Chromebooks: A Decade of Evolution and Improvement

It's hard to believe that Chromebooks have been around for over 10 years now. When they first emerged, they were essentially cheap, small laptops that ran Google's Chrome browser and not much else. They always required a web connection, which limited their functionality. I was not impressed with the early Chromebooks, but things have changed significantly over the years.

Today, Chromebooks are a lot more advanced than their predecessors. There is now a greater variety of devices available, catering to different needs and preferences. Most people find that they are enough for their daily needs, making them an attractive option. If you're still unsure whether a Chromebook is right for you, let's explore some reasons why they might be worth considering.

One of the main advantages of Chromebooks is their battery life. They typically have great battery life, which makes them perfect for users who need to work on the go or use their devices for extended periods without recharging. Additionally, Chromebooks are thin and light, making them easy to carry around. They are also more secure and safer to use than traditional laptops, thanks to their operating system. When it comes to budget, Chromebooks offer great value for money. For example, the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 is a high-end device that features an Intel Core i5 processor, a nice-looking 13.5-inch display, a good backlit keyboard, and a fingerprint reader. It also has nearly 13 hours of battery life and costs around $700, which is premium for a Chromebook.

However, some people might be thinking that recommending Chromebooks is terrible advice or that they are just toys that can't do anything other than browse the web. This couldn't be further from the truth. While it's true that you can't do everything on a Chromebook like you would on a traditional laptop, there are many things that you can do with these devices. For instance, most people don't need to run Microsoft Office or Adobe Creative Cloud applications, and Chromebooks offer web-based versions of these software that can be accessed through their browsers.

Another feature that sets Chromebooks apart is their compatibility with Android apps from the Google Play Store. This means that you can download and install thousands of Android apps on your Chromebook, which expands its functionality beyond just browsing the web. Additionally, some Chromebooks support Linux, allowing you to run Linux software directly on the device.

If you're looking for a way to use your traditional laptop but still want the benefits of a Chromebook, there are workarounds available. For example, you can use Google's Remote Desktop app to access your Windows or macOS desktop from your Chromebook. This allows you to tap into your desktop and its software when needed.

However, some people might be concerned about the limitations of Chromebooks in terms of gaming. While you won't be able to play the latest Windows games directly on a Chromebook, there are game streaming services available that can allow you to access a wide range of games from your laptop or other devices. Google Stadia, for example, is a game streaming service that allows you to play high-quality games on any device with an internet connection.

Finally, some people might be hesitant to switch to a Chromebook due to their perception of the company behind them, Google. However, this couldn't be further from the truth. Google has been working hard to improve the features and performance of its operating system over the years. The latest versions of Chrome OS offer faster performance, longer battery life, and a wider range of device options than ever before. Additionally, prices for good-quality Chromebooks have decreased significantly in recent years, making them more accessible to a wider range of users.

In conclusion, Chromebooks are no longer just cheap, small laptops that run Google's Chrome browser. They are powerful devices with a wide range of features and functionalities that make them attractive options for many users. Whether you're looking for a budget-friendly laptop or want the benefits of a traditional laptop without the hassle, there is a Chromebook out there for you.

If you're still unsure whether a Chromebook is right for you, the best place to start is by making a list of exactly what you need to do on your computer and what you would like to do. If everything on your list can be done in a web browser, congratulations! You might find that a Chromebook is perfect for you. Additionally, if you're looking for ways to use your traditional laptop while still benefiting from the simplicity and security of a Chromebook, there are many workarounds available.

Chromebooks have come a long way since their inception, and they continue to improve with each new update. With the latest features in Chrome OS, including faster performance, longer battery life, and a wider range of device options, it's clear that these devices are no longer just toys but serious contenders in the laptop market. Whether you're looking for a budget-friendly option or want the benefits of a traditional laptop without the hassle, there is a Chromebook out there for you.

In recent years, prices for good-quality Chromebooks have decreased significantly, making them more accessible to a wider range of users. For example, the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 costs around $700, which is premium for a Chromebook. However, this price point is comparable to many traditional laptops on the market, and some Chromebooks offer features that are not available on their competitors.

