ChromeOS and Chromebooks have become increasingly popular and popular products over the last year. In this article we will try to introduce you to the world of these interesting products to find out what their strengths and weaknesses are and thus understand if they are suitable for you or not for the use you will have to make of them.
What are Chromebooks?
All laptops based on OS Google Chrome are defined as Chromebook. This operating system is based on the Chrome browser and was designed to offer users a solution reliable, super fast and safe.
ChromeOS is actually updated by Google. Each hardware platform is supported for six and a half years from its release.
In Chrome OS today, there is no need to worry about viruses.
The great success of Chromebooks lies in some of the special features of these products:
- thanks to ChromeOS, Chromebooks tThey perform well even on faulty hardware. (therefore also very cheap);
- always offers a high boot speed and good responsiveness;
- do long battery life (often about 10 hours)
- offer one great ease of use.
Chromebooks have quickly established themselves in all areas where it's not power that counts, but where you need a machine that's simple, affordable, always ready to go, and always reliable.
Who is a Chromebook recommended for?
To date, the Chromebook devices we think we can recommend are:
- who to buy a PC to study;
- for those who use PC preferably for browsing, checking email, using word processing programs, doing office work, and watching videos from services streaming;
- to whomThey want to spend as little as possible and take home a solution that still works..
Google's operating system is becoming more complete. To date it supports applications written for Linux and Play Store, from which it is possible to download application for Android.
For whom a Chromebook is not recommended
Instead of recommending a Chromebook, we do not feel:
- for those who intend to use the PC for challenging tasks, e.g. eg 3D modeling and multimedia editing (especially videos);
- for group of users who need specific applications created in a specific platform (for example, a specific company program written for Windows);
- to those who want a laptop for gaming.
When it comes to gaming, Chromebooks are only compatible with Android devices. Fortunately, there's full support for new streaming services like Google Stadia and Xbox Game Pass.
How do I choose a Chromebook?
Choosing a Chromebook is quite simple, just pay attention to a few details to find the model that best suits your needs.
We will only recommend low and mid-end Chromebooks globally, because it is in this price range where Chrome OS gives its best.
On high-end laptops with more powerful hardware, Google's system is unnecessarily restrictive (better to choose a Windows or Linux distribution). While Chrome OS is definitely an advantage in low-end laptops thanks to its light weight and performance.
Now, here are the features to look out for when choosing a Chromebook:
Screen size
However, it may seem trivial screen size greatly affects how you use a laptop (and by extension a Chromebook). A large-screen laptop can be very convenient to use for typing or enjoying multimedia content (such as videos, movies, or TV shows). On the other hand, a larger screen size leads to more important dimensions and weight of the device and, therefore, to a decrease in its portability.
Convertible or portable?
This is another an important choice that can affect the price of the device. The difference between the two types of devices is that a convertible is equipped with a touch screen and a hinge that allows you to rotate the screen to use the device as a tablet, while a laptop usually does not have a screen that is capable of responding. . touching and maintaining a more canonical usage paradigm.
There are benefits to choosing a convertible. LThe touchscreen fits particularly well with the many Android apps that can be easily downloaded from the Play Store.. It may also be convenient to have a large super tablet available. Finally, some convertibles are also equipped with a pen and active digitizer, making them very convenient for taking notes, writing or studying.
Better an ARM or x86 Chromebook?
The processor that powers the laptop is important. When choosing a Chromebook, many people wonder which processor to choose. It can be said that, even in this case, it depends on your needs.
If you need the best possible compatibility with Android apps and are looking for a battery life close to 16 hours, focus on ARM processors. On Chromebooks, it's usually MTK and Snapdragons, with the latter doing better than the former.
If you are looking for better compatibility with Linux applications and a slightly higher effect, even at the expense of autonomy, which usually drops to approx. 10 hours, choose x86 CPU (Intel and AMD). If you plan on running a heavy Linux program, we recommend spending a bit more on a quad-core processor model.
How many GB of RAM?
This is also a topic that consumers are legitimately wondering about in an increasingly crowded marketplace.
Let's start by reassuring you. Chromebook models with 4 GB of RAM are fine too, they also let you keep a number of Chrome tabs open, which we don't hesitate to call amazing.
As in the case of the processor, we recommend a model with 8 GB of RAM, especially if you want a device that lasts a long time and if you plan to use Linux applications a lot.