The Real Differences Between a Chromebook and Other Laptops

Laptops are old news in the business world, but the technology that now powers them is impressive to say the least. You can get just as much done with a laptop as you could with a powerful, resource-intensive desktop just a couple of years ago. But how do Chromebooks fit into the mix? Today, we want to discuss the difference between a Chromebook and a typical laptop, and why you might consider one over the other.

Both your traditional laptop and a Chromebook are technically considered laptops. A Chromebook, however, is a specific subset of laptops that has unique qualities compared to the others. Let’s get into the major differences you can expect to see from them.

Operating Systems and Functionality

The most notable difference between a Chromebook and your standard laptop is the operating system. Your typical laptop will likely run Windows or macOS, unless you’re one of those Linux people. A Chromebook, however, is much more minimalist in its design.

If you’ve ever used an Android device before, the operating system of a Chromebook might look familiar. Chromebooks run using ChromeOS, which is a simplified operating system created by Google to power these devices.

Chromebooks rely on an Internet connection for most apps found on them to function the way you want them to. While this might not be that big of a deal in the office, it might hinder operations outside of the office and in remote locations. ChromeOS is simply not as functional as Windows or macOS, so the device’s capabilities will be somewhat limited as a result.

Price Point and Affordability

You might be wondering, “Why would we ever want to use a Chromebook, then?” The answer is in the price point. Chromebooks lack all of the stuff that make regular laptops expensive. They use cloud storage and web-based applications rather than apps installed natively on the device, so they don’t need as much local storage space.

As you can imagine, this significantly reduces the costs of manufacturing and, thus, the retail value of Chromebooks. Laptops, on the other hand, have significantly more internal storage and capability, meaning that they are on the higher end of the price range. For some businesses that rely on the cloud more than others, the affordability might be worth considering. On the other hand, system administrators won’t have the same control over a fleet of Chromebooks as they would with Windows devices. This might matter when it comes to security and compliance.

Performance and Power

Again, because Chromebooks lack the powerful innards of your typical laptop, they are not going to be nearly as powerful or functional. Notably, Chromebooks often lack processing power that is standard amongst even the most budget-friendly laptops, so they will likely have trouble running some of business’ most powerful apps. You can, however, expect longer battery life with a Chromebook, as it’s not powering all kinds of background processes from all the tech inside it.

BNMC can help you make the best decisions regarding the procurement of any new technology. Learn more by calling us today at (978) 482-2020.