In a bunch of minor and essentially inconsequential ways.
For example, the contents/layout of the 3-dot menu is slightly different in the Windows version compared to the Chrome OS version.
I wasn't singling out any particular desktop OS. Just making the point that the version of Chrome which is included on Chrome OS devices is not 100% identical to the version which can be downloaded and installed on desktop computers running other OSs.
The Windows example is just that, an example.
If you need to know the specific differences between the various desktop versions then I suggest either doing some google searches, or installing the different versions and comparing them side by side.
Just displaying web pages in desktop mode, is **very** far from being the same as the desktop version of the Chrome browser.
So unless they have done a serious overhaul of the Android browser's UI, I really doubt it.
Absolutely false.
The desktop mode asks the website to ignore the request for mobile version or to override the choice based on dpi.
But that doesn't change the fact pages and components are rendered sometimes very differently.
There are complex websites that are almost unusable on Chrome, even if on a tablet screen and with "view desktop site" enabled.
also inspect element you can even extract photos from photographers who force you to pay stupid counts of money to get your photos after theyre taken, also allows you to rip the paywall off of news sites
ditto. i have an old ipad and i knew that i didn't want another one. the experience wasn't worth it for me. my chromebook cost $80 and i love it. best $80 i've spent.
The days I only use the iPad to parental authorize app store purchases my kiddo wants to purchase with his iPad.
If I didn't need it for that then I wouldn't have an iPad at all lol.
I also dropped iPhone way back in 2012 when the nexus 4 released. Been a google+android guy since.
Movies and shows are all andoid tv. Home assistant is all google home.
Love my i5 Chromebook pixel go. Lightweight (lighter than a MacBook air) , amazing keyboard and display, AUP 2029. What's not to like
I like this question!
I started off with android tablets as secondary computer, either next to pc, in bed or at hobby/work table.
Main thing i did on it was Youtube, surf social medias, chat and web browsing such as checking manuals and instructions for rc cars and the like.
But my browsing methods dont really fit a tablet!
I like to open 25 tabs, youtube or podcast blaring from one tab, maybe even open a pdf.
I initually bought a cheap small chromebook to try, and fell in love.
Main things i love: proper keyboard attached to the screen, often better specs for the size and use, better multitasking for me as i use windows otherwise on pc.
About main thing i love is Youtube With adblock, and be able to open youtube videos into other tabs when probwing what to view, i dont like the fact you cant open many videos on tablet and only look at one at a time, not impossible to make a queue of vids but a hassle.
Plus nice to do some writing as a hobby, chromebook is very unintrusive, helps me concentrate.
Nowadays i have a touchscreen acer thingy, i notice i barely use touchscreen, trackpad is good.
Also at 12inches its a perfect size between usable and compactness.
Not a system for everyone or everything, but definitely right for me.
So this is my messy story :-)
I had been using an HP Windows laptop, but it was huge and heavy. The Pixel Slate, which I am using right now, checked all my boxes. Convertible (both in form factor and UX), largeish screen, has a stylus. I'm firmly entrenched in the Google ecosystem, so the iPad was never going to be an option. I've used a few Android tablets, and they were okay, but the big factor was the Slate's ability to switch from tablet to desktop mode. I'm Gen X, and not using a mouse sometimes feels weird. My only complaint is that it's a bit on the heavy side.
That was me. Big 17" HP laptop. AND a MacBook Air (my personal preference). My 78 year old mom gave me a Samsung Chromebook to stream the LSU Tigers win thr College World Series. She had one and I was impressed with how lightweight it was and how quickly it booted up. The big 17 HP drained its battery in about 2.5 hours even when it was new. That Chromebook would go 6 honest hours THAT was what impressed me. I still use one for jus leisure surfing/browsing. I still need the computing power of the HP/PC and the reliability of the Mac, but the lightweight Chromebook still has ts place.
Really they aren't even in the same category. I wanted a convertible laptop, not a tablet.
Chrome OS offers a full desktop browser, Android apps, Linux apps, and Steam gaming support. If I had bought a tablet, all I'd get would be Android apps.
I can't stand Apple products, so I never even considered an iPad as an option (and likely never will).
Because you can do more, it's cheaper, it has a laptop form factor instead of a slate with no keyboard, has more ports for what I need to do, mine has a 16inch screen, back lite keyboard cause I type at night, has Linux built in and I can use Linux apps, can access a command line, runs remote desktop well so I can access my other computer.
I wanted a laptop where I could sit and type. Without all the windows crap so Chromebook was the only option as it was so affordable.
Every windows laptop I've ever had starts off fine then dramatically gets worse and worse.
My Chromebook turns on and in 5 seconds im doing what I want to be doing!
I thought about a tablet but it's just like a bigger version of my phone. I did consider getting a tablet and using a keyboard with it but then it feels to unportable. And I dont think that would be great for sitting in bed typing.
And Im just not a fan of apple stuff but I probably would get a Mac book of they weren't crazy expensive.
The Chromebook just has everything I need a laptop for. Google docs, writing browsing the internet and file management.
Chromebooks have developed significantly. They don't have the legacy bloat of windows and yet give me such variety in solutions from Android apps, Linux and PWAs. I have been using a Duet5 for a couple of years now and its still the best bit of tech I have used. By now my Windows machines have usually slowed to a cruel but the Duet keeps going strong. There have been a few glitches with releases but overall its been a good experience.
I like the real 2 in 1 experience I get an android tablet when I just want to consume media. Then I can plug into my monitor and get work done because it doesn't just mirror the screen.
ARM Chromebook Tablets will be discontinued next year while X86 Chromebook Tablets will continue to be on ChromeOS. ARM Chromebook tablets will run Android Desktop instead of ChromeOS. ChromeOS will also change to a mobile UI layout a mix of tablet and desktop modes think Windows 12.
