We check over 130 million products every day for the best prices. With Windows laptops, you typically need to spend $700 or more to get a thin, lightweight model with decent performance and battery life that will hold its performance for years to come. Deciding between a Windows PC laptop or a Chromebook for students can be tough, and the decision must be based on the student's needs. The main obvious difference is the operating system (OS). Now, there's a far greater variety of laptops and two-in-ones -- convertibles and tablets -- to take advantage of Chrome OS's current capabilities. To give you a personal example, I use an i5-powered Chromebook … ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Future US, Inc. 11 West 42nd Street, 15th Floor, Please refresh the page and try again. It will take time to boot up, it will require updates, and even the occasional "blue screen of death" can occur. You have the ability to create almost anything on a laptop and store files on it as well. Inside the devices, however, there are some important differences. Please deactivate your ad blocker in order to see our subscription offer, Google Pixelbook Go is the best Chromebook of 2020, The Surface Go 2 is a great Windows device for students, The HP Chromebook 14 is great for students. That said, a Windows laptop or MacBook can run the Chrome browser as well as other software supported by those operating systems. As for a Windows laptop, it's more of an investment, but it provides a lot of versatility and convenience. Chromebook vs Windows Laptop. Both are notebooks with a keyboard, a … However, mid-range and premium Chromebooks are now flooding the market. Let's have a look. Operating System. You will receive a verification email shortly. They run Chrome OS, which is based on the Chrome web browser. Chromebooks typically don't offer the graphics performance you need for demanding tasks or, again, the option to install Windows or Mac games and software. No need for updates or software, with a Chromebook you can just charge it up, open the lid and start using it right away. Traditional laptops run on an operating system called Windows 10, and they run Windows applications. You can get a 1,366x768-resolution display, for example, but the cheap ones used in low-end Chromebooks look particularly soft next to full-HD models. You can't install the full Office software on a Chromebook, but Microsoft makes both web-based and Android versions available in the Chrome and Google Play stores, respectively. Let us list here some of the major differences between the two types of devices. New Windows laptops for $200 are few and far between and, frankly, are rarely worth buying. Check inventory at Walmart, Amazon, Best Buy, Target and more, Best Amazon Cyber Monday deals: $65 Echo Show 8, $60 Amazfit smartwatch, $299 Sonos Move and more, Discuss: Laptop vs. Chromebook: What's the difference and which is best in 2020, Best laptop under $500 of 2020 in stock from HP, Lenovo, Acer and more, how to temporarily run it on any laptop using an inexpensive USB flash drive, VMware on Chromebooks to run Windows applications, Best laptops, desktops and tablets for designers and creatives in 2020, How Chromebooks became the go-to laptops for security experts, Best laptop deals 2020: Windows and Chromebooks for under $500, Read our HP Spectre x360 13 (late 2019) review. There are also laptops that run Linux, an open source operating system, but they are relatively rare. It's also worth noting that many times storage and memory are soldered on and can't be upgraded after the fact. Your student can use the same computer to write a term paper during the day and play Overwatch at night. When Chromebooks first launched they basically became paperweights when they were offline -- a real issue if you were in the middle of editing an important document you suddenly couldn't save because your web connection dropped. After understanding the difference between Chromebook and laptop in terms of the OS and hardware, we can now move to the performance front and find out who wins the battle between Chromebook vs laptop. A few years ago, all Chromebooks were pretty much the same regardless of what company made them. When Chromebooks first arrived in 2011 they were routinely derided -- and rightfully so -- for their limited functionality and reliance on a consistent internet connection. Google PixelBook Go delivers a premium Chromebook experience. Even if you don't immediately need a particular piece of software, it's nice to have the option. We go into more detail in our What is a Chromebook? Today's Chromebooks are far from where they started, but some things haven't changed and you might not be willing to work with the limitations they do have. You can use VMware on Chromebooks to run Windows applications, and there's support for Linux software, too. Whether you're considering switching to one from a Windows laptop or MacBook, your kid received one from their school or you're simply Chrome OS curious, here's everything you need to know. Visit our corporate site. Let’s take a closer look at the main differences between a chromebook and laptop. Differences between Chromebooks and traditional laptops. Be respectful, keep it civil and stay on topic. The Microsoft Office suite is also available online, so students can create Word documents with ease. Chromebooks are similar to ordinary notebooks, but they run a different OS. Thank you for signing up to TechRadar. Both are notebooks with a keyboard, a camera, a built-in screen, and usually include a trackpad. Chromebooks only run the Chrome OS, a linux based operating system developed by google. Chromebooks have traditionally struggled with direct printing, while laptops make quick work of printing out documents. Thanks to this, a Chromebook warms up much less than a standard laptop and does … The Chromebook 3 is probably the type of laptop you imagine when you think about Chromebooks. If you're feeling thrifty you can also take a look at the latest cheap Chromebook deals available now. Is a Chromebook or laptop better for office work? Chassis and weight: differences between Chromebook and laptop. Receive mail from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors? Also, if you need advanced photo- and video-editing capabilities, you'll want a regular laptop. And you can get by with 16GB of onboard storage as long as there's a microSD card slot to supplement it. Read our HP Spectre x360 13 (late 2019) review. Which is better for web browsing, a Chromebook … Physically, a Chromebook and a Windows laptop look very similar. Plus, current models can run Android apps and there are also web apps that are available through Google's Chrome Web Store. Whether you're looking for the best computer for yourself or your child, or you're looking for an inexpensive option for class, we can help you make the right choice. The most expensive Chromebook, Google's Pixelbook, tops out at $1,650. PCs need regular maintenance to keep them secure, even if it's just keeping on top of scheduled software updates. No matter the ways in which you use a laptop, there are areas where a Chromebook differs from a traditional laptop and areas where they aren't so different. Whether you’re truly going back to school or remotely attending classes online, we’re rolling out a series of in-depth guides for students, teachers and parents to ensure you're buying the right technology and accessories. Let me put it straight, Chromebooks perform far better than traditional laptops as far as general tasks are concerned. Samsung's Chromebook Plus can do a lot, but it can't natively run Windows or Mac software. Along those lines, Chromebooks are not natively compatible with Windows or Mac software. Only use Chrome extensions, and use online apps like Google Docs. Read more: Best laptop under $500 of 2020 in stock from HP, Lenovo, Acer and more. The Chromebook … What's the difference between a Chromebook and a laptop? There was a problem. However, the price of a Chromebook can skyrocket to $1,000/£1,000/AU$1,400 if you choose a corporate or luxury option like the Google Pixelbook. 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