Chromebooks are the upcoming trend in laptops. Since April of 2019-2020, Google has sold 30 million Chromebooks for a total revenue of 631 million US dollars making it the third most used laptop after Apple and Windows machines. In the USA, UK, and Australia more than 2 out of 10 people own a Chromebook.

The main reason for this is that Chromebooks are cheap. They cost about 200-500 dollars. Yet, they are capable of doing basically everything that a normal laptop can do. If you’re in the market for a new chrome, we’d highly recommend checking out JustUnder100.com. They have a great selection of Chromebooks under $100 that you can buy for your college student’s life.

Getting back to the topic, these Chromebook laptops run like lightning and their battery life is almost 2 to 3 times better than Windows laptops! This makes it the best device to buy if you’re currently using your phone or tablet as your daily computer because no other device will give you such long lasting power without having to sacrifice anything else.

Google’s ChromeOS (What powers Chromebooks) works as an extension/app for your desktop Google account. It uses the same login simply called “G Suite”, which means you need to have one before buying a Chromebook in order to use it. So first let’s build some basic knowledge about Chromebooks and ChromeOS before we actually get into using them!

What is a Chromebook?

A Chromebook is a laptop or a tablet that uses Google’s ChromeOS to complete tasks. It is basically an extension/app of your Google account and works in the same way as your phone, tablet, desktop computer works with your Gmail, Docs, Calendar etc.

The main difference between Chromebooks and regular laptops is that Chromebooks are mainly designed to be used online. You can also use them offline but their full powers come alive when you have an internet connection! For example: If you have ChromeOS on your laptop without having Internet access then there are things that simply won’t work properly. Also most apps only run within the chrome browser therefore being online is required for it to function correctly !

What Apps/Software does a Chromebook have?

Currently there are two types of apps for ChromeOS. One is the cross-platform web apps that are accessible from any browser on any device and second are Android Apps that can only be used via the Google play store.

Android apps are especially helpful if you’re looking to use office software or other professional tools outside of your G Suite email, calendar etc. Though there aren’t many great ones, there are still some worth mentioning like Microsoft Office 365, Adobe Photoshop Express, Spotify, etc.

If you need a full PC experience you can always plug in an HDMI enabled TV/monitor into your Chromebook which will open up a whole new world of gaming and media!

Chromebooks vs Windows/Mac Laptops?

Chromebooks are cheap, faster than Macs, better than windows (in terms of security), startup in seconds (10-20 seconds compared to 1 min+ for Windows) and their battery life is like 10 hours long. So you get all that speed with premium features but at half the price of other laptops!

You can consider buying either a cheap chromebook or an expensive laptop depending on your needs.

Most importantly, if you’re looking for a device for college students, Chromebooks are better because they’re cheap and their security is way more solid than Windows’ so it’s more suitable for young people.

What is ChromeOS?

ChromeOS is Google’s operating system that runs on Chromebooks. It’s basically just the Google Chrome browser on steroids with some built-in office apps that are very useful for college students!

How can I get started using my Chromebook?

If you already have a Gmail account, then it’s easy to get started with your new chromebook. Simply put in your login credentials and follow the instructions on the setup screen to complete the installation process which takes about 10 minutes or so. After this you will be greeted by your own personal desktop where you can see all of your Google Drive files (if enabled) ready for use!

Are Chromebooks worth buying?

Yes! Chromebooks are very useful for students because they’re cheap, fast and more secure than Windows laptops while having longer battery life than Macbooks!

If you want to use software like Adobe Photoshop or Microsoft Office on a laptop then the Chromebook won’t be able to help you, but if you want an all-round device that’s lightweight, fast & has great battery life then yes go ahead.

So with this knowledge it is now easy for anyone to understand why Chromebooks are perfect for college students who need lightweight devices with good battery lives that are also very affordable.

Final Words:

So this was all about Chromebooks and what they are, how they work and why college students should use them. We’ve discussed their best features, apps/software availability and also their pro’s & con’s in a comparison with Windows & Mac Laptops.

We hope that now you have a much better idea about them whether you’re looking to buy one for yourself or just want to know more before buying your friend/sibling a chromebook as a gift!