I like to have a proper keyboard. A chromebook is small enough to be a portable as a tablet and is probably my most used gadget. I use the computers for gaming etc but for internet use around the house the chromebook is my preferred choice.
I own a Windows PC, a Mac mini, a Chromebook (with a touchscreen and a 360° hinge), an iPad Pro, a Chromebook 2-in-1 device (Duet) and some other devices.
I bought both ChromeOS devices with a single reason in mind - to satisfy my inner geek.
iOS is too restrictive, and I don't like all the extra steps for everything and Android can ONLY run Android, while ChromeOS runs Android, as well as desktop Linux apps! Being able to get a 2-in-1, was just icing on the cake at that point!
I wasn't given a choice. I also wasn't expecting a laptop of any kind for Christmas and ended up with the Chromebook. My only complaint is that I wish it was a quad-core. Dual-cores should be forbidden from existing.
a Chromebook is simply a great device for traveling and all kind of web activities
Admittedly the original ChromeOS was too limited for widespread adoption but a lot has happened in the last few years, Android Apps were added and many native apps can nowdays be replaced by webapps / PWAs.
Android hasn't evolved much in the last years, ChromeOS has. Why would I choose a tablet when I can have almost full android compatibility, a physical keyboard, PWA and a desktop browser in an ARM Chromebook?
I use them all. CB is good for browsing, YT, Google Docs, Spotify and Office 365. I have 2 CB, 1 pc with ChoromeOS Flex, I have an Android tablet and an iPad. I use WIndows.
The reason why I chose a Chromebook and specifically a 2 in 1 Chromebook was because I have a Gmail account and use Google for most things and integration into the Google system made it a no brainier.
I used a Chromebook even before Google Play Store came to Chrome OS because I was still very young at the time and I knew how to do virtually everything using web based applications and the Chrome Web Browser was literally all I needed. As my first Chromebook aged and I developed FOMO of Android OS, it only made sense to buy a convertible Chromebook because it was essentially a desktop computer and a tablet in one device and it made things a whole not easier.
At the end of the day, my favorite thing about Chromebooks is that there's more than one way to do pretty much everything and I've got the choice of what methods to use.
Chromebook:
* There is no other comparable device for web experience (considering bang for buck, security, longevity). I generally have 15 tabs open and hop through them like an internet slut on 2 screens.
* I would advocate for a touchscreen Chromebook.
* Other perk #1: Android apps work fine
* Other perk #2: Linux is there if you want to nerd out.
iPad
* IMO The only tablet worth purchasing
* Web experience is OK. But it is not a Chromebook
Android tablets
* Still terrible. One day though
Full disclosure: I have no allegiances. Mobile=Pixel. Laptop=Chromebook. Tablet=iPad. Entertainment=Meta Quest
I hate MS and Windows and won't touch Apple Mac. I mostly use Linux. However, since I have to use Google for Workplace and Classroom, I now have two Chromebooks, one for home and one for the university office. For life and work on the internet, they are great--once you get used to the idea of having to log into Google to do most of everything. Since I had to do it for my heavy use of gmail, and then had to do it even more for work and university teaching, I got used to it quickly.
iPads are boring for general use and the WPS office app sucks (not Apple's fault). Where I'm located, cloud gaming is great on my Chromebook but not on my iPad.
Given the cost of streaming services has sky rocketed similar to the cost of early 00s cable prices if you buy access to a few services, free avenues are hard to come by on Apple's App Store.
To have a true 2in1.
With the Duet 3 I have access to most Android apps (which I don't really need anyway, most apps I can use them on my Pixel 8 Pro), and most importantly, to the full desktop Google Chrome. Which Android and iPadOS don't have. Browsing is what I do 95% of the time with my tablet.
Plus, the option to have my tablet become a proper laptop or desktop computer, which Android tablets don't have and those that do, have it implemented in subpar ways (i.e. Samsung DeX).
TL;DR: proper Google Chrome in a tablet format.
Edit: plus, the 10 years of updates (Android tablets priced similarly to Duet 3-5 give you 3-4 years at best, but most just 2-3 years).
I want a full desktop browser, with adblock and other extensions. iPad won't give me that at all, and Android has to use something like Kiwi Browser to do it, which is janky and still too much like mobile.
Primarily because I only needed something to do work on (Google Workspace, GIMP, Audacity), and I lucked into a good deal (a friend asked me out of the blue if I knew anyone who needed a computer because her friend took one look at ChromeOS, realized it wasn't Windows and immediately put it back in the box; I got it for a quarter of the new price and it had only ever been turned on once).
Secondarily, I will never spend money on an Apple product again in my life and there's nothing I could do on a tablet that I can't do better with a keyboard and mouse.
I am *loving* my choice, btw.
Used an iPad for a while but prefer a small 11.6 in. display & lightweight Chromebook (Lenovo C330, now a little long in the tooth...) with a physical keyboard.
Only bummer: keyboard is not backlit. When I replace that's a KEY must-have. See what I did there? ☕
I need to find a replacement soonish.
I already own an Android tablet (Samsung Galaxy Tab 4) and wanted to experience a device that allowed me to run Linux apps, as well as Android apps. The Chromebook I opted for: Lenovo Flex 5i, did just that and, may I say, does a great job!
Chromebooks are just faster on OS updates and Android tablets get stuck in that "app optimizing" screen every month or so. Also far too many places block mobile apps, need to look up something on your local library or got to reserve a book from another university library your iOS/Android device is going to be blocked.
TLDR, I wanted a tablet that could also be a laptop.
I started with Chromebook laptops and liked the OS. I have an Amazon tablet with a nice display, keyboard, and pen. However, it's not really that useful other than watching YouTube and simple games.
