Now that Windows 7 is coming to an end, it’s time to look at another operating system. We have already looked at upgrading to Windows 10, Linux and even macOS for a while, but nothing has been said about Google’s operating system Chrome OS. Chromebooks are not like normal laptops and therefore not suitable for everyone. They offer advantages and disadvantages, but how do you determine if the cheaper devices are for you? We tell you.
The support of Windows 7 ends tomorrow and we have already written several times about switching to Windows 10, or even Linux macOS every now and then a review, but little has been said about Chrome OS in recent weeks, while for many people that can be a pretty affordable (and in some cases even free) alternative. The system only uses a slightly different philosophy than other operating systems and therefore it is useful to ask yourself the following questions before switching to Chrome OS.
Chrome OS is probably one of the most misunderstood platforms: they are fundamentally different from a traditional PC and there are many misconceptions. That’s why we wrote this article about Chromebook myths before. But people regularly ask us if Chrome OS is for them and how they can determine that.
Even with the improvements in recent years, such as working locally and adding Android apps, some things remain different than on another laptop, such as one with Windows, Linux or macOS. To help you determine if Chrome OS is for you, answer the following questions for yourself:
How much do you use web services?
This is something to think about carefully, because the answer may surprise you: what do you do most with your computer? If you read the most articles, use social media, web services such as Gmail, cloud storage, YouTube and more, and web is therefore your most used application, then Chrome OS is a good choice. Especially because in this respect Chrome OS is more flexible than a traditional PC.
It is also important to note here that web-centric does not mean that you have to be online to work. One of the most common complaints about Chromebooks is that they are useless without an internet connection, but in reality you can do a lot locally and you have apps to work locally – basically everything you can do locally on Android.
For most people, a Chromebook won’t actually work much differently than a PC, even though it has a completely different basic principle. Most people use the browser, download stuff, tap a document or create spreadsheets – all things you can do on Chrome OS.
Is there a specific local application that you necessarily need?
This used to be the most difficult point, but with the improved Android and Linux support, this still applies to few users. If there is a suitable Android equivalent, you have no problems here. Consider what you use locally: Word, e-mail application, photo editor, games or specialized business environments?
Are there suitable alternatives for this? For example, is there a web version that works or an alternative on Android that would work well? Hardcore gamers and Photoshoppers, for example, arrive at a traditional PC faster (although that may be a thing of the past with WINE and Stages), but the vast majority of users can easily handle a Chromebook.
For example, if you use Outlook, can you use the web version, the Word Android app, or even an alternative email service like Gmail? If you use Word, can you use Office 365, the Word Android app, or an alternative service such as Google Docs? If you use Photoshop, is an Android app like Photoshop express, or an alternative suite like Pixlr suitable?
If the answer to that is “yes” or even “maybe”, you can continue to look at Chrome OS, but if you necessarily have to use local software on a PC environment, it can be a breeze to transfer your workflow to a Chromebook to relocate. Especially when it comes to business applications or multimedia editor you can get in trouble.
Another remark is relevant: with the Chrome Remote Desktop you can use the desktop environment of the PC from a Chromebook. But in that case your Chromebook is a supplement to, and not a replacement for, the PC, so that seems to us to be insufficient to fill that gap.
If you have doubts, try answering question three:
Try to work with Chrome only for a week. What do you miss?
This is the real test and let me be clear: you need to make some changes to your habits if you want this to work – switch to web-centric applications such as Documents for word processing (if you have not already done so), upload documents that you used to cloud storage such as Dropbox or Drive, and so on. Look in the Chrome Web Store for the tools you need and make a real effort to only work over the web for a week.
If you think that Android apps should fill a gap, use Bluestacks. This is a PC and Mac compatible program that allows you to use Android applications on a traditional computer. Bluestacks is not perfect and feels much less native than what you would get with Android apps in Chrome OS (Bluestacks is simply an emulator, while Chrome OS has a subsystem) but for these testing purposes, it should be enough to give you an idea to indicate what works and what doesn’t in that week.
If you can ignore local programs for a week and still be able to do your work, then the switch is an idea. If you encounter major problems or if it turns out to be a struggle, then this may be a sign that Chrome OS is not suitable for you.
Keep in mind that this is just a simulation, a test of basic tools and the limitations of the system. The limitations are similar in the real environment, but this is far from the experience you get on a Chromebook. So far we have mainly talked about the PC equivalents and that raises the question: why would you switch to Chrome OS at all if your current environment is adequate? That is the last question we answer here.
Why should you switch?
The reason that Chrome OS does not function as a PC is because it is a completely different platform that runs in the cloud. In principle, you do not need local apps. Your laptop is automatically protected, constantly updated and malware cannot puncture anything. In a number of fundamental ways, a traditional PC resembles a completely outdated concept when you use a Chromebook.
What you no longer have are ongoing upgrades or time-consuming updates – everything happens in the background. You no longer have long waiting times, even if a new upgrade is applied. You do not have to look for minutes at a window that updates are configured.
You no longer have driver issues, no delays because there are remains of old software, or simply because too much has been installed. In other words, a Chromebook does not age in the same way as a Windows laptop does. You may miss some features after years (you won’t have the Android support on a Chromebook from 2014), but otherwise the laptop stays fast and up-to-date.
In other words, many of the annoyances and problems that users encounter in a traditional system have disappeared in Chrome OS – where you will find other challenges. But with all of the platform’s improvements, for almost a decade, Google seems to be heading in the direction that we are ultimately heading: a cloud-based, universally synchronized, always-updated laptop with cross-device functionality, so you don’t get stuck on one device.
With all those benefits, a Chromebook can be a refreshing alternative to your normal PC environment, provided it makes sense to your needs. And that will not be the case for everyone.
Which Chrome device is good for me?
Often when people talk about Chrome OS, they talk about Chromebooks, the affordable laptops with the Chrome operating system. But what if you don’t want a laptop? No problem there are also desktops with Chrome OS for sale and even sticks / dongles. If you really want cheap on the Chrome OS, you can even go for a Raspberry Pi. For only a few tens you have a desktop computer with Chrome OS and if you do not want to buy a new computer at all, you can even download the operating system separately and install it on your current computer. We will soon show you in detail how you do that.
Are you looking for an affordable, yet powerful Chromebook, then the Lenovo Chromebook C340-11 is a very nice entry-level model. And the device is also on sale, making you ready for 259 euros.
If you prefer a budget Chromebook, the ASUS Chromebook C423NA is a good one. This laptop costs less than 200 euros and can still run all Chrome OS apps without problems.
If you go for a powerhouse and want everything to fly over your screen, then the HP Chromebook x360 14-inch Chromebook is for you. This laptop has a powerful processor, a Full HD screen and more than enough RAM and storage. This Chromebook costs you 860 euros, but then you also have something.
Are you someone who would prefer a desktop / stick solution? Then have a look at a Chromebit or Chromebox. These small desktops or PC-on-a-stick computers are affordable and fast. The Acer Chromebox CXI3 is a good example of this.
If you prefer to do it yourself, there are different ways (and versions) you can do that. We are already testing this and will soon be publishing an article about it. If you want to get started yourself, you can download and install a version here, here or here.