Get the answers to the most common questions you have about Chromebooks.
Chromebooks come in various models: clamshell laptops, 2-in-1s, and tablets. These Google devices are budget-friendly, offering the same functionality as traditional laptops with only a few key differences. The most notable is the Chrome OS operating system on which they run. Rather than running traditional desktop-based applications, Chromebooks use cloud-and web-based applications like those offered within Google Workspace. Many users enjoy them due to their lower price point, ease-of-use, portability, and their web-based capabilities.
Want to learn more about Chromebooks? Read our article on the pros and cons of Chromebooks.
Chromebooks run on Chrome OS, which is based on Google’s popular Chrome web browser. Laptops run on various operating systems, including Linux, macOS, and Windows. Chromebooks also require an internet connection for many of their web-based applications and features whereas laptops do not. Also, you’ll oftentimes spend less on a Chromebook than a laptop since they tend to have lower hardware specifications and are intentionally designed to be affordable and lightweight.
Read our comprehensive guide on Chromebooks vs laptops to learn more.
If you are debating between a Chromebook or laptop, the first thing you should ask yourself is what you intend to do with the device. Let’s say you just want something for web browsing, checking email, or light document editing. A Chromebook would be a fine choice to handle these tasks and would save you some money.
On the other hand, say you’re a college student with an interest in graphic design. Such an interest would require both specialized software and powerful hardware. You’d be best off purchasing a laptop, since you’ll want a device with adequate RAM, a dedicated graphics card, and local storage to withstand your work.
Fundamentally, the tradeoff is simplicity and affordability for power and flexibility.
Not in all respects, no. Not all software available for laptops is available for Chromebooks. Additionally, most Chromebooks come equipped with about 4GB RAM, 64GB of eMMC storage, and a CPU that can’t keep up with a modern laptop. If you’re looking to do any tasks beyond streaming YouTube, checking email, or writing a paper in Google Docs, you’re likely going to struggle with a Chromebook. That’s not to say many users wouldn’t be able to replace their laptop with a Chromebook—if you’re only concerned with basic computing tasks and have strong, consistent internet access, a Chromebook could very well replace your laptop. Before you make a leap, be sure to investigate if you can run the software you need on a Chromebook, both in terms of software availability and Chromebook hardware specifications.
Yes, you can. There are several ways to use Windows software and even the entire OS on a Chromebook:
For a more in-depth look, we’ve written an entire article covering the pros and cons of Chromebooks.
Some Chromebook pros include:
Some Chromebook cons include:
The baseline RAM for modern laptops is about 8GB, so a Chromebook has half of that. If you want to run multiple applications at once or want to run particularly demanding, graphic-intensive tasks, you’ll have issues with 4GB RAM. However, for your average Chromebook task like using Google Workspace or doing web research, you shouldn’t run into too many issues unless you have a ton of tabs open.
Chromebooks have less powerful hardware components and displays than laptops. Since Chromebooks are cloud-centric, a good amount of the computing lift is offloaded as well as their internal storage needs. Additionally, several different manufacturers like Acer, ASUS, HP, and Samsung foster competition, driving prices down as well.
Here are some of the major reasons schools choose Chromebooks:
From procurement to deployment, CDW partners with schools to provide Chromebooks from all major manufacturers. Shop Chromebooks today or learn more about how Google and CDW can set up your students for success with our Google for Education tools.
