When heading off to college, finding the correct laptop for your coin is a challenge—you don't desire to pass to a greater extent than than you lot direct hold to, but non having plenty laptop is arguably worse. That's what makes Chromebooks thus appealing.
Chromebooks direct hold a relatively depression entry betoken for everything they offer. Since the operating arrangement is thus lightweight, fifty-fifty pocket-size hardware tin laissez passer on notice expire on everything running prissy too snappy. Where a Windows laptop for a similar cost tin laissez passer on notice larn bogged downward quickly, a Chromebook volition oft rest zippy fifty-fifty during heavier use.
Given the depression cost betoken too really usable performance, Chromebooks are oft looked at past times college students—but it may non hold upwards that straightforward. There are several things to intend most earlier jumping correct into a Chromebook to brand certain it's the correct choice for you.
Think About Your Classes too the Software You'll Need
While Chromebooks are much to a greater extent than powerful too versatile than they larn credit for, that doesn't hateful they tin laissez passer on notice practice everything—in fact, in that location are some clear limitations on what you lot tin laissez passer on notice too can't practice alongside a Chromebook. So the showtime matter you lot take away to intend most is what classes you'll hold upwards taking and, to a greater extent than specifically, the required software for those classes.
Here's the big one: Microsoft Office. Even inwards the historic menses of Google Docs, a lot of professors nonetheless exercise (and require students to use) Word, Excel, too thus on. The big inquiry hither is how much Office functionality you're going to need.
Most students tin laissez passer on notice in all likelihood larn past times alongside the online or Android app versions, which both piece of occupation good on Chromebooks. They offering the most-used features too are actually expert for uncomplicated documents, presentations, too spreadsheets. However, they practice lack some of the to a greater extent than advanced features the desktop versions of the Office apps offer. For example, if you're inwards a concern or statistics degree where you lot take away advanced Excel functionality (like pin tables, for example), you're going to take away the desktop versions for Windows or macOS.
You tin laissez passer on notice nonetheless exercise the online or app versions to sentiment documents alongside these types of features inwards them—you only can't create them there. So, that volition inform your decision.
RELATED: What's the Difference Between Microsoft Office's Desktop, Web, too Mobile Apps?
These are the kinds of things at which you'll take away to direct hold a closer look. Paying attending to the curriculum too anticipating what type of software you lot take away volition larn a long way.
Specialty Software Need Not Apply
Going along alongside the showtime betoken here, you'll direct hold to inquire yourself what type of specialty software you'll take away too whether or non it volition fifty-fifty hold upwards available on a Chromebook inwards the showtime place. If you lot know you're going to take away Photoshop, for example, purchase a Windows laptop or Macbook, because Photoshop isn't available on Chrome OS (outside of the Android apps, which aren't fifty-fifty roughly the same thing). There are some decent replacements out there, but they're only that: plenty to larn most users past times if they take away to practice some quick editing. Similarly, if you'll take away something similar CAD software, specialty statistics or scientific apps or the like, it's in all likelihood best to hold back beyond a Chromebook.
While those are specific situations, that's what you'll take away to hold back at this point. If you lot take away something that isn't available every bit a spider web or Android app, the odds are a Chromebook won't cutting it for your needs. It's also worth keeping inwards take away heed that most Android apps are to a greater extent than similar watered downward versions of their desktop counterparts—like the aforementioned Photoshop app—so they won't cutting it inwards most cases if you lot take away total desktop software.
Don't Forget About Your Downtime
Here's ane that is pretty tardily to overlook, but you lot direct hold to regard your figurer needs outside of school, too. If you lot desire to sentry some Netflix, YouTube, or other kinds of online video, a Chromebook volition hold upwards perfect. Google designed the OS for that stuff.
But if you're a gamer, the Chromebook powerfulness non hold upwards a expert fit. There are games on Chromebooks, but we're talking most Android titles here. There are some killer Android games that piece of occupation really good on the Chromebook—some fifty-fifty direct hold controller back upwards for a existent console-like feel—but if you're into playing major titles on your computer, you'll hold upwards ameliorate off alongside a traditional PC.
The Best of Both Worlds: Desktop inwards the Dorm, Chromebook on the Go
While a Chromebook may non hold upwards a expert one-device solution for you, it may nonetheless hold upwards the perfect laptop. If you lot already direct hold a enterprise desktop—like a gaming rig, for example—then you lot in all likelihood don't take away a powerhouse laptop too. You'll nonetheless take away something to direct hold to degree alongside you lot too whatnot, too a Chromebook may hold upwards the perfect sidekick for your desktop computer.
You'll hold upwards able to direct hold notes too practice most text-based work, research, too the similar on your Chromebook, but exit the heavy lifting—Photoshop, video editing, etc.—for your desktop. This is easily the best residue of both, assuming you lot already direct hold a desktop. If not, well, you're in all likelihood only ameliorate off getting a expert Windows laptop or MacBook thus that you lot tin laissez passer on notice piece of occupation too play on ane device.
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