Chromebooks

What are Chromebooks?

Chromebooks are portable laptops that run Google’s Chrome operating system and feature cloud-based storage and a simplified interface. Chromebooks use web apps to edit documents, spreadsheets, presentations and other files you create with your laptop. You can sync those devices with your online account or store those documents in the cloud. You can also access files offline if you need to work away from an internet connection.

What apps are included?

Chromebooks come with a built in suite of applications such as Gmail, Docs, YouTube and Maps among others so users can get started from day one without having to worry about things like updates or downloads as everything happens automatically in the background once you've logged into your own account.

So what can I use my Chromebook for?

Watch movies and listen to music online through sites like Netflix and Pandora or visit video-sharing platforms like Hulu and Vimeo. Search for directions on Google Maps using your laptop while driving in your car! Stay up-to-date with all your news and social networking in one place using Google Reader and Facebook. Do work online using apps such as Google Docs, Office Web Apps and more. View any website, even when you're away from home, thanks to the built in VPN feature that allows you to connect securely to your office or university networks.

What does Chrome OS look like?

The interface of a Chromebook is much like that of an Android phone - it has a quick launch bar at the bottom of the screen for recent applications and files (just like your phone), but instead of touch screen buttons (like on your phone) there are traditional mouse cursor keys and shortcuts which allow you to use Chromebook without having to learn new gestures or key combinations.

What Chromebook specs do I need?

Chromebooks run web apps rather than preinstalled software plus the Chrome OS is far more lightweight than its Windows or MacOS counterparts. This means you don’t need to invest in a laptop with an expensive, powerful processor or large amounts of RAM to get decent performance running your day to day tasks. Storage isn’t an issue either as Chromebooks don’t save files to the device - everything is stored online in Google Drive. The absence of a power sapping internal disk combined with the minimalistic Chrome OS means you get excellent battery life on Chromebook devices with 10 to 12 hours usage typical on a full charge.

Summary

If you need a laptop for web browsing, video streaming, social media and email, a Chromebook is a sensible choice. If you need to install or run dedicated software programs, plug in external devices or work with Windows users, a Windows laptop would be a better investment.