why are chromebooks so useless and what are they bad for? (2024)

FAQs

What's so bad about Chromebooks? ›

Chromebooks are bad for graphic design, audio, and video editing. Chromebooks do not offer many great options for multimedia editing. Adobe products are not available on Chromebooks and neither is Pro Tools. While there are web apps for video and photo editing, they are not as good as the desktop versions.

Chromebooks also tend to have weaker GPUs and can't handle editing high-definition media like a laptop with a more powerful GPU can. If you're a multimedia professional this is probably not the device for you. CPU—In order to keep costs low, Chromebooks typically don't have the latest and greatest CPUs.

Essentially, Chromebooks are best for web work: browsing the web, working online on documents, and using web streaming services like Netflix or Amazon Prime inside a web browser. You can also download and use Android apps for gaming and entertainment, though they may not run entirely like on your phone.

Chromebooks are purpose-built for the web

Chromebooks began life as little more than a web browser, in a world where the web was new and worth exploring. That still holds true today: Chromebooks often use the internet to access the same web services that live on your phone as dedicated apps. That's perfectly fine.

The answer is an easy one: yes. It's just as safe as doing online banking on your Windows 10 PC or a MacBook.

A new report from U.S. PIRG finds that Chromebooks' cheap design and short lifespan means people are treating them as disposable, and is creating piles of ewaste. Chromebooks have become a key part of many students' educational lives, but like our smartphones, they aren't built to last.

Even if you use the in-built tools, photo and video editing are simple with Windows and Macs. With Chromebooks, this is not the case, as the majority of them have low-end technology, making video rendering and editing virtually impossible. Additionally, Chromebooks do not support the simple use of Adobe Photoshop.

How long will a Chromebook last? Between two and four years depending on build quality and usage. A well built Chromebook that is taken care of should last 4+ years.

Chromebooks are a new type of computer designed to help you get things done faster and easier. They run ChromeOS, an operating system that has cloud storage, the best of Google built-in, and multiple layers of security. Learn more about switching to a Chromebook.

Why get a Chromebook instead of a laptop? ›

A Chromebook is better than a laptop due to the lower price, longer battery life, and better security. Other than that though, laptops are typically much more powerful and offer many more programs than Chromebooks.

Limited Functionality Offline

Because most work occurs in browser-based applications, collaborative, real-time exercises will require an internet connection. If they don't have internet access, this could impact you're their experience. Working offline with a Chromebook is not impossible, it just requires planning.

Why are Chromebooks so cheap? Chromebooks have less powerful hardware components and displays than laptops. Since Chromebooks are cloud-centric, a good amount of the computing lift is offloaded as well as their internal storage needs.

Both Chromebooks and tablets are great for streaming things, but you might want to opt for the Chromebook if you plan on doing basic computer admin tasks. Alternatively, a tablet might be the right choice if you simply want a bigger mobile phone experience than you already have.

The main thing to keep in mind when comparing a laptop to a Chromebook is that it's not an apples-to-apples comparison. The main difference, besides price, is the operating system. If you're used to using Windows or MacOS, Google's minimalist Chrome operating system may not have all the functionality you need.

Privacy concerns. The use of Chromebooks in schools raises concerns about data privacy. Google, the company behind Chromebooks, collects user data, including student data, which can be used for advertising purposes.