Is a Chromebook for you?

The Chromebook. They are a technological marvel that came along at just the right time. For years you had two choices when using a "computer"; a desktop or a laptop. In the early stages, the laptop was big, bulky and rather limited. They quickly improved and started giving desktop computer a run for their money. Just when laptops were making great strides, boom, along comes the smart phone. Suddenly everyone just had to be mobile. Forget being tied down to a desktop computer, you didn't even want the burden of a laptop. Why would you when you had a device that you could stick in your pocket with all the apps you needed. Apple had the iPad, and it had it's faithful followers. Mostly diehard Apple users. Several companies tried (unsuccessfully) with the "Netbook". The netbook was a smaller version of a laptop, with limited features, and a limited Windows operating system. They were "OK" but left a lot to be desired. I think people tried to like them, but really, they were more trouble than they were worth. Plus, the smart phone was such a success, and if you were going to use a netbook (which was a limited tool) why not just get an iPad?

Enter Google. Love them or hate them, the folks at Google are true geeks and are not afraid to step outside the lines. Following the overwhelming success of their Chrome browser, they started experimenting with a streamline operating system built on the linux open source kernel. Their operating system had a lot going for it, small, fast, and free. Keep in mind, while they were tweaking this really cool OS, they were pushing cloud services like gmail, drive, calendar and free cloud storage. I think they knew exactly what the end goal was and had the perfect script to achieve said goal.

When all the stars were properly aligned, they released the Chromebook. The Chromebook has been out for a while now and they have several models to choose from. It's an idea who's time has come. BUT is the Chromebook for you?
We are going to look at the pros and cons of a Chromebook and why it might be the perfect fit for you.

Face it, smart phones are great. They are small, lightweight, powerful and have a ton of apps. Plus the target users will stand in line for hours for the latest and greatest. The smart phone owner is hooked, no doubt about it. With that being said, sometimes you just need a computer. And most of the time you can be just as productive with a laptop. With computing changing rapidly, and Cloud services being a mature alternative, it's probably time for many of you to consider a Chromebook. Here are a few things to consider when thinking about making the move:

Why Should You Buy A Chromebook?

1. You mostly use your computer for online content. If you use webmail, Facebook, twitter, pinterest, tumblr or other web-based apps/data, then the Chromebook is for you.
2. You are already a Google fan. If you already have a Google/Gmail account, then you are familiar and comfortable with the way google works. You probably already use their cloud apps.
3. You "get" the cloud. If you understand what cloud storage and online apps are (and use them regularly), you are ready for a Chromebook. Don't laugh, there are MANY people in the technology world that do not understand the cloud. They don't even know it exist. 
4. The OS takes care of itself. The Chrome OS updates automatically and seamlessly. And it performs flawlessly. You don't have to worry about updates, it is taken care of for you!
5. No viruses! The Chrome OS is built with security in mind. Plus, it uses the Linux kernel which is not a big target of viruses. One less thing to worry about.
6. You are very mobile. If your job or personal life is "on the go" then the Chromebook is just about perfect. Small, lightweight and fast, all the stuff you need and nothing you don't need. A perfect way to stay connected.

A few other things to consider. 

A Chromebook is inexpensive. It cost much less than a PC or Mac laptop. They are very lightweight and could easily fit into a purse or backpack with room to spare. They boot up quickly. The boot time for the Chromebook is between 5 - 10 seconds. That is fast! And the boot times stay consistent. The Chromebook has multiple USB slots,  microSD slots plus an HDMI output, so you have built-in expansion. Another big plus is battery life. The Chromebooks have great battery life!

Why The Chromebook Might Not Be Your Best Choice

1. You need to store lots of files locally. For instance, if you are a photographer, you probably need LOTS of storage for digital images. The same goes for video & audio files. With a Chromebook storage being between 16 - 32 Gig, it wouldn't be the best choice for a user that needs tons of storage for their files.
2. Use of specific desktop applications. If you do lots of digital image work, or audio/video editing, then skip the Chromebook. The Chromebook was not designed to install a lot of applications on. So if you are a big Photoshop user, or gamer, look elsewhere.
3. If you are offline a lot. If you spend a lot of time offline (or don't have access to the Internet) then you probably shouldn't buy a Chromebook. The Chromebook is meant to be an online tool. For instance, if you are a writer that mainly uses a word processor and stores your files locally and you mainly work in areas where you don't have Internet access, you would be better off with a regular computer/laptop.
4. If you really like the way you are doing things and really don't want to change. Hey, I understand that! Change for the sake of change is quite silly. If things are clicking along just fine in your technology world, no need to change it. 

