I’ll be the first person to admit I was skeptical of Chromebooks when they were first introduced in 2011. And who wouldn’t be? A laptop running on a browser-based OS didn’t seem like it would be capable of doing all the things I needed it to do, and the low prices made me wonder if it was because they were “cheap”.
But I was wrong.
Chromebooks are not only able to perform many of the same functions as your laptop, but many people are actually replacing their laptops with them. And with shipments increasing 67% this quarter and projected to double in size next year, Chromebooks are only going to get better – and hopefully cheaper.
“Consumers are hungry for a product that is cost effective but also provides the versatility and functionality of a laptop. The growth of the Chromebook market demonstrates a niche that is gaining traction among consumers.”
— Stephanie Van Vactor, ABI Research Analyst
Granted, if you’re a graphic designer who needs to run Photoshop or a hardcore gamer who wants to play Counter-Strike; you’re probably better off with a “real” laptop. But if all you want to do is watch Netflix or check your email, a Chromebook is all you need.
Choosing the right Chromebook can be a difficult decision, because there are a lot to choose from. But there are three that stand out above the competition and could potentially replace expensive laptops for many of you.
The Top 3 Chromebooks
1. Acer Aspire C720P-2457 ($336.99)
Why is it good? It’s the most powerful Chromebook available today.
Acer sells more Chromebooks than any other brand and the C720P is their best machine. The C720P is also the most powerful 11” Chromebook ever thanks to its Intel Celeron processor and offers up to 7.5 hours of battery life on a single charge. If that wasn’t enough to convince you to buy one, it also has a touchscreen – something you only find on much more expensive laptops.
Specs
- Intel Celeron 2955U (1.40GHz)
- 4GB Memory 32GB SSD
- Intel HD Graphics
- 1366 x 768
2. Samsung Chromebook 2 ($299.00)
Why is it good? It has the highest (affordable) resolution available on a Chromebook.
Samsung is known for making some of the best smartphones on the market, but they also make a great Chromebook. Their latest device, the Chromebook 2, offers an impressive 1080p display and a decent set of speakers that make it the ideal computer for streaming video. It also has a very nice build which makes it perfect for kids or for lugging around school.
Specs
- Samsung Exynos 5 Octa 5420 1.90GHz
- 4GB Memory 16GB eMMC SSD
- Integrated Graphics
- 1366 x 768
3. Dell Chromebook 11 ($297.99)
Why is it good? It’s one of the best-built Chromebooks and doesn’t feel “cheap”.
Dell has consistently made great computers and the Chromebook 11 is no exception. While it doesn’t have a high resolution display, it makes up for it with heavy-duty construction and a great keyboard and trackpad combination. It’s also powered by an Intel processor so you can be confident it can handle whatever you throw at it.
Specs
- Intel Celeron 2955U (1.40GHz)
- 4GB Memory 16GB SSD
- Intel HD Graphics
- 1366 x 768
Tips for Making the Switch
- If you get work done with Microsoft Office
Chromebooks come with free apps like Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides, which let you create documents, spreadsheets, and presentations in real-time with other people, and don’t have to sweat losing any of your work since your files are automatically backed up online. They also are compatible with other software you might be used to, like Microsoft Office.
- If you watch movies & listen to music on iTunes
You can stream movies online using apps like YouTube, Netflix, and sites like Hulu, just like you would on another computer. Just add the app to your Chromebook from the Chrome Web Store or visit their respective websites.
You can listen to music using Google Play Music or apps like Spotify and Pandora, much like you would on any other computer, simply by adding the app from the Chrome Web store or visiting their websites.
- If you chat with friends and family on Skype
Skype is not currently supported on Chromebooks, but Google Hangouts works on your Chromebook right out of the box and can be used across devices making it easy to make phone calls, instant message, and video chat.
- If you store photos on a computer using iPhoto
With 100GB of free Google Drive storage for 2 years, you can privately upload any photos that you have on your old computer to the cloud and access them from any device, including your Chromebook. All Chromebooks also come with at least 16GB of internal storage so you can store any must-have photos right on your device.
The built-in Google+ Photos appmakes it easy to edit, organize, and share your photos with friends on Google+ and the web. You’ll not only be able to view photos or slideshows, but also automatically upload your photos by connecting to camera or SD card. After your photos have been uploaded, you can edit and share them with friends and family.
