8 widespread Chromebook myths that merely aren't true

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As a longtime advocate of Chromebooks, I’ve repeatedly heard the identical outdated myths and misconceptions about Google’s laptops time and time once more.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time since I switched from Home windows to ChromeOS, and I can say plenty of these once-true objections are actually outdated.

Listed below are a number of the commonest Chromebook misconceptions that also get handed round but might be safely ignored.

Fable: Chromebooks all the time must be related to the web

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A lot of individuals suppose that Chromebooks should all the time be related to the web and that they turn out to be ineffective bricks when offline. That simply isn’t true! Sure, ChromeOS is designed to be cloud-based with a concentrate on 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 typically this present day are you not related to the web, anyway?)

To make sure you can preserve utilizing your Chromebook whereas offline, make 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 comparable to Gmail, Drive, Docs, and Sheets.

Fable: Chromebooks are just for college students

Whereas it’s true that the Chromebook has developed an identification because the inexpensive laptop computer possibility 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 benefit of use makes it a fantastic instrument for the coed demographic.

In truth, I think about Chromebooks excellent for older folks 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 are vital for customers who're much less tech-savvy.

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

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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 outdated adage that “you get what you pay for” is true right here. There’s an enormous vary of Chromebooks accessible, 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 accessible. 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 associated fee versus construct high quality, specs, and model. The cheaper fashions usually tend to suck indirectly—I do know from expertise—whereas the higher-end fashions might be nearly 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 proper machine to your wants.

Fable: Chromebooks are only a wrapper for the Chrome browser

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ChromeOS is actually 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 unfavourable—are misguided at finest. Despite the fact that Chrome sits on the core of the working system, you might (should you actually wished to) go months with out ever truly launching Chrome.

Truly, ChromeOS relies on Linux—and you'll truly allow the Linux subsystem to unlock extra energy. Between that and the flexibility to run Android apps by way of the Google Play Retailer, you may truly do lots 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.

Fable: Chromebooks can’t print something

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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 received discontinued. Customers have been additionally unfamiliar with ChromeOS’s printing interface.

And so Chromebooks developed a popularity 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 obtainable on 98% of printers being bought.

Briefly, this implies you may print with a Chromebook so long as it’s up-to-date and so long as you may have a considerably fashionable printer. Some superior printing options is perhaps lacking, however today you may print virtually something you’d want with a Chromebook.

Fable: Chromebooks lack offline storage

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Whereas Chromebooks are designed to rely totally on cloud storage, all of them include some quantity of offline storage. That quantity is determined by 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 fantastic so long as you take note of what you’re downloading and clear up your recordsdata each on occasion. Meaning uninstalling apps you not use, deleting recordsdata whenever you’re carried out with them, and utilizing cloud storage when you may. The perceived lack of offline storage is just a problem should you neglect this.

Fable: Chromebooks can’t run the apps you must use daily

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One of many largest misconceptions about fashionable Chromebooks is which you could solely run extensions and apps from the Chrome Net Retailer. If that have been true, I’d perceive the criticism—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 net apps. And given that almost all app builders keep help for not less than a kind of platforms, it's best to be capable to run many of the apps you want on ChromeOS. The one caveat right here is should you depend on apps which are solely accessible on Home windows and/or macOS.

Fearful about Microsoft Workplace? Slack? Photoshop? Evernote? All of them run on Chromebooks! And if in case you have any apps that merely aren’t accessible on ChromeOS for no matter cause, you may normally discover a ok different to fill within the hole. Chromebook software program accessible is just a problem should you’re utilizing area of interest and/or trade software program.

Fable: Chromebooks can’t play video games

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This one we have to method 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.

In case you care about native gaming, you may consider Chromebook gaming like cell gaming. You might have entry to Android video games and net video games, plus you may as well run a beta model of Steam for Chromebooks. With Steam, you’ll want a higher-end machine with not less than 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 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, however it’s a darn good solution to play a a lot wider collection of video games on a Chromebook!