Keep in mind that with the Chromebook, you can't install a ton of apps on it. You can get apps for the Chromebook and you have the Google Cloud services. Printing can be a substantial hurdle as well. Plus, you can't take advantage of Skype, however you will have access to Google Hangouts.

With the prices ranging between $169 - $380 (with the average being $250) you should easily find one to fit your budget. Personally I like the Samsung 11.6 inch Chromebook 2 with the Celeron processor, 2GB memory and 16GB flash drive. Street price for the Samsung is $249. It's not the fastest, doesn't have the biggest screen, or the largest hard drive. For the price you get a lot of computer that is light and small. Besides if you are looking at Chromebooks, you probably already have a Google account for online storage.

The Chromebook might not be for everyone, however it is a wise choice for many users who mainly access the Internet, use social media and check their email. In fact, I'll go so far to say this; most home users actually need a Chromebook. It would eliminate many of the problems they have with malware, viruses, and updates, (not to mention the pain of using Windows 8) and so many other issues associated with a conventional computer.

Before purchasing a Chomebook, make an honest assessment of your computer needs, look at a realistic budget, and if possible, try a Chromebook before you buy. You might find that a Chromebook is the perfect tool for your technology needs!

Additional info.  FYI, off the record, & personal opinion

After finishing the above post about the Google Chromebook, I felt the need to add some additional information for folks considering a new computer. Let me say upfront, this is my unfiltered, biased personal opinion, however, I will try to keep it on point and honest. 

If you go shopping for a new computer, either at a physical store or online, you will be deluged with millions of tables, notebooks, regular laptops & of course the Chromebook. Try as hard as you can to avoid an impulse purchase. You should also avoid being lured into a purchase based only on the "incredible price". Remember, almost always, you get what you pay for. 

Many companies have tons of "Windows-based" laptops to compete with the Chromebook. Here is my opinion on these low-cost laptops. Yes, they run Windows OS. But it is a variation of Windows 8 (the absolute worst OS ever coded)! Yes the laptops are cheap (hovering around the $100 - $300 range). Yes they come with Office Online (for a year). However, don't think you will be getting a full-on super-duper fantastic laptop just because it has Windows and Office on it. Sure, you will be able to surf the web and check out all the social media. Sure, you have the option of creating/editing Office documents. Sure, you can install Windows-based applications (but they are going to run slooooow). But beyond the part about surfing the web, you should be patient, since these laptops are not the most cutting edge technology available. They will have slower processors, less RAM, and smaller drive storage (usually 16GB ssd). Why do you think they are only $100 - $200? In addition to what I see as obvious shortcomings of the machines, you will still have to concern yourself with updates, patches, virus/malware protection. All on a slower version of Windows 8. 

The Chromebook's price range is between $169 - $380 (with a nicely equipped Chromebook at $249). They have a very fast Chrome OS which boots quickly, has great battery life and isn't trying to use any bait & switch tactics to lure you into buying one. Google let's you know upfront what a Chromebook is and what it was designed to do. It is an Internet device! A tool to access online content and Cloud-based storage & apps. No surprises. 

If you don't think a Chromebook will work for you and you absolutely have to have a Windows-based laptop, spend the extra money and get a full fledged laptop with adequate RAM & hard drive space and a fast processor. Don't forget a webcam, CD/DVD recorder, large screen, plenty of USB ports, full size keyboard and a minimum of 4GB of RAM. Try to find one within your specifications that has Windows 7 installed instead of Windows 8. BUT, be willing to pay the price ($400 - $800 and up) for the extra horsepower!

Remember, you aren't doing an Apples to Apples comparison here. You are looking at two completely different ends of the spectrum. Find the tool that works best for you.