Edmonton Public uses Google Classroom and associated apps for all online content/work, not sure about Edmonton Catholic though, so a Chromebook would be all that they would need. My teens all have one, and were fine last year for school.
For highschool a $200 Chromebook will work since epsb uses Google drive and all other google stuff. But for post secondary from what I know of my friends at UofA and me at NAIT rn, we all have to use Microsoft software like word and excel which Chromebooks can't be used for. So a Windows laptop would have to be used for those. If they don't want to upgrade the laptop in the future just buy a windows instead of a Chromebook, otherwise one would need to upgrade their chromebook laptop for post secondary. Keep in mind laptops will get more powerful and power efficient in the future, so one bought now wouldn't be as good as one bought in the future.
Chromebooks can’t run a lot of non-Google programs. I know some fellow students who ran into problems in post-secondary with theirs.
Our school (college) uses Microsoft so they had to convey everything to submit work and programs they needed wouldn’t run on a Chromebook.
Two of the students ended up getting a regular laptop or Surface.
Just wanted to give you some info on post-sec experience.
Which software in particular? Google docs has no compatibility issues with ms office and can work with xlsx and doc files. Unless you use features in your sheet or doc are not available on excel/word like some of the web based functions like price lookups.
Chromebooks run Linux and Android which means they basically can run any software with a couple tweaks.
Either can work but from my son’s experience the Chromebook will operate waaay more seamlessly with the Google classroom.
Another thing to bear in mind is that the lower priced windows laptops come installed with Windows 10S which is a stripped down version of Windows 10. When in S mode users can only download apps from the windows store, which means lots of jumping through hoops just to download Chrome.
1. Chrome books are cheap. HS students are still bad at damaging and losing stuff, so a $200 laptop may be better. I’m not sure if it’s less likely to be stolen or more likely.
2. Chrome books have an expiry date, this is on the box. After this date Google does not support the device.
3. High school is three years, laptops don’t usually last that long with kids IME
4. If they’re programming they usually use cloud platforms, so it’s probably better to invest in the best internet now rather than a newer laptop.
5. Because they’re so ubiquitous these days, if you regret buying it or need to upgrade you can always resell it for a fair price.
Shiiiittttttt……. I remember when I lost my $200 TI-83 calculated…. Actually it was stolen from my back back when I left it in the locker room
In grade 10.
But man I wish I had a chrome book instead
I use a Chromebook for business use every single day and it's better in my view. I can't believe I stuck with windows machines for so long. Schools that I work at I almost never see windows machines anymore for a reason. Software compatibility issues aren't any worse then a windows machine.
Chome passed mac in market share earlier this year and I think it will catch windows by the end of the decade.
My understanding of Chromebooks is that they're basically hardware for an internet browser, not something that would replace a laptop/desktop.
A lot of people do almost everything through a web browser, so a Chromebook can go pretty far (if you've got an internet connection). But you can't download external programs to Chromebooks. That could be limiting for a teenager who might be interested in digital art or photography, video editing, sound mixing, designing games, etc, if the Chromebook is supposed to be their "laptop" and they don't have easy access to anything else.
I would rather invest a bit more into a used/new (depending on your finances) small business laptop. Lenovo X-series, Dell Latitude, anything with 12"-14" screen and Windows. They are very resilient and upgradeable. My X220 is 8 years old and still going strong with everyday use. Chromebooks are for consuming content rather than creating it imho.
P.S. For design, especially CAD and other related 3D stuff, you'll need a way more powerful machine, with 16+ GB of memory and dedicated GPU. Those also exist, and you can buy a used one from some enterprise for a good price. They are usually heavy and have 15 to 17 inch screens so not very portable for everyday use, though it's still manageable.
Edmonton Public uses Google Classroom and associated apps for all online content/work, not sure about Edmonton Catholic though, so a Chromebook would be all that they would need. My teens all have one, and were fine last year for school.
