
What can laptops do that Chromebooks can’t? If you're looking for something that's cost-effective for workers that don't require sophisticated software, Chromebooks are the best option. The weaker hardware, paired with a lightweight OS that isn’t compatible with some pro-grade software bundles, will make Chromebooks unsuited to many workers, particularly those in creative fields.Ĭhromebooks offer fewer options in terms of devices that run Chrome OS, too - there are far more Windows-based laptops to choose from on the market, meaning you may find a device better suited for your needs on Windows. There are ‘premium’ Chromebooks on the market, but even these offer average hardware at best, such as the ASUS Chromebook Flip C436F. The upshot of this streamlined approach is that Chromebooks are typically not designed for heavy-duty computing, and that’s reflected in most devices’ specifications. The three steps to quick and effective digitisation Google has its own free word processor, spreadsheet processor, and presentation software, but struggles in other areas - especially with hardware-intensive applications. The decision on what’s better - a Chromebook or a laptop - is highly subjective and will ultimately come down to any given individual’s needs.Ĭhrome OS is a great option for office workers if their sole job relies on basic software. For example, only the mobile versions of Adobe's Creative Cloud software suite are supported on Chromebooks. It’s not a massive change in today’s world where an internet connection is never far away, but something to bear in mind, nonetheless.Īnother major difference is that Chromebooks tend to be more streamlined than laptops, making them extremely lightweight in terms of software bloat, but support for applications can be limited. You can still access files offline, but it requires the user to manually download the files they need for offline work. Chrome OS is cloud-first, which means Chromebooks often ship with smaller flash-based drives, and use cloud storage as the default for file access. On a typical computer, there exists a sizeable hard drive attached to the machine so you can store all your files in one place, with cloud storage an optional extra.

There are also some differences in the way users of laptops and Chromebooks deal with file access.