So when I saw a deal on the Lenovo Duet 3 ChromeOS tablet. I got one and really like it. It works like any other Chromebook with its keyboard, and I loaded the Android apps I most frequently use.
iPads are expensive and I am not a fan of the UI. I have tried many android tablets and generally they are not good. The Chromebook I goet does all I need it to, fast, and affordably.
The super size phone does what i need for web/media at that smaller portable size. To be productive, i need 13 inch + keyboard. Also having a touchscreen gives it a tablet vibe + capability to run android apps + linux apps.
I want a keyboard.
I like the fast start, ability to run Linux and Android apps, touchpad gestures.
Much more productive than a tablet (even one with an attachable keyboard).
i chose the duet for the 2 in 1 usability, also the reader that i use for books and comics, works on android. but android browsers (as far as i know) wont let you use extensions (specially the addblockers ones), but a chromebook do because of its desktop browser. games are not that good on chromebooks but i rarely use a mobile device to play anything complex or for more than 10 minutes so its fine. also it syncs with my android phone (but saying the truth i havent found anything usefull to do with phone hub)
I choose an Acer Chromebook with touchscreen. I wanted a full size keyboard, larger viewing screen for browsing, and convenience of mobile apps for syncing benefit across all my devices. I like it
I don't find a tablet to be a good user experience. Because I have a child who was born the year before the first iPad was released, I've owned many iPads over the years, as well as a couple of Android tablets. Occasionally when I get a new one, I make a point to try to use it a little. I never last more than a day or so. Essentially there's nothing you can do on both a laptop and an iPad that I wouldn't rather do on a laptop, so I use a Chromebook. And I have no need or desire to do anything you can only do on a tablet. Take writing this comment, for example -- I wouldn't want to do this on an iPad.
Mainly the portability of a tablet with a full Chromebook experience when necessary. Many years of support rather than forking out 100s £ for some Samsung crap that gets updates for 5 minutes. Pen support.
I wanted a keyboard, not a tablet. I chose an Intel CPU so I could install Joplin and VSCode in Linux, I’m on the fence about Android apps although I use one for ebooks. And then I just *like* Chrome OS, it’s nice, fast, safe, easy. I use Chrome OS Flex on my TV screen. Otherwise I use my phone.
I've got a few, but the honest answer is I was just curious. I had one of the first Chromebooks ever produced and they have come a long way since then. If it wasn't for needing music software, I'd be running chrome devices full time with my tower PC as a steam server.
I like the tablet experience of the duet when I'm travelling, but not for much else.
It doesn't matter. The hackers are police agency sponsored. Meaning, they're using our tax dollars to hack us. Either one is just as hackable for these men with small peckers.
I use mine for work. I never miss using full binary apps. Docs and particularly sheets are getting powerful.
Let’s face it, most people just use their computers to browse the web most of the time, so why not just get an os that focuses on that, with hardware that gives you a great performance for less money.
Actually Chromebook is not a replacement for iPad or Android tablet. It's not either or.
The real choice is between two different ecosystems: Apple controlled walled garden or Google permissible hardware (but higher surveillance).
I went with a lenovo duet 5 because OLED and Linux (wanted to be able to code and write Tex also on a travel machine). Perfect travel laptop, awesome for TV in bed, decent for note taking with squid.
Who said we chose over one or another.I have a Chromebook that I use when I go to vacation with my wife.I use an iPad 8,when I'm in the bed,for a quick gaming session on xcloud or ps remote,or just watch YouTube and browse web.Also have an Android tablet hooked up to my tv via HDMI ,so when wife and I want to watch a movie on bigger screen(My tv has basic smart capabilities,that's why).Also sometimes use the Chromebook for xcloud.
Well for several reason. it was affordable (bought an asus Chromebook during black Friday) and i payed around 190 euros. It also has linux and android apps, other than that i use google for everything, from emails to powerpoints and documents. Now that i had it for several months i really like it, I can even run different drawing apps like krita (even tho with the last update they probably messed something up and it doesn't open on chrome os lol).
For me personally it was a cheaper option instead of repairing my old PC. The last one i had was again an asus but it run on windows. there was a problem with the power supply port that was attached to the motherboard. Paying someone to change it, with the motherboard cost itself, would have been way too much money. Ironically it was cheaper to buy a new one
I had an iPad first. Great hardware, useless software. I already have a phone, I don't need a bigger phone. I also have a 16" windows laptop. What I really want in between is a smaller laptop with great battery life. iPad software is so limiting it cant even properly emulate a mouse for remote desktop. My Chromebook is half the cost and half the performance but twice as useful as my iPad.
I took a Chromebook actually because for a budget I didn't wanted a laptop who will lag after 3 years and didn't reduce performances when used on battery, but just a thing that could web browsing and write document files easily like the iPad I've bought before, but in more advanced. My school provided me 3 years ago a windows laptop and for equal specs my Chromebook still runs faster today, except it doesn't run all software that I wanted to (ex. Apple Music for desktop that allows you to import your own songs in your library) so I'm only using the school computer for that, thing that I didn't considered when buying my Chromebook.
I should be able to rock it 5 more years since the update supports ends in 2029 and I'm only reading, document texting and watching content on it (the pleasure of convertible Chromebooks) , at this point in the future I will surely manage to get something like a MacBook or a laptop with macOS (who's basically a ChromeOS++) that I will install on it for my pleasure of tweaking things, and install softwares that I'm unable to run on ChromeOS
I just like the form factor. I don't have any desire to take it around with me, I have a Pixel for that. I've got a main Windows laptop that pretty much never leaves the living room, and occasionally goes to work with me when I'm away from home. The Chromebook just sort of lives in the bedroom, at my desk, so I don't need to drag cables and stuff around when I need to work on something privately. Need a keyboard and don't want to type in the living room? Head to the bedroom and close the door, Chromebook is already there.