In conclusion, Chromebooks are no longer just cheap, small laptops that run Google's Chrome browser. They are powerful devices with a wide range of features and functionalities that make them attractive options for many users. Whether you're looking for a budget-friendly laptop or want the benefits of a traditional laptop without the hassle, there is a Chromebook out there for you.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enchromebooks are 10 years old and a lot has changed with them over the years if you remember them at the start they were these sort of cheap small laptops that basically ran google's chrome browser and not much else and they always had to have a web connection to be clear i didn't like the first chromebooks and it wasn't until a few years ago that they became worthwhile for me and more people they do much more now and there's a greater variety of them and really they are enough for most people's needs if you're still not sure though here's why a chromebook may be right for you now most of the people who've asked me about getting a chromebook were people buying them for their kids but these q a sessions they usually turned into them asking should i buy one for myself and my stock answer is usually it depends on your needs but i do mention chromebooks as a starting place because they typically have great battery life they're thin and light they can be more secure and safe to use and you generally get more for your money this for instance is acer's chromebook spin 713. it's a two in one with an intel core i5 processor a nice looking 13.5 inch display a good backlit keyboard and a fingerprint reader and nearly 13 hours of battery life and it's priced at 700 and that's premium for a chromebook now you might be saying recommending chromebooks is terrible advice josh hashtag bad advice and yeah it would be bad advice to tell you you can do everything with a chromebook because you can't but what i am saying is that many people simply don't need to do so much more and the simplicity of a chromebook makes more sense and again you can do quite a bit more now with a chromebook than you could 10 years ago if you're not sure a chromebook is right for you the best place to start and really this goes for any computer purchase is to make a list of exactly what you need to do on a computer and also include what you'd potentially like to do too if everything on your list is done in a web browser congratulations chromebooks are a perfect fit now that might seem unlikely but chrome has a store full of web apps and extensions and if you can't find a web app to meet your needs all current chromebooks can run android apps too from the google play store but this combination and some other key chrome os features that i'll get to in a second are what make chromebooks an easier recommendation than they were just a few years ago there are things that are a bit trickier like running microsoft office or adobe creative cloud or other native windows or mac software there are web and mobile app versions with most but not all features duplicated so that's something you'll want to check on you can also switch on linux support and use linux software in your chromebook and if you want to take things a step further you can get something like this this is an hp elite c1030 running chrome enterprise and you can use it with parallel's desktop for chrome os in order to run windows software this way you can have the simplicity of a chromebook but still have full microsoft office offline or run that one lingering piece of legacy software that you need for work you can also use chrome's remote desktop as a workaround too if you were considering a chromebook to complement a windows or mac desktop with the chromebook's remote connection you can tap into your desktop and its software when you need it one other hang up for people is gaming you won't be able to play the latest windows games directly from a chromebook what you can play on them are android linux and browser-based games and you can use game streaming services like google stadia geforce now and xbox cloud gaming and chromebooks are even starting to get geared up for gaming uh this asus chromebook cm5 for example even has the uh wasd keys blocked out ready for gaming again i'm not saying everyone should switch to a chromebook and sure at some point there are diminishing returns and the workarounds aren't worth it you may also have feelings about google as a company or that chromebooks have auto update expiration dates and eventually they stop getting feature and security updates all things worth considering for me with the latest features in chrome os a broader range of devices with faster performance and longer battery life and prices for good models starting around two to three hundred dollars you can't just toss them aside as cheap toys anymore that can't do anything other than browse the web that's why they've become my go-to recommendation when starting to talk to people about laptops now what do you think are chromebooks finally serious competition for windows and mac laptops or are they still just toys let us know in the comments and check out our chromebook and laptop reviews on cnet.com and as always thanks for watchingchromebooks are 10 years old and a lot has changed with them over the years if you remember them at the start they were these sort of cheap small laptops that basically ran google's chrome browser and not much else and they always had to have a web connection to be clear i didn't like the first chromebooks and it wasn't until a few years ago that they became worthwhile for me and more people they do much more now and there's a greater variety of them and really they are enough for most people's needs if you're still not sure though here's why a chromebook may be right for you now most of the people who've asked me about getting a chromebook were people buying them for their kids but these q a sessions they usually turned into them asking should i buy one for myself and my stock answer is usually it depends on your needs but i do mention chromebooks as a starting place because they typically have great battery life they're thin and light they can be more secure and safe to use and you generally get more for your money this for instance is acer's chromebook spin 713. it's a two in one with an intel core i5 processor a nice looking 13.5 inch display a good backlit keyboard and a fingerprint reader and nearly 13 hours of battery life and it's priced at 700 and that's premium for a chromebook now you might be saying recommending chromebooks is terrible advice josh hashtag bad advice and yeah it would be bad advice to tell you you can do everything with a chromebook because you can't but what i am saying is that many people simply don't need to do so much more and the simplicity of a chromebook makes more sense and again you can do quite a bit more now with a chromebook than you could 10 years ago if you're not sure a chromebook is right for you the best place to start and really this goes for any computer purchase is to make a list of exactly what you need to do on a computer and also include what you'd potentially like to do too if everything on your list is done in a web browser congratulations chromebooks are a perfect fit now that might seem unlikely but chrome has a store full of web apps and extensions and if you can't find a web app to meet your needs all current chromebooks can run android apps too from the google play store but this combination and some other key chrome os features that i'll get to in a second are what make chromebooks an easier recommendation than they were just a few years ago there are things that are a bit trickier like running microsoft office or adobe creative cloud or other native windows or mac software there are web and mobile app versions with most but not all features duplicated so that's something you'll want to check on you can also switch on linux support and use linux software in your chromebook and if you want to take things a step further you can get something like this this is an hp elite c1030 running chrome enterprise and you can use it with parallel's desktop for chrome os in order to run windows software this way you can have the simplicity of a chromebook but still have full microsoft office offline or run that one lingering piece of legacy software that you need for work you can also use chrome's remote desktop as a workaround too if you were considering a chromebook to complement a windows or mac desktop with the chromebook's remote connection you can tap into your desktop and its software when you need it one other hang up for people is gaming you won't be able to play the latest windows games directly from a chromebook what you can play on them are android linux and browser-based games and you can use game streaming services like google stadia geforce now and xbox cloud gaming and chromebooks are even starting to get geared up for gaming uh this asus chromebook cm5 for example even has the uh wasd keys blocked out ready for gaming again i'm not saying everyone should switch to a chromebook and sure at some point there are diminishing returns and the workarounds aren't worth it you may also have feelings about google as a company or that chromebooks have auto update expiration dates and eventually they stop getting feature and security updates all things worth considering for me with the latest features in chrome os a broader range of devices with faster performance and longer battery life and prices for good models starting around two to three hundred dollars you can't just toss them aside as cheap toys anymore that can't do anything other than browse the web that's why they've become my go-to recommendation when starting to talk to people about laptops now what do you think are chromebooks finally serious competition for windows and mac laptops or are they still just toys let us know in the comments and check out our chromebook and laptop reviews on cnet.com and as always thanks for watching\n"