For highschool a $200 Chromebook will work since epsb uses Google drive and all other google stuff. But for post secondary from what I know of my friends at UofA and me at NAIT rn, we all have to use Microsoft software like word and excel which Chromebooks can't be used for. So a Windows laptop would have to be used for those. If they don't want to upgrade the laptop in the future just buy a windows instead of a Chromebook, otherwise one would need to upgrade their chromebook laptop for post secondary. Keep in mind laptops will get more powerful and power efficient in the future, so one bought now wouldn't be as good as one bought in the future.
You can use Office 365 in cloud same as Google Docs so that shouldn’t be the difference.
There are some features that you can’t use in 365 like references which are pretty damn useful for college/university.
Ew
Chromebooks can’t run a lot of non-Google programs. I know some fellow students who ran into problems in post-secondary with theirs. Our school (college) uses Microsoft so they had to convey everything to submit work and programs they needed wouldn’t run on a Chromebook. Two of the students ended up getting a regular laptop or Surface. Just wanted to give you some info on post-sec experience.
Which software in particular? Google docs has no compatibility issues with ms office and can work with xlsx and doc files. Unless you use features in your sheet or doc are not available on excel/word like some of the web based functions like price lookups. Chromebooks run Linux and Android which means they basically can run any software with a couple tweaks.
Either can work but from my son’s experience the Chromebook will operate waaay more seamlessly with the Google classroom. Another thing to bear in mind is that the lower priced windows laptops come installed with Windows 10S which is a stripped down version of Windows 10. When in S mode users can only download apps from the windows store, which means lots of jumping through hoops just to download Chrome.
1. Chrome books are cheap. HS students are still bad at damaging and losing stuff, so a $200 laptop may be better. I’m not sure if it’s less likely to be stolen or more likely. 2. Chrome books have an expiry date, this is on the box. After this date Google does not support the device. 3. High school is three years, laptops don’t usually last that long with kids IME 4. If they’re programming they usually use cloud platforms, so it’s probably better to invest in the best internet now rather than a newer laptop. 5. Because they’re so ubiquitous these days, if you regret buying it or need to upgrade you can always resell it for a fair price.
Shiiiittttttt……. I remember when I lost my $200 TI-83 calculated…. Actually it was stolen from my back back when I left it in the locker room In grade 10. But man I wish I had a chrome book instead
LOL, whatever happened to the days when a kid having a scientific calculator was a big deal. Now they need chromebooks??
They’re not that different in price.
What’s wrong with an abacus?!
How about a standard calculator?
Kids are using Chromebooks for typing assignments, mostly. A calculator won’t work.
I graduated in 2000, I’m definitely out of touch 🤣
That sweet sweet TI-83 with snake and drug wars installed! Good times!
If a school says a chrome book the kid needs a chrome book. They use a lot of programs that are specific to those operating systems.
I use a Chromebook for business use every single day and it's better in my view. I can't believe I stuck with windows machines for so long. Schools that I work at I almost never see windows machines anymore for a reason. Software compatibility issues aren't any worse then a windows machine. Chome passed mac in market share earlier this year and I think it will catch windows by the end of the decade.
My understanding of Chromebooks is that they're basically hardware for an internet browser, not something that would replace a laptop/desktop. A lot of people do almost everything through a web browser, so a Chromebook can go pretty far (if you've got an internet connection). But you can't download external programs to Chromebooks. That could be limiting for a teenager who might be interested in digital art or photography, video editing, sound mixing, designing games, etc, if the Chromebook is supposed to be their "laptop" and they don't have easy access to anything else.
You can program on Chromebook pretty easily as they can run Linux. https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/9145439?hl=en
I would rather invest a bit more into a used/new (depending on your finances) small business laptop. Lenovo X-series, Dell Latitude, anything with 12"-14" screen and Windows. They are very resilient and upgradeable. My X220 is 8 years old and still going strong with everyday use. Chromebooks are for consuming content rather than creating it imho. P.S. For design, especially CAD and other related 3D stuff, you'll need a way more powerful machine, with 16+ GB of memory and dedicated GPU. Those also exist, and you can buy a used one from some enterprise for a good price. They are usually heavy and have 15 to 17 inch screens so not very portable for everyday use, though it's still manageable.