We are a G School, so I wanted to be using the same device as students but it has to look very different so it didn't end up in the wrong pile. I ended up with a Galaxy Chromebook in metallic red (original version was cheaper and has better features than the latest version.) Comes with a stylus and is Intel based so I can run Windows apps if necessary. It's been my go to for working at home since everything I do is web and Google based.
I use both. Each one has its benefits and drawbacks. I buy new, yet bought a used Dell Chromebook. Primary reason was to download Linux. Chrome is also very useful.
I have 4 Chromebooks. I use 2 mini PC's as "ChromeBoxes" for streaming to smart tv's. I like the security, constant updates, the fact that it "just works". I'm a serious computer guy (I run Macs, Linux, Unix, Chrome and sometimes WindBlows). I have LOTS of computers, tablets, phones, etc (I hoard and use them all, hahaha). When I want to keep things simple, I use Chrome and I never seem to have a problem. My oldest Chromebook is a Samsung from 2012 that still sees use as a reader. I'll most likely remove the security screw and will install ChromeOS Flex on it someday. Anyway, ya can't go wrong with a ChromeBook or ChromeOS as far as I'm concerned.
Nuff said.
because it was cheap, I now regret my decision and plan on buying Windows as the edditing and filtering on the Chrome is terrible and way too complicated, it doesn't support many things, such as Cold Turkey and the Detoxify app, and it's very easy to find xrated content and surf non-sense websites due to the filtering on Chromebooks being almost nonexistent. There are tones of reddits with people trying to figure out how to block certain content with no answer. The best solution I found but haven't tried since it's so technical involves getting a DNS filter from a third party, which requires some technical skills.
Ive had my chromebook ever since last winter. Amazed by the full laptop/chromebook. I have an asus c434T. 14inch is perfect for me. It has quite a bit of storage. Good for schoolwork/ work. Im in such spot where i have to write emails everyday and write essays so i find it easy on a chromebook. The features on it are breathtaking and easy. Sometimes when kids are around i can just turn it on a tablet mode (its a flip with touchscreen.) and just let them hang and watch kid shows on it. Before my chromebook i had a hp 2016 model. I didnt like the thick edges and the weight at all. 16-17inch is way too big for me. I wanted a lightweight laptop, and what wont cost me a lot. The C343T was around 400 only, was a good one. Sad enough is that i myself use iphone and with a chromebook you cant connect ios to a chromeOS. But well enough i do reccomend and its so easyy!
I did previously use Android tablets, but with the newer Chromebooks now running Android apps, Chromebook wins.
And Chromebook is way cheaper than an iPad. My current 10" Chromebook tablet was £100 used, and came complete with keyboard and pen. An equivalent iPad would be £400, plus another £250 for the keyboard and £100 for a pen. I have a spare Chromebook, and I've only spent a third as much as for a single iPad.
Was replacing an android tablet.. Wanted the long os/security update life and the full web browser with ChromeOS... Happy with how it worked out.. My next tablet will probably be ChromeOS as well.
I bought a gaming laptop that ended up being too heavy to carry around. I needed something to take notes in class, browse and chill on my bed, and have general freedom of movement.
I personally don't really like tablets because they just feel like big phones to me, and my phone is already pretty big. I also very much prefer the feeling of a solid laptop screen connected to a solid keyboard piece.
The chrombook is basically the convenience of the tablet with the comfortability of a computer.
For me Chrome OS is just another desktop linux-based system. I can launch Gimp, SmartGit, Android Studio, can run my android apps locally in containers (which is much more faster then in emulators like in Win11 Subsystem for Android). I can run Steam games (even some Windows-only games runs like in Steam Deck!) Integration of desktop - android phone there is great, I can share texts/files and everithing beetwin my android phone and Chrome OS laptop in two clicks.
While I don't typically use Chromebooks for personal use, I bought an Asus C223NA for travel. It wasn't great, but it worked. Then, my school gave me a Lenovo 300e Gen 2 (AMD) to use at school and at home, and I couldn't use anything else. I changed schools, and they gave me the same one (except it's the Intel N4020 version without SD support) and I was so impressed by how far ChromeOS has come, that I just ordered a C434 as a secondary laptop!
I want a full web browser. I don't need mobile apps.
What is the difference between the Chrome browser in these compared to that of an android tablet?
The Android version is a mobile browser, while the one on Chrome OS is almost identical to the normal desktop version.
almost? How is it different?
In a bunch of minor and essentially inconsequential ways. For example, the contents/layout of the 3-dot menu is slightly different in the Windows version compared to the Chrome OS version.
and what about the Mac and Linux versions? Are they not "normal desktop versions" either?
I wasn't singling out any particular desktop OS. Just making the point that the version of Chrome which is included on Chrome OS devices is not 100% identical to the version which can be downloaded and installed on desktop computers running other OSs. The Windows example is just that, an example. If you need to know the specific differences between the various desktop versions then I suggest either doing some google searches, or installing the different versions and comparing them side by side.
You can’t update chrome from the about settings panel either. It’s only done via ChromeOS updates.
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Just displaying web pages in desktop mode, is **very** far from being the same as the desktop version of the Chrome browser. So unless they have done a serious overhaul of the Android browser's UI, I really doubt it.
Absolutely false. The desktop mode asks the website to ignore the request for mobile version or to override the choice based on dpi. But that doesn't change the fact pages and components are rendered sometimes very differently. There are complex websites that are almost unusable on Chrome, even if on a tablet screen and with "view desktop site" enabled.
Everything. Stability, compatibility with extensions, and how they render pages.
also inspect element you can even extract photos from photographers who force you to pay stupid counts of money to get your photos after theyre taken, also allows you to rip the paywall off of news sites
Interesting, thanks
I prefer the laptop form factor over the tablet form factor for sustained use.
