8 widespread Chromebook myths that simply 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since I switched from Home windows to ChromeOS, and I can say loads of these once-true objections at the moment are outdated.

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

Fantasy: Chromebooks at all times must be linked to the web

Numerous folks suppose that Chromebooks should at all times be linked to the web and that they change into ineffective bricks when offline. That simply isn’t true! Sure, ChromeOS is designed to be cloud-based with a give attention to net apps, however there’s lots you are able to do with an offline Chromebook.

A few of these issues embody utilizing offline-capable apps, enjoying downloaded video games, watching downloaded media, managing recordsdata and dealing on paperwork, amongst different issues. (However how usually at the present time are you not linked to the web, anyway?)

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

Fantasy: Chromebooks are just for college students

Whereas it’s true that the Chromebook has developed an identification because the inexpensive laptop computer choice for instructional 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 instances.

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 convenience of use makes it a terrific software for the scholar demographic.

In reality, I contemplate Chromebooks good 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 security measures which are vital for customers who’re much less tech-savvy.

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

Dave Parrack / Foundry

There’s a distinction between a laptop computer that’s “inexpensive” and one which’s “low cost”—and within the context of Chromebooks, that distinction is essential. Whereas numerous 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 is 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 price versus construct high quality, specs, and model. The cheaper fashions usually tend to suck ultimately—I do know from expertise—whereas the higher-end fashions will be pretty much as good as Home windows laptops. On that word, it’s vital to know the variations between Chromebooks and Home windows laptops so that you get the best machine to your wants.

Fantasy: Chromebooks are only a wrapper for the Chrome browser

Dave Parrack / Foundry

ChromeOS is definitely a easy and stylish working system. However individuals who suppose it’s only a wrapper for the Chrome browser—and who see that as a detrimental—are misguided at finest. Although Chrome sits on the core of the working system, you might (in the event you 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 by way of the Google Play Retailer, you may truly do a lot with a Chromebook past Chrome. Throw in some progressive net apps that may run aside from the browser and you’ve got a successful combo.

Fantasy: 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 obtained discontinued. Customers have been additionally unfamiliar with ChromeOS’s printing interface.

And so Chromebooks developed a repute as laptops that had bother 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 offered 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 may be lacking, however today you may print virtually something you’d want with a Chromebook.

Fantasy: 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 depends upon what Chromebook you purchase and in what configuration.

My Pixelbook Go, for instance, has 64GB of inner 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 high quality so long as you take note of what you’re downloading and clear up your recordsdata each every so often. Which means uninstalling apps you not use, deleting recordsdata while you’re completed with them, and utilizing cloud storage when you may. The perceived lack of offline storage is barely a difficulty in the event you neglect this.

Fantasy: Chromebooks can’t run the apps it is advisable use daily

Dave Parrack / Foundry

One of many largest misconceptions about fashionable Chromebooks is that you would be able to 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 critically hampered by such restricted entry to software program.

Today, Chromebooks can run Android apps, Linux apps, and progressive net apps. And given that almost all app builders preserve help for a minimum of a kind of platforms, you must be capable of run most of the apps you want on ChromeOS. The one caveat right here is in the event you depend on apps which are solely obtainable on Home windows and/or macOS.

Frightened about Microsoft Workplace? Slack? Photoshop? Evernote? All of them run on Chromebooks! And you probably have any apps that merely aren’t obtainable on ChromeOS for no matter cause, you may often discover a ok different to fill within the hole. Chromebook software program obtainable is barely a difficulty in the event you’re utilizing area of interest and/or trade software program.

Fantasy: Chromebooks can’t play video games

Dave Parrack / Foundry

This one we have to strategy with some nuance. Sure, you may 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.

For those who care about native gaming, you may consider Chromebook gaming like cell gaming. You have got entry to Android video games and net video games, plus you may also run a beta model of Steam for Chromebooks. With Steam, you’ll want a higher-end machine with a minimum of 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 fashionable, and that’s nice information for Chromebooks. Notable platforms embody 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, nevertheless it’s a darn good approach to play a a lot wider choice of video games on a Chromebook!

Additional studying: One of the best Chromebooks to purchase this 12 months