There is a difference between a notebook and a Chromebook
Chances are you have seen a Chromebook if you’ve been looking for a new laptop in a while. The Chromebook is just like other laptops, but it usually comes at a cheaper price. This doesn’t mean you won’t get value for your money.
A Chromebook may be more suitable for you depending on what you do with it. You should also be able to do some research before you decide between a notebook and a Chromebook. There could be a lot of confusion when buying a Notebook or a Chromebook.
This article will clear up all your confusions and help you understand the differences between a Chromebook and a Notebook, as well as their pros and cons.
Chromebook or Notebook? Which one is better?
You should consider what operating system you require, how versatile the computer can be to help you accomplish your tasks, and other factors before you buy a lightweight, portable laptop computer.
In essence, a Notebook and Chromebook are both laptops that can replace the desktop computer for everyday tasks (see also Difference Between a Chromebook and a Laptop). Because they are lighter and more portable than conventional desktop computers, these laptops can be more beneficial than traditional desktop computers.
There are however some important differences between a Chromebook and a Notebook, including:
What’s a Notebook?
A notebook is a small portable computer. Although it can do all the same tasks as a desktop computer, the main difference is that the notebook can be carried around
Think of a Notebook laptop as a miniature version of your computer which has an on-screen keyboard with track-pad/track-ball, and is powered by a battery. A Notebook laptop can run on either Windows or Mac operating systems. They can run any software or apps that are compatible with conventional computers. The notebook laptop uses less power, but it has significant processing power and RAM that can handle many tasks.
Laptops are usually more expensive than personal computers.
What’s a Chromebook?
Chromebooks, however, are a new type of notebook laptop that runs on Linux-based Chrome Operating System (Chrome OS). The OS can be used directly over an internet connection. The main difference between a Chromebook and a Notebook laptop is their operating systems. A Chromebook, an online-only computer, requires an internet connection to function as most of its tasks are cloud-powered.
A Chromebook is essentially a laptop with fewer features. Because they don’t require a lot of RAM or high processing power, Chromebooