8 frequent Chromebook myths that merely aren’t true

As a longtime advocate of Chromebooks, I’ve repeatedly heard the identical previous myths and misconceptions about Google’s laptops time and time once more. It’s been some time since I switched from Home windows to ChromeOS, and I can say plenty of these once-true objections at the moment are outdated.

Listed here are a few of the commonest Chromebook misconceptions that also get handed round but will be safely ignored.

Delusion: Chromebooks at all times should be related to the web

A lot of folks assume that Chromebooks should at all times be related to the web and that they turn into ineffective bricks when offline. That simply isn’t true! Sure, ChromeOS is designed to be cloud-based with a give attention to internet apps, however there’s loads you are able to do with an offline Chromebook.

A few of these issues embrace utilizing offline-capable apps, taking part in downloaded video games, watching downloaded media, managing recordsdata and dealing on paperwork, amongst different issues. (However how typically at the moment are you not related to the web, anyway?)

To make sure you can maintain utilizing your Chromebook whereas offline, be sure you obtain apps and video games with offline help, retailer your vital recordsdata regionally, and/or allow offline mode in Google’s core productiveness apps similar to Gmail, Drive, Docs, and Sheets.

Delusion: Chromebooks are just for college students

Whereas it’s true that the Chromebook has developed an identification because the reasonably priced laptop computer choice for academic environments, that doesn’t imply Chromebooks can’t be helpful elsewhere. I’m a middle-aged man who writes for a dwelling and I’ve been utilizing Chromebooks for years, each for private {and professional} use circumstances.

Given how straightforward it’s to arrange and use ChromeOS, a Chromebook is appropriate for anybody of any age—it simply so occurs that the benefit of use makes it a fantastic instrument for the scholar demographic.

The truth is, I take into account Chromebooks excellent for older people who simply want entry to the web with minimal tech interference. Not solely are Chromebooks straightforward to make use of, however they arrive with a number of built-in safety features which might be vital for customers who’re much less tech-savvy.

Delusion: Chromebooks are low cost, low efficiency, and disposable

Dave Parrack / Foundry

There’s a distinction between a laptop computer that’s “reasonably priced” and one which’s “low cost”—and within the context of Chromebooks, that distinction is essential. Whereas a number of Chromebooks are fairly low cost and gradual, not all of them are. The previous adage that “you get what you pay for” is true right here. There’s an enormous vary of Chromebooks obtainable, from the plasticky low-end fashions to the high-end fashions made with premium supplies.

The secret’s to do your analysis before you purchase, and don’t accept the most cost effective mannequin obtainable. You wouldn’t purchase a bottom-of-the-barrel Home windows laptop computer after which say all Home windows PCs are trash, proper?

Weigh up the fee versus construct high quality, specs, and model. The cheaper fashions usually tend to suck in a roundabout way—I do know from expertise—whereas the higher-end fashions will be nearly as good as Home windows laptops. On that notice, it’s vital to know the variations between Chromebooks and Home windows laptops so that you get the proper machine on your wants.

Delusion: Chromebooks are only a wrapper for the Chrome browser

Dave Parrack / Foundry

ChromeOS is actually a easy and stylish working system. However individuals who assume it’s only a wrapper for the Chrome browser—and who see that as a detrimental—are misguided at greatest. Regardless that Chrome sits on the core of the working system, you possibly can (for those who actually wished to) go months with out ever truly launching Chrome.

Truly, ChromeOS is predicated on Linux—and you may truly allow the Linux subsystem to unlock extra energy. Between that and the power to run Android apps through the Google Play Retailer, you’ll be able to truly do a lot with a Chromebook past Chrome. Throw in some progressive internet apps that may run aside from the browser and you’ve got a successful combo.

Delusion: Chromebooks can’t print something

Dave Parrack / Foundry

Again when ChromeOS first debuted, some older printers weren’t suitable with it as a result of they wanted proprietary drivers that couldn’t be put in on a Chromebook. Google Cloud Print tried to get round that with a print-over-the-web service, however then that acquired discontinued. Customers have been additionally unfamiliar with ChromeOS’s printing interface.

And so Chromebooks developed a repute as laptops that had hassle printing. However that isn’t true anymore. ChromeOS now helps Web Printing Protocol (IPP) for sending print jobs to network-attached printers, and as of 2019, IPP is accessible on 98% of printers being bought.

In brief, this implies you can print with a Chromebook so long as it’s up-to-date and so long as you will have a considerably fashionable printer. Some superior printing options is likely to be lacking, however today you’ll be able to print virtually something you’d want with a Chromebook.

Delusion: Chromebooks lack offline storage

Dave Parrack / Foundry

Whereas Chromebooks are designed to rely totally on cloud storage, all of them include some quantity of offline storage. That quantity will depend on what Chromebook you purchase and in what configuration.

My Pixelbook Go, for instance, has 64GB of inside storage—and I haven’t felt restricted by that within the years I’ve been utilizing it—however I may’ve chosen 128GB or 256GB choices. There are others like that on the market, together with the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus with 256GB storage and the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 with 512GB storage.

No matter quantity, you’ll be effective so long as you take note of what you’re downloading and clear up your recordsdata each infrequently. Meaning uninstalling apps you not use, deleting recordsdata if you’re executed with them, and utilizing cloud storage when you’ll be able to. The perceived lack of offline storage is barely a problem for those who neglect this.

Delusion: Chromebooks can’t run the apps it’s good to use day by day

Dave Parrack / Foundry

One of many greatest misconceptions about fashionable Chromebooks is you can solely run extensions and apps from the Chrome Net Retailer. If that have been true, I’d perceive the grievance—any laptop computer could be severely hampered by such restricted entry to software program.

As of late, Chromebooks can run Android apps, Linux apps, and progressive internet apps. And given that almost all app builders preserve help for at the very least a kind of platforms, it is best to be capable to run most of the apps you want on ChromeOS. The one caveat right here is for those who depend on apps which might be solely obtainable on Home windows and/or macOS.

Anxious about Microsoft Workplace? Slack? Photoshop? Evernote? All of them run on Chromebooks! And when you’ve got any apps that merely aren’t obtainable on ChromeOS for no matter cause, you’ll be able to normally discover a adequate various to fill within the hole. Chromebook software program obtainable is barely a problem for those who’re utilizing area of interest and/or trade software program.

Delusion: Chromebooks can’t play video games

Dave Parrack / Foundry

This one we have to method with some nuance. Sure, you’ll be able to play video games on a Chromebook—with caveats. We wrote a whole article about whether or not Chromebooks are good for gaming, however right here’s a recap.

When you care about native gaming, you’ll be able to consider Chromebook gaming like cellular gaming. You’ve got entry to Android video games and internet video games, plus it’s also possible to run a beta model of Steam for Chromebooks. With Steam, you’ll want a higher-end machine with at the very least an Intel i3 or Ryzen 3 CPU and 8GB of RAM, and solely a small fraction of Steam video games are natively suitable with Chromebooks.

Nevertheless, cloud gaming is rising increasingly in style, and that’s nice information for Chromebooks. Notable platforms embrace Nvidia GeForce Now and Xbox Cloud Gaming, which let you remotely stream demanding video games for a month-to-month subscription. You’ll want a quick web connection and also you’ll run into enter lag, but it surely’s a darn good technique to play a a lot wider collection of video games on a Chromebook!

Additional studying: The most effective Chromebooks to purchase this yr