A laptop is a good alternative (or addition) to a traditional, bulky desktop. For several years now, you can also opt for a Chromebook. What are the differences between a traditional laptop and a Chromebook?
You can actually see a Chromebook as a traditional laptop, but also as a 2-in-1 PC. Such a 2-in-1 desktop is in between a tablet and a laptop. What a traditional laptop often runs on Windows, that is with a Chromebook on Google’s operating system, namely Chrome. The main difference between the two operating systems is that Chrome OS is actually primarily a minimalist, stripped-down version of Windows. Sometimes it seems like you are continuously working from a web browser on a Chromebook.
This was also the reason that the Chromebook was not so successful in the first instance: the functionalities were limited and the device was also very dependent on a good internet connection. Google has tinkered a lot with Chrome OS in recent years, making the Chromebook a bit more accessible.
Everything on the web
Basically Chrome OS remains the same straightforward operating system, but that does not mean that it is inferior to, for example, Windows 10. Nowadays you can do almost anything on the web, making a Chromebook perfect for everyday tasks such as surfing the web. internet and (limited) photo or text editing.
No Windows apps
If you’re looking for a “Chrome OS experience” on a Windows laptop, you can always mimic the operating system simply by using the Chrome browser. Conversely, you cannot run Windows on a Chromebook (possibly via a detour).
This means that you cannot install or use many Windows applications on a Chromebook. For example, you do not have access to the full version of Microsoft Office, only the web version of the popular office suite.
A Chromebook is also not suitable for heavier tasks, such as photo or video editing and gaming. In addition to the fact that a Chromebook cannot handle this, the range of extensive editing programs or games is very limited if not available. You can stream games with services such as Google Stadia. If you are not a seasoned gamer, but you want to be able to play a game now and then, this is possible.
offer
Laptops can be found in many shapes and sizes and you can completely customize them by adding or removing parts yourself. With a Chromebook, the choice is more limited, although many models have been launched since the emergence of the device in 2011. Differences are for example in the processor, memory, storage and screen. But converting a Chromebook into a gaming laptop is not an option.
Internet
Another difference between a Chromebook and a traditional laptop is that a Chromebook is still very dependent on a stable internet connection. This could be very annoying in the early days: if the internet connection was lost, you could have lost your progress in a document, for example. Fortunately, Google has improved the offline functions of Chrome OS in recent years and now you can also watch videos or listen to music online with apps like Netflix, YouTube and Spotify.
Despite this, one remains Internet connection a lot less important for a traditional laptop, because you can always store data on the hard drive of your device. So if you do not have a regular connection to the internet, a Chromebook is not a good choice, although the functionalities of a traditional laptop are now also quite limited without an internet connection.
price
Finally, it should be noted that Chromebooks are usually a lot cheaper, because the hardware requirements of Chrome OS are simply very limited. Plus, this makes Chromebooks a lot smaller and lighter than normal laptops, making them a good choice if you travel a lot for work. Where you have a good Chromebook for 200 euros, you quickly add a few hundred euros more for a good laptop.
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