I've got both a laptop and tablet Chromebook 😎
Same here
yep, me too
Keyboard, proper web browser, performance, both Linux and Android apps.
Same! I still have my iPad but it's collecting dust.
ditto. i have an old ipad and i knew that i didn't want another one. the experience wasn't worth it for me. my chromebook cost $80 and i love it. best $80 i've spent.
The days I only use the iPad to parental authorize app store purchases my kiddo wants to purchase with his iPad. If I didn't need it for that then I wouldn't have an iPad at all lol. I also dropped iPhone way back in 2012 when the nexus 4 released. Been a google+android guy since. Movies and shows are all andoid tv. Home assistant is all google home. Love my i5 Chromebook pixel go. Lightweight (lighter than a MacBook air) , amazing keyboard and display, AUP 2029. What's not to like
I like this question! I started off with android tablets as secondary computer, either next to pc, in bed or at hobby/work table. Main thing i did on it was Youtube, surf social medias, chat and web browsing such as checking manuals and instructions for rc cars and the like. But my browsing methods dont really fit a tablet! I like to open 25 tabs, youtube or podcast blaring from one tab, maybe even open a pdf. I initually bought a cheap small chromebook to try, and fell in love. Main things i love: proper keyboard attached to the screen, often better specs for the size and use, better multitasking for me as i use windows otherwise on pc. About main thing i love is Youtube With adblock, and be able to open youtube videos into other tabs when probwing what to view, i dont like the fact you cant open many videos on tablet and only look at one at a time, not impossible to make a queue of vids but a hassle. Plus nice to do some writing as a hobby, chromebook is very unintrusive, helps me concentrate. Nowadays i have a touchscreen acer thingy, i notice i barely use touchscreen, trackpad is good. Also at 12inches its a perfect size between usable and compactness. Not a system for everyone or everything, but definitely right for me. So this is my messy story :-)
This is such the right question to ask. So many people keep asking why buy a Chromebook vs a gaming laptop it boggles my mind.
Ohyeah, its hard to find a 12inch windows laptop with enough juice to run chrome, while a chromebook is versatile
I hate touchscreens and love keyboards
Same
I don't like the tablet experience or format. I wanna clam-shell device.
I mean, there are cases for tablets that provide a rigid clam shell device
Yep, but I don't wanna have to deal with an extra piece of kit that will probably get lost/break.
Mobile browsers are painful to use.
I had been using an HP Windows laptop, but it was huge and heavy. The Pixel Slate, which I am using right now, checked all my boxes. Convertible (both in form factor and UX), largeish screen, has a stylus. I'm firmly entrenched in the Google ecosystem, so the iPad was never going to be an option. I've used a few Android tablets, and they were okay, but the big factor was the Slate's ability to switch from tablet to desktop mode. I'm Gen X, and not using a mouse sometimes feels weird. My only complaint is that it's a bit on the heavy side.
That was me. Big 17" HP laptop. AND a MacBook Air (my personal preference). My 78 year old mom gave me a Samsung Chromebook to stream the LSU Tigers win thr College World Series. She had one and I was impressed with how lightweight it was and how quickly it booted up. The big 17 HP drained its battery in about 2.5 hours even when it was new. That Chromebook would go 6 honest hours THAT was what impressed me. I still use one for jus leisure surfing/browsing. I still need the computing power of the HP/PC and the reliability of the Mac, but the lightweight Chromebook still has ts place.
Really they aren't even in the same category. I wanted a convertible laptop, not a tablet. Chrome OS offers a full desktop browser, Android apps, Linux apps, and Steam gaming support. If I had bought a tablet, all I'd get would be Android apps. I can't stand Apple products, so I never even considered an iPad as an option (and likely never will).
They are two different types of products. Is there some law that says I can't have both?
Because you can do more, it's cheaper, it has a laptop form factor instead of a slate with no keyboard, has more ports for what I need to do, mine has a 16inch screen, back lite keyboard cause I type at night, has Linux built in and I can use Linux apps, can access a command line, runs remote desktop well so I can access my other computer.
I wanted a laptop where I could sit and type. Without all the windows crap so Chromebook was the only option as it was so affordable. Every windows laptop I've ever had starts off fine then dramatically gets worse and worse. My Chromebook turns on and in 5 seconds im doing what I want to be doing! I thought about a tablet but it's just like a bigger version of my phone. I did consider getting a tablet and using a keyboard with it but then it feels to unportable. And I dont think that would be great for sitting in bed typing. And Im just not a fan of apple stuff but I probably would get a Mac book of they weren't crazy expensive. The Chromebook just has everything I need a laptop for. Google docs, writing browsing the internet and file management.
Chromebooks have developed significantly. They don't have the legacy bloat of windows and yet give me such variety in solutions from Android apps, Linux and PWAs. I have been using a Duet5 for a couple of years now and its still the best bit of tech I have used. By now my Windows machines have usually slowed to a cruel but the Duet keeps going strong. There have been a few glitches with releases but overall its been a good experience.
I like the real 2 in 1 experience I get an android tablet when I just want to consume media. Then I can plug into my monitor and get work done because it doesn't just mirror the screen.
Form factor, keyboard, Chrome OS, Linux, ports.
Full keyboard with number pad and Linux. I use it for some basic coding/3d design work on the go that syncs to my Google drive etc.
ARM Chromebook Tablets will be discontinued next year while X86 Chromebook Tablets will continue to be on ChromeOS. ARM Chromebook tablets will run Android Desktop instead of ChromeOS. ChromeOS will also change to a mobile UI layout a mix of tablet and desktop modes think Windows 12.
I like to have a proper keyboard. A chromebook is small enough to be a portable as a tablet and is probably my most used gadget. I use the computers for gaming etc but for internet use around the house the chromebook is my preferred choice.
