Buying a Chromebook? Consider This…..

Chromebooks are a mainstay in the education sector. It’s operating system, Chrome OS is very lightweight and is made to run on Google’s Cloud service which includes integration with a plethora of apps. It’s scalability and administrative controls make it ideal for classrooms and cloud computing. And when compared to regular laptops, a Chromebook is relatively affordable.

But as good as they are, the inherent limitations of the operating system make it less than ideal to certain people. This is what you need to consider:

Limited Shelf Life
Unlike Windows or Mac OS, Chromebooks are only supported for a certain number of years. After this, Google will stop sending updates and security fixes to said machines. Thankfully, the new ones receive about 6 years (from manufactured date) of support. However, it’s best that you check Google’s Update Policy for the complete list of Chromebook “shelf life”.

They Only Run Chrome OS apps
Chromebooks are unique machines. Unlike conventional operating systems, Chrome OS has a browser-like interface with which its various functions and features can be used. And that is limited to Google’s app suite and other support Chrome extensions. However the newer ones can run Android apps, which can be a major advantage to certain quarters.

Chrome OS Can’t Replace Windows
If you’re used to the Windows operating system which includes its various types of software. Then, this isn’t the laptop for you. Chromebooks run on a completely different platform that doesn’t support Windows or Mac software. You could run Windows on a Chromebook as a virtual machine via Parallels, but it’s a convoluted process that might prove to be inconvenient to some.

Browser-Based Workload
If your tasks revolve around Gmail, Calendar, Google Docs, Team Drives and the use of the Chrome browser, then a Chromebook is perfect for you. If not, then being tethered to these apps may prove to be extremely limiting in terms of productivity. It’s perfect for the classroom but less so for working adults.