Nine Reasons to Buy a Chromebook

There are hundreds of laptops out there. That means a lot of research when shopping. One of the newest types of laptops out there are the Chromebooks. These laptops are built using Google’s Chrome OS, a browser based operating system that is designed primarily for Internet use. They are budget friendly and often smaller than many traditional Windows laptops. But should you buy one for yourself?

Today we take a look at some of the many reasons why you should purchase a good Chromebook for day to day usage. I am confident that by the end of this post, you will recognize that these laptops are great options for users of all shapes and sizes and it could even become your main go to laptop for all your work and play.

Reasons to Buy a Chromebook

Let’s take a look at eight great reasons to buy a Chromebook. These reasons make a compelling argument as to why we all should at least have a Chromebook stashed in our arsenal of technology.

1. Great Value for Your Money

The first thing you will notice about Chromebooks is their cost. Sure, there are high end Chromebooks out there that will cost almost as much as a fully-fledged laptop, but if you are looking for something in the budget area you have far more options available to you than you will on other platforms. Chromebooks are often much cheaper than their Windows counterparts, making it the perfect laptop to pick up if you are on a budget. They are great for students and kids or even adults who just need something to carry with them wherever they go. Because of their cheaper price, they are much easier on the wallet in the beginning and if something happens and you need to replace it down the road. If you are on a tight budget, a Chromebook is definitely an option you should take a closer look at while you shop.

2. Highly Portable

Most Chromebooks you will find are very thin, light and come with smaller screens. In most cases you will find them with 11-inch and 13-inch screens. These are small and light making them the perfect device for you to carry with you wherever you go. They will easily fit down inside almost any type of bag and their lightweight means your arm won’t feel like is falling off after carrying it with you through the airport on a business trip or around campus at your college or university. In reality, they are probably one of the most portable laptops out there. Sure you can find similar ones that run Windows, but your choices are few and far between compared to the many different Chromebooks out there today.

3. Long Battery Life

On top of their great portability, almost every Chromebook packs in amazing battery life. You see, Chrome OS runs light and doesn’t require power hungry hardware that Windows needs in order to run well. Because of this, the battery life you get out of a Chromebook easily out matches almost every Windows laptop out there today. When you think about the size of the laptop as well, you will realize that the battery inside is also small and light meaning that the OS is actually very power efficient. The end result is you can take your Chromebook with you for the day without having to worry about plugging it in half way through your work or school day.

4. Web Browser Operating System

Some people out there may not think this is a feature, but think about it for a minute. What do most of us spend a majority of our time doing on a computer today? That’s right, we surf the Internet. So many things today are web based we spend more time in our browsers than we ever have before. That is why a web browser based operating system just makes sense. You are already in there, so why run a browser on top of an OS when your browser can just be your operating system. Makes sense doesn’t it? This rids you of extra overhead on your machine and gives you a seamless entry to the world of the Internet right out of the box. Sounds like a win, win to me.

5. Apps and Extensions

The Chrome Store is filled with tons of apps and extensions designed to make your life easier whether you use your Chromebook for work or play. The store has every type of app you could possibly imagine as well so you will never run out of new applications to try. While many of these do require Internet, more and more apps are able to run offline as well. Still, you have to remember that Chrome OS does rely on the Internet for much of its functionality, so if you’re offline some of your usability may be lost. As more and more apps come with the ability to work offline, you can just expect these apps and extensions to get better and the functionality of the Chromebook improve immensely.

6. Impressive Google Integration

Google’s suite of applications is one of the best in the business. From their document editing options, spreadsheet applications, even their browser and a host of other apps. On a Windows PC, you can use all of these and Google even makes it easy to integrate them with your system. Still, you don’t get the level of Google integration that you will get when you run Chrome OS. Since Chrome OS is based upon their award winning browser, everything Google is just there and it just works without any fuss. If you are a big fan of the Google software packages, then a Chromebook is really a no brainer, as it gives you the perfect platform for running all your favorite Google apps in a seamless fashion that is both beautiful to behold and easy to use, which is always a big bonus.

7. Secure Operating System

Security has become even more important today than it ever has been before. Day in and day out you here about different accounts getting hacks and different data breaches at companies around the world. It seems like this is a never ending story today. The scary thing is many computer users still have no idea what they should do about security and often opt for the less secure choices simply because they are easier. Windows is notorious for viruses and malware, as well. These can steal your data and interrupt your life in the worst way. Thankfully, Chromebooks are far more secure than pretty much any other personal computer platform today. Built on Linux, it includes all of the superb security features found in this open source operating system and on top of that Google has added its own security features in an effort to keep your data safe. Still, if you don’t use them, you could run into issues, but even a base install and minimal configuration of Chrome OS is far more secure than Windows could ever hope to be.

8. Bye Bye Bloatware

If there is one thing that people get tired of, its bloatware. One has to wonder why PC manufacturers still load up their laptops with this crap, but they do. Bloatware is extra software installed on your computer at the factory. You aren’t asked if you want it. It’s a bonus with your purchase. Unfortunately, much of this software is just junk and all it does is slow down your laptop and take up valuable space on your hard drive. Some bonus, huh? Of course, if you buy a Chromebook, you can say farewell to the bloatware once and for all. All you get on a Chromebook is Chrome OS. It is up to you to install the apps you want after you unbox it. This leaves more room for storage of what you want and your machine won’t be bogged down loading a bunch of crappy software that you just don’t need.

9. Android Apps

To be fair, this is one that isn’t available yet, but it is coming. Have you wanted to run Android apps on your Chromebook? If so this fall you will be able to do just that. Once the update is here, you will be able to install and run any Android app you want in an almost perfectly seamless fashion. Even notifications appear where they should. Your performance and experience will vary, however, depending upon the speed of your Chromebook and the quality of your touchscreen, if you even have one. Still, if you are looking for a truly unified Google experience, once Android apps are available a Chromebook is definitely the way to go.

Final Thoughts

As you can see there are lots of reasons to choose a Chromebook as your next laptop. They are thin, light and easy to transport and with great battery life can easily last you all day. Add to that the security and ease of use that Chrome OS gives you and you have the perfect recipe for a great laptop. More and more software companies are beginning to support that platform as well, meaning your usability will be almost on par with Windows for a fraction of the cost.

If you love the Google apps and integration experience, then a Chromebook just makes sense. So if you are searching for a new laptop and don’t want to spend a fortune while getting access to the best that Google has to offer, why not consider a Chromebook. I’m certain you won’t regret it if you do.