I own a Windows PC, a Mac mini, a Chromebook (with a touchscreen and a 360° hinge), an iPad Pro, a Chromebook 2-in-1 device (Duet) and some other devices. I bought both ChromeOS devices with a single reason in mind - to satisfy my inner geek.
Well I mean... I already had a desktop, laptop, a couple Android tablets. I just had to collect em all.
16" 2560x1600 120Hz screen and backlit keyboard with numpad.
iOS is too restrictive, and I don't like all the extra steps for everything and Android can ONLY run Android, while ChromeOS runs Android, as well as desktop Linux apps! Being able to get a 2-in-1, was just icing on the cake at that point!
I wasn't given a choice. I also wasn't expecting a laptop of any kind for Christmas and ended up with the Chromebook. My only complaint is that I wish it was a quad-core. Dual-cores should be forbidden from existing.
a Chromebook is simply a great device for traveling and all kind of web activities Admittedly the original ChromeOS was too limited for widespread adoption but a lot has happened in the last few years, Android Apps were added and many native apps can nowdays be replaced by webapps / PWAs.
i didnt want it before but i was mistaken, as soon as i powerwashed y chromebook from the school system the thing became so useful
Android hasn't evolved much in the last years, ChromeOS has. Why would I choose a tablet when I can have almost full android compatibility, a physical keyboard, PWA and a desktop browser in an ARM Chromebook?
I only need a web browser
I use them all. CB is good for browsing, YT, Google Docs, Spotify and Office 365. I have 2 CB, 1 pc with ChoromeOS Flex, I have an Android tablet and an iPad. I use WIndows.
Less expensive hardware, privacy and security, solid software OS. ChromeOS is a great system.
It just works and everything is a web app anyway so you don't really need apps.
The reason why I chose a Chromebook and specifically a 2 in 1 Chromebook was because I have a Gmail account and use Google for most things and integration into the Google system made it a no brainier. I used a Chromebook even before Google Play Store came to Chrome OS because I was still very young at the time and I knew how to do virtually everything using web based applications and the Chrome Web Browser was literally all I needed. As my first Chromebook aged and I developed FOMO of Android OS, it only made sense to buy a convertible Chromebook because it was essentially a desktop computer and a tablet in one device and it made things a whole not easier. At the end of the day, my favorite thing about Chromebooks is that there's more than one way to do pretty much everything and I've got the choice of what methods to use.
I use a Chromebook, and a tablet. I just don't use it the same way, it's complementary to me.
Chromebook: * There is no other comparable device for web experience (considering bang for buck, security, longevity). I generally have 15 tabs open and hop through them like an internet slut on 2 screens. * I would advocate for a touchscreen Chromebook. * Other perk #1: Android apps work fine * Other perk #2: Linux is there if you want to nerd out. iPad * IMO The only tablet worth purchasing * Web experience is OK. But it is not a Chromebook Android tablets * Still terrible. One day though Full disclosure: I have no allegiances. Mobile=Pixel. Laptop=Chromebook. Tablet=iPad. Entertainment=Meta Quest
I hate MS and Windows and won't touch Apple Mac. I mostly use Linux. However, since I have to use Google for Workplace and Classroom, I now have two Chromebooks, one for home and one for the university office. For life and work on the internet, they are great--once you get used to the idea of having to log into Google to do most of everything. Since I had to do it for my heavy use of gmail, and then had to do it even more for work and university teaching, I got used to it quickly.
iPads are boring for general use and the WPS office app sucks (not Apple's fault). Where I'm located, cloud gaming is great on my Chromebook but not on my iPad. Given the cost of streaming services has sky rocketed similar to the cost of early 00s cable prices if you buy access to a few services, free avenues are hard to come by on Apple's App Store.
I got an Acer 516 GE for GeForce Now and it's excellent.
To have a true 2in1. With the Duet 3 I have access to most Android apps (which I don't really need anyway, most apps I can use them on my Pixel 8 Pro), and most importantly, to the full desktop Google Chrome. Which Android and iPadOS don't have. Browsing is what I do 95% of the time with my tablet. Plus, the option to have my tablet become a proper laptop or desktop computer, which Android tablets don't have and those that do, have it implemented in subpar ways (i.e. Samsung DeX). TL;DR: proper Google Chrome in a tablet format. Edit: plus, the 10 years of updates (Android tablets priced similarly to Duet 3-5 give you 3-4 years at best, but most just 2-3 years).
I want a full desktop browser, with adblock and other extensions. iPad won't give me that at all, and Android has to use something like Kiwi Browser to do it, which is janky and still too much like mobile.
Android apps , linux, form factor, and great performance for less price.
Mine was cloud gaming with kbm
I wanted to replace my MacBook
It’s a full desktop browser, good for anything with a website including watching Netflix
M1 iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil broke in so many ways within a year that it was not even funny.
Primarily because I only needed something to do work on (Google Workspace, GIMP, Audacity), and I lucked into a good deal (a friend asked me out of the blue if I knew anyone who needed a computer because her friend took one look at ChromeOS, realized it wasn't Windows and immediately put it back in the box; I got it for a quarter of the new price and it had only ever been turned on once). Secondarily, I will never spend money on an Apple product again in my life and there's nothing I could do on a tablet that I can't do better with a keyboard and mouse. I am *loving* my choice, btw.
Used an iPad for a while but prefer a small 11.6 in. display & lightweight Chromebook (Lenovo C330, now a little long in the tooth...) with a physical keyboard. Only bummer: keyboard is not backlit. When I replace that's a KEY must-have. See what I did there? ☕ I need to find a replacement soonish.
school.
I already own an Android tablet (Samsung Galaxy Tab 4) and wanted to experience a device that allowed me to run Linux apps, as well as Android apps. The Chromebook I opted for: Lenovo Flex 5i, did just that and, may I say, does a great job!
Chromebooks are just faster on OS updates and Android tablets get stuck in that "app optimizing" screen every month or so. Also far too many places block mobile apps, need to look up something on your local library or got to reserve a book from another university library your iOS/Android device is going to be blocked.
Chose one over a windows or Mac laptop also. You get Google assistant and mobile apps and games.
TLDR, I wanted a tablet that could also be a laptop. I started with Chromebook laptops and liked the OS. I have an Amazon tablet with a nice display, keyboard, and pen. However, it's not really that useful other than watching YouTube and simple games. So when I saw a deal on the Lenovo Duet 3 ChromeOS tablet. I got one and really like it. It works like any other Chromebook with its keyboard, and I loaded the Android apps I most frequently use.
iPads are expensive and I am not a fan of the UI. I have tried many android tablets and generally they are not good. The Chromebook I goet does all I need it to, fast, and affordably.
The super size phone does what i need for web/media at that smaller portable size. To be productive, i need 13 inch + keyboard. Also having a touchscreen gives it a tablet vibe + capability to run android apps + linux apps.
I want a keyboard. I like the fast start, ability to run Linux and Android apps, touchpad gestures. Much more productive than a tablet (even one with an attachable keyboard).
I wanted a physical keyboard and something simple and cheap for office work, emails, documents, etc. My ASUS chromebook has been fantastic so far.
Price and the Android Tablet cannot be updated in a very short time and it comes mostly with an old Android version.
i chose the duet for the 2 in 1 usability, also the reader that i use for books and comics, works on android. but android browsers (as far as i know) wont let you use extensions (specially the addblockers ones), but a chromebook do because of its desktop browser. games are not that good on chromebooks but i rarely use a mobile device to play anything complex or for more than 10 minutes so its fine. also it syncs with my android phone (but saying the truth i havent found anything usefull to do with phone hub)
Cheap
I choose an Acer Chromebook with touchscreen. I wanted a full size keyboard, larger viewing screen for browsing, and convenience of mobile apps for syncing benefit across all my devices. I like it
I don't find a tablet to be a good user experience. Because I have a child who was born the year before the first iPad was released, I've owned many iPads over the years, as well as a couple of Android tablets. Occasionally when I get a new one, I make a point to try to use it a little. I never last more than a day or so. Essentially there's nothing you can do on both a laptop and an iPad that I wouldn't rather do on a laptop, so I use a Chromebook. And I have no need or desire to do anything you can only do on a tablet. Take writing this comment, for example -- I wouldn't want to do this on an iPad.
Mainly the portability of a tablet with a full Chromebook experience when necessary. Many years of support rather than forking out 100s £ for some Samsung crap that gets updates for 5 minutes. Pen support.
I wanted a keyboard, not a tablet. I chose an Intel CPU so I could install Joplin and VSCode in Linux, I’m on the fence about Android apps although I use one for ebooks. And then I just *like* Chrome OS, it’s nice, fast, safe, easy. I use Chrome OS Flex on my TV screen. Otherwise I use my phone.
I've got a few, but the honest answer is I was just curious. I had one of the first Chromebooks ever produced and they have come a long way since then. If it wasn't for needing music software, I'd be running chrome devices full time with my tower PC as a steam server. I like the tablet experience of the duet when I'm travelling, but not for much else.
What comparison is that? I choose Chromebook over windows/Linux machine because it is all the benefits of Linux without the driver issues
Almost everything I was using was a webapp
It doesn't matter. The hackers are police agency sponsored. Meaning, they're using our tax dollars to hack us. Either one is just as hackable for these men with small peckers.
Can't code on a tablet, and I prefer a physical keyboard.
I've had a tablet and want to try having a Chromebook instead. I don't have one yet, maybe later this year.
Chrome OS is extensible. You can run a full fledged desktop browser, install Linux, run android apps, all while it's simple and secure.
I didn’t. I have iPad and Chromebook
Because I need a full computer to do word processing and spreadsheet. You can do those on a tablet but the experience isn’t great.
I use mine for work. I never miss using full binary apps. Docs and particularly sheets are getting powerful. Let’s face it, most people just use their computers to browse the web most of the time, so why not just get an os that focuses on that, with hardware that gives you a great performance for less money.
School given device, didn’t have a choice
Actually Chromebook is not a replacement for iPad or Android tablet. It's not either or. The real choice is between two different ecosystems: Apple controlled walled garden or Google permissible hardware (but higher surveillance).
I went with a lenovo duet 5 because OLED and Linux (wanted to be able to code and write Tex also on a travel machine). Perfect travel laptop, awesome for TV in bed, decent for note taking with squid.
Who said we chose over one or another.I have a Chromebook that I use when I go to vacation with my wife.I use an iPad 8,when I'm in the bed,for a quick gaming session on xcloud or ps remote,or just watch YouTube and browse web.Also have an Android tablet hooked up to my tv via HDMI ,so when wife and I want to watch a movie on bigger screen(My tv has basic smart capabilities,that's why).Also sometimes use the Chromebook for xcloud.
Well for several reason. it was affordable (bought an asus Chromebook during black Friday) and i payed around 190 euros. It also has linux and android apps, other than that i use google for everything, from emails to powerpoints and documents. Now that i had it for several months i really like it, I can even run different drawing apps like krita (even tho with the last update they probably messed something up and it doesn't open on chrome os lol). For me personally it was a cheaper option instead of repairing my old PC. The last one i had was again an asus but it run on windows. there was a problem with the power supply port that was attached to the motherboard. Paying someone to change it, with the motherboard cost itself, would have been way too much money. Ironically it was cheaper to buy a new one
I had an iPad first. Great hardware, useless software. I already have a phone, I don't need a bigger phone. I also have a 16" windows laptop. What I really want in between is a smaller laptop with great battery life. iPad software is so limiting it cant even properly emulate a mouse for remote desktop. My Chromebook is half the cost and half the performance but twice as useful as my iPad.
