chromebooks, they are not the best option for multimedia applications. Of course, you'll need to have a look at things in other browsers on a different machine to test against IE or Firefox, but the bulk of the work is easy to do from most any Chromebook. Apps and games are also more readily available for them, especially if you have more demanding software needs. Maybe you'll find some inspiration to create or customize a routine of your own! Sure, a $999 Pixel Slate seems expensive, but if you put the same specs on a Windows or Mac OS machine, the price looks much more reasonable. No windows laptop can be transformed into a Tablet that runs Android apps, for example. You might look at the Chromebook as a mere novelty, but if you actually give it some time, you’ll come to realise it can replace a heftier Windows laptop for work needs. Android has plenty of great games, but we all know the serious gaming scene is on Windows. Chrome OS in general is light and fast, and requires much less power to run efficiently compared to other platforms. That makes sense; you have the web, apps for any service you want, entertainment via music and video, and it’s all shown on a reasonably large screen. Android support means Chromebooks can use a million or so apps, and the recent Linux support adds another set of even more powerful apps, but some products just aren’t made for any operating system other than Windows. Processors and software are getting better at managing energy, and some laptops will beat certain Chromebooks in this department, but the general consensus is that Chrome OS units will last longer. These accessories complete your Chromebook perfectly. To sum up, a Chromebook has a budget Windows laptop look, it may not run all of your favorite apps, doesn't offer a much in the way of local storage and can be a … Settings and notifications will be accessible from the lower-right corner. Both answers are right, but it always leads to one more question — can I replace my current MacBook or Windows laptop with a Chromebook? I love my Chromebook. Chrome OS can boot in under eight seconds. Is this the year I can finally dump my PC? Google Docs are a great way for any size team to get some work done, as is Microsoft Office — but they don't play together perfectly. Other specifics you will have to research on your own. Chromebooks are affordable, lightweight alternatives to traditional laptops. Here they are! Good -- The Chromebook in 2016: My next laptop will be a Chromebook. I have to manipulate images all the time. Chromebooks are better and more productive than ever, but can one replace your current laptop? If bargain hunting, a Chromebook like the aforementioned Acer can even be picked up for less than Asus and Google's Nexus 7 tablet. I was able to stream full screen video from Netflix on the CR-48, albeit with some slowdown, but new units should have no issues. Video Multimedia: The Chromebook can handle any media you would throw at the standard Chrome browser, e.g. Not only did Chromebooks get the ability to run Android applications, but Android started getting apps that truly competed with their desktop counterparts. Choosing the right Chromebook can be a difficult decision, because there are a lot to choose from. Productivity i.e. Most of my work can be done online, for which the Chrome browser worked seamlessly. Naturally, the experience is better locally on a powerful Windows machine. This is best done using Google Suite 3. You Do Most of Your Work Online What I will say is that I will always opt for the web version of a service if available. Therefore, we won’t be focusing much on specs like screen resolution, sound quality, available ports, and so on. But using a Chromebook full time in a professional setting, that’s another question. The answer is easy, yet complicated. Hi friends, I have been following up on the development of chromebooks and it seems lots are adopting them at a fast rate. It’s all in your pocket, all the time. The reason is that Chromebooks use a custom bootloader that will not boot anything but a signed Chrome OS kernel. Apps certainly had their issues from time to time, but I was using the browser most of the time anyways. Lightroom CC actually worked better on the Pixel Slate than on my Windows and Mac OS computers. Can you replace a Windows laptop with a Chromebook? At the time you didn't have to worry about screen sizes or resolutions -- most Chromebooks similar sized screens. Can the ChromeBook replace my laptop now? It’s a matter of perspective. All of this means the Pixelbook is a surprisingly capable photo-editing machine, but to answer the question of whether it can replace your MacBook Pro or Windows laptop, well, no — not exactly. How many services do you subscribe to? You can get a lot of really fun games from the Chrome Store, and there are a lot of cool browser based games out there. They're also excellent when it comes to security done simply — your online data is secured by Google, with experts keeping track of it so you don't have to. Can a Chromebook replace a laptop? The Top 3 Chromebooks. I couldn’t really use Adobe Premiere, but PowerDirector is plenty powerful. But there are three that stand out above the competition and could potentially replace expensive laptops for many of you. The Chrome store has a lot of great applications that can do a lot of things — entertainment, business and productivity are all well covered — but they can't do everything as well as a MacBook or a good (good being the key word here) Windows laptop. You can sync files with Google Drive, and open the local copy in Chrome for debugging. All for $35 a month. You can have a "real" Linux environment beside Chrome OS, and do everything you already do provided your hardware is up to snuff. This includes VR support, too. Chrome OS … And some things they really can't do at all. Often, $200 Chromebooks can feel faster (performing general tasks) than $600 Windows machines. 1. If you’re working to a tighter budget for your next laptop – say, under $400 – then it’s a decision between an entry-level Windows laptop or a Chromebook. Most mid-range Chromebooks will fill your needs once you visit the Crouton Git and start installing . Have you been happy with the Pixel 4a's performance? Chromebook cannot do everything a standard laptop can. But there are often compatibility issues with the proprietary document formats used with Microsoft Office. Your Chromebook also can’t use the same titles for productivity apps that a Windows laptop does either — at least, not exactly. word processing, spreadsheets, slides, drawings etc. Acer Aspire C720P-2457 ($336.99) Why is it good? The best Android apps that work great on a Chromebook. If getting on the internet easily and safely, while still having a great experience is what you're looking for, chances are a Chromebook is the best way to do it. That makes sense; you have the web, apps for any service you want, entertainment via music and video, and it’s … Can a Chromebook not run any of these programs. For documents I used Google Drive instead of the usual Microsoft Office. Now I'm not saying that any laptop — even the new models built specifically for gaming — are great at playing all the latest AAA titles. I ended up getting about 9 hours of battery life, which is common to see in Chromebooks. So, for personal use, the Chromebook could make a great portable video device. Chromebooks used to lack software, but now that Chrome OS supports Android apps it can do a lot more. When it comes to getting online easily, browsing your favorite places to do things like chat with your friends or do some shopping, or even reading your favorite tech blogs, it's hard to beat a Chromebook. It was refurbished but worked a few months then the WiFi died. As for myself, I couldn’t look for an app that can replace my favourite photo editing program on Windows. There is often a lot of dead space, or text is not proportionate to images. In fact, the Pixel makes one of the nicest Linux Ultrabooks you'll ever use. Media production is another place where Chromebooks can be lacking. It’s not that the Slate can’t handle intensive mobile apps (this Pixel Slate runs on an Intel Core i5, after all), it’s just the experience can be buggy. Source: Ara Wagoner / Android Central More people than ever use a smartphone as their only computer. For me a Speak-And-Spell can really replace a Windows laptop, so yes. It’s allowed me to do all the things I couldn’t do before. I only used Android apps for very specialized tasks like photo editing, and though there are some design discrepancies between Android and desktop apps, they worked amazingly in terms of performance. It's easy to create, share and collaborate with any size team, and Chromebooks are able to work with Docs while you're offline and synchronize things when you get a connection. Though if you use a laptop with a separate graphics adapter, you already know this. Whilst you can use Microsoft 365 on a Chromebook (the online version), some features will not be available. Sign up now to get the latest news, deals & more from Android Central! You'll also find people saying they could never replace their laptop with one. Joined Mar 14, 2011 Messages 583. This wasn’t solely because I used the expensive Google Pixel Slate. In reality, the Chromebook was actually able to replace my Windows laptop. So Google decided a Chromebook just needs to focus on that. Windows … I no longer had the full version of Photoshop or Lightroom Classic, though Lightroom CC and other compatible editing apps are great. Not Windows, not Mac. And these services are done well — Google Docs powers Mobile Nations as well as plenty of other companies both big and small. Unlike a regular laptop, a Chromebook relies more on cloud storage for files rather than local storage. I didn't forget you. There are some situations where a Chromebook may be perfect. Old titles that play great on a laptop — think Diablo II or the Age of Empires series — won't play on your Chromebook. Choosing the right Chromebook can be a difficult decision, because there are a lot to choose from. I pay for Adobe’s Creative Cloud, which gets me access to Lightroom CC. I have a subscription for Shadow, which offers a virtual Windows 10 computer you can access remotely over the internet. However, now it’s actually possible to do it, and without too much trouble at that. Editing something to share with your friends using apps from the Chrome Store or online services is easy enough, but none of them compare to expensive and powerful applications built for other platforms. The Top 3 Chromebooks. The biggest issue for many is when it comes to gaming. Living with the Chromebook Pixel. Can a chromebook replace a laptop/notebook for everyday tasks? Can a Chromebook be a replacement for a laptop? Its build quality and display Since most Android apps still aren’t optimized for Chrome OS, I usually opt for the web version if it’s available. We won’t delve too much into this topic, as it is technically something that will vary from machine to machine. E.g gaming. The remote machine has some serious specs too, including an Intel Xeon CPU, 12GB of RAM, a GTX 1080 GPU, and 256GB of dedicated storage. A huge part of my job here at Android Authority is overseeing photography. And this isn't necessarily a bad thing. You can find a few entry-level Windows laptops in that price range, but they can't run Photoshop any better than a Chromebook can. But any high-end laptop is going to be better at gaming than even the best Chromebook is. I prefer the classic version of Lightroom, but the lighter iteration honestly doesn’t lack much. The Pixel 4a brings a lot to the table for its $349 asking price, but is its performance any good? Let these Google Assistant Routines inspire you to automate your life more! If you’re working to a tighter budget for your next laptop – say, under $400 – then it’s a decision between an entry-level Windows laptop or a Chromebook. I don’t edit much video, and didn’t have to during the month of December, but I have used PowerDirector in the past and it works like a charm. In fact it is so limited that an iPad is far more powerful in every way by comparison. Admittedly, since the video was originally made, things have a got a little more complicated. In Video: Google Chromebooks to Arrive in June In fact, the things they do well they do better at than most any other laptop out there. But there are three that stand out above the competition and could potentially replace expensive laptops for many of you. In fact, the things they do well they do better at than most any other laptop out there. Source: Ara Wagoner / Android Central More people than ever use a smartphone as their only computer. Email 2. Can a Chromebook replace a ... Maybe it’s due to Chromebook’s reputation as a budget alternative to PCs that I’ve ... it’s significantly lighter than my Lenovo T450 work laptop. Software developers might also find that a Chromebook doesn't fit their needs. Open the lid, turn it on, sign in and go — there's a lot to be said for that simple experience because it works so well. 1. While the average chromebook manages 6- 8 … The operating system is so light, you will rarely come across slow-downs or hiccups. This is probably an expense you would rather not have to deal with, but if you are serious about gaming and still want the benefits of Chrome OS, this is a way. Infrastructure, Opinion business laptop, chrome OS, Chromebook, Google, Pixelbook, Pixelbook GO Google buys Fitbit for $2.1 billion IBM helps launch fourth tuition-free tech program in … This is something I hope Google is thinking about. This experiment is mostly about Chrome OS’ capabilities as an operating system. Windows Phone: Chromebook vs. Windows laptop: What you can and can’t do Source: Ara Wagoner / Android Central The best place to start when this topic gets discussed is to mention the things even the best Chromebook won’t be able to do that a Windows laptop can, then talk about what a Chromebook can do that a Windows laptop can’t. Here's what our AC forum members think. I don’t think you should drop your full desktop OS and jump into the Chrome OS platform with both feet — I know I probably won’t be doing that anytime soon. Whatever I had to do, whether personal or work-related, it was done with the Google Pixel Slate (or my smartphone). The fact that you get to play any Windows game means you have the widest portfolio at your disposal. Putting a Chromebook against a traditional computer can be a bit of an unfair competition. “What do you want to do with it?” Chromebooks are really good at a lot of things. Situations Where a Chromebook Can Replace Your PC Laptop. But if you want to write code and compile it, your options are pretty slim. No, A Chromebook is an extremely ow end device and cannot do what macOS or Windows does. Throw an unoptimized app on a large computer screen and they are bound to look at least a bit wonky. As you can see, a Chromebook isn’t the one machine that can suit everyone. The Pixel Slate I used is the $999 version with an Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of internal storage. Again, it's a matter of software. I can now comfortably do every single part of my job using Chrome OS. You can unsubscribe at any time and we'll never share your details without your permission. I’ve tried before to fully replace my PC with iPads, Android tablets, and Chromebooks. ©2020 Android Authority | All Rights Reserved. Here are a few samples of images solely edited by the Google Pixel Slate. Every time I need to edit images while I was on the Chromebook, I’ll grab my Windows laptop instead. I still think a Chromebook is the best computer for most of us, because most of us aren't doing the things it doesn't do well. There are rumors that HP is building a monster of a Chromebook with gaming and VR support, and I'll be excited if it happens, but plenty of software changes will need to be made to support the advanced graphical instructions and functions that you need for a great gaming experience. And Google makes everything easy to understand with a privacy policy that's in plain English so you don't have to be a lawyer to figure out exactly what they will do with it all. Even Google doesn't try to make that claim, because for power-users — even part time power-users — they can't do it all. It used to be a flip phone and a desktop PC. I own a Samsung Chromebook. I found a workaround to do some serious gaming from the Google Pixel Slate. Shop all of Amazon's Holiday Deals starting now, HP is building a monster of a Chromebook with gaming and VR support, Here are tips on how to review your online subscriptions and save money. Your Chromebook won't be … I’ll have more to say about the service in the review I’m working on. There are plenty of differences from computer to computer. It’s the most powerful Chromebook available today. There are plenty of tools available for editing photos, video and audio, but nothing suitable for people who need to produce content that they expect to be paid for. The answer is easy, yet complicated. Not with anything but Linux. The answer is easy, yet complicated. It's time to do an audit and save yourself some money. Both answers are right, but it always leads to one more question — can I replace my current MacBook or Windows laptop with a Chromebook? Compared to a standard Windows laptop, A Chromebook would be more reliable for its owner, thanks to the offline support as well as the great battery life that most Chromebooks come with. And if you're trying to get your kid a laptop for their ... but they're not good enough to replace the original. As you can see, a Chromebook isn't the one machine that can suit everyone. More detailed explanation: continue reading. The software I use are: Google Chrome ooVoo Photoshop iTunes Microsoft Office. However, using the Google Pixel Slate for browsing was a breeze. Other specs include a 12.3-inch 3,000 x 2,000 display, dual speakers, dual microphones… Old titles that play great on a laptop — think Diablo II or the Age of Empires series — won't play on your Chromebook. Other specs include a 12.3-inch 3,000 x 2,000 display, dual speakers, dual microphones, an 8MP camera, a fingerprint sensor, and up to 12 hours of battery life. Chromebook sales accounted for 21 percent of all U.S. notebook sales at the end of 2013. They say you should have a 30Mbps connection, a strong 5GHz Wi-Fi connection (or wired connection), and more. We're big fans of the Google Assistant here at AC and love finding ways to get even more use out of the AI. The Chromebook looks compelling, and Google's vision for the future of mobile computing is intriguing, but Chromebooks won't be replacing laptops any time soon. If you want to replace a PC, you need a device that is powerful enough to compete with a good laptop. In fact, gamers probably wouldn’t even bother to read this article. 1. No serious gaming is available for Chrome OS, but cloud services can compensate. In this video I show how simple and quick it is to carry out Chromebook repairs yourself and save you hundreds in spare parts. I used the Google Pixel Slate as my only work computer for one month. There are editors in the Chrome Store that are set up for writing HTML or Ruby or JavaScript and most every other language a web developer needs. Of course, plenty of us do more than surf the internet with a laptop. You can pin your favorite apps to the dock, or simply press the search button at any point and start typing what you need. You only start feeling a big difference when you move to Android apps and games that require a bit more power to operate. I had little to no issues creating pro-level photos using Lightroom CC on a Chromebook. But are they good enough to replace your Windows or OS X-powered machine? Thread starter srkmish; Start date Aug 20, 2014; srkmish Member. Acer Aspire C720P-2457 ($336.99) Why is it good? I bought it on sale for around $200. My favorite free alternative is Snapseed. For people who want to stay safe online without the hassle of doing it themselves, Chrome is great. “What do you want to do with it?” Chromebooks are really good at a lot of things. Laptops and Netbooks. Just like with any other computer, you essentially get what you pay for with Chromebooks. I would like to receive news and offers from other Future brands. If by some reason you made it this far, though, let me tell you I found a workaround to do some serious gaming from the Google Pixel Slate. There's use cases in which I doubt a windows laptop can replace my chromebook. Chromebooks are affordable, lightweight alternatives to traditional laptops. Whilst you can use Microsoft 365 on a Chromebook (the online version), some features will not be available. Often, $200 Chromebooks feel faster (performing general tasks) than $600 Windows machines. Windows, Mac OS, and Linux still offer benefits like a more refined UI, better optimized apps, and overall more streamlined experiences. Of course, Shadow does have some recommendations for an optimal experience. I managed to get a refund and few months later bought a new one. 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