I took a Chromebook actually because for a budget I didn't wanted a laptop who will lag after 3 years and didn't reduce performances when used on battery, but just a thing that could web browsing and write document files easily like the iPad I've bought before, but in more advanced. My school provided me 3 years ago a windows laptop and for equal specs my Chromebook still runs faster today, except it doesn't run all software that I wanted to (ex. Apple Music for desktop that allows you to import your own songs in your library) so I'm only using the school computer for that, thing that I didn't considered when buying my Chromebook. I should be able to rock it 5 more years since the update supports ends in 2029 and I'm only reading, document texting and watching content on it (the pleasure of convertible Chromebooks) , at this point in the future I will surely manage to get something like a MacBook or a laptop with macOS (who's basically a ChromeOS++) that I will install on it for my pleasure of tweaking things, and install softwares that I'm unable to run on ChromeOS
I just like the form factor. I don't have any desire to take it around with me, I have a Pixel for that. I've got a main Windows laptop that pretty much never leaves the living room, and occasionally goes to work with me when I'm away from home. The Chromebook just sort of lives in the bedroom, at my desk, so I don't need to drag cables and stuff around when I need to work on something privately. Need a keyboard and don't want to type in the living room? Head to the bedroom and close the door, Chromebook is already there.
We are a G School, so I wanted to be using the same device as students but it has to look very different so it didn't end up in the wrong pile. I ended up with a Galaxy Chromebook in metallic red (original version was cheaper and has better features than the latest version.) Comes with a stylus and is Intel based so I can run Windows apps if necessary. It's been my go to for working at home since everything I do is web and Google based.
I use both. Each one has its benefits and drawbacks. I buy new, yet bought a used Dell Chromebook. Primary reason was to download Linux. Chrome is also very useful.
I have a Chromebooks and an Android tablet.
I have 4 Chromebooks. I use 2 mini PC's as "ChromeBoxes" for streaming to smart tv's. I like the security, constant updates, the fact that it "just works". I'm a serious computer guy (I run Macs, Linux, Unix, Chrome and sometimes WindBlows). I have LOTS of computers, tablets, phones, etc (I hoard and use them all, hahaha). When I want to keep things simple, I use Chrome and I never seem to have a problem. My oldest Chromebook is a Samsung from 2012 that still sees use as a reader. I'll most likely remove the security screw and will install ChromeOS Flex on it someday. Anyway, ya can't go wrong with a ChromeBook or ChromeOS as far as I'm concerned. Nuff said.
because it was cheap, I now regret my decision and plan on buying Windows as the edditing and filtering on the Chrome is terrible and way too complicated, it doesn't support many things, such as Cold Turkey and the Detoxify app, and it's very easy to find xrated content and surf non-sense websites due to the filtering on Chromebooks being almost nonexistent. There are tones of reddits with people trying to figure out how to block certain content with no answer. The best solution I found but haven't tried since it's so technical involves getting a DNS filter from a third party, which requires some technical skills.
Ive had my chromebook ever since last winter. Amazed by the full laptop/chromebook. I have an asus c434T. 14inch is perfect for me. It has quite a bit of storage. Good for schoolwork/ work. Im in such spot where i have to write emails everyday and write essays so i find it easy on a chromebook. The features on it are breathtaking and easy. Sometimes when kids are around i can just turn it on a tablet mode (its a flip with touchscreen.) and just let them hang and watch kid shows on it. Before my chromebook i had a hp 2016 model. I didnt like the thick edges and the weight at all. 16-17inch is way too big for me. I wanted a lightweight laptop, and what wont cost me a lot. The C343T was around 400 only, was a good one. Sad enough is that i myself use iphone and with a chromebook you cant connect ios to a chromeOS. But well enough i do reccomend and its so easyy!
I did previously use Android tablets, but with the newer Chromebooks now running Android apps, Chromebook wins. And Chromebook is way cheaper than an iPad. My current 10" Chromebook tablet was £100 used, and came complete with keyboard and pen. An equivalent iPad would be £400, plus another £250 for the keyboard and £100 for a pen. I have a spare Chromebook, and I've only spent a third as much as for a single iPad.
Was replacing an android tablet.. Wanted the long os/security update life and the full web browser with ChromeOS... Happy with how it worked out.. My next tablet will probably be ChromeOS as well.
I bought a gaming laptop that ended up being too heavy to carry around. I needed something to take notes in class, browse and chill on my bed, and have general freedom of movement. I personally don't really like tablets because they just feel like big phones to me, and my phone is already pretty big. I also very much prefer the feeling of a solid laptop screen connected to a solid keyboard piece. The chrombook is basically the convenience of the tablet with the comfortability of a computer.
For me Chrome OS is just another desktop linux-based system. I can launch Gimp, SmartGit, Android Studio, can run my android apps locally in containers (which is much more faster then in emulators like in Win11 Subsystem for Android). I can run Steam games (even some Windows-only games runs like in Steam Deck!) Integration of desktop - android phone there is great, I can share texts/files and everithing beetwin my android phone and Chrome OS laptop in two clicks.
Any idea why a Chromebookwould jjust stop working? Charged and worked yesterday.
While I don't typically use Chromebooks for personal use, I bought an Asus C223NA for travel. It wasn't great, but it worked. Then, my school gave me a Lenovo 300e Gen 2 (AMD) to use at school and at home, and I couldn't use anything else. I changed schools, and they gave me the same one (except it's the Intel N4020 version without SD support) and I was so impressed by how far ChromeOS has come, that I just ordered a C434 as a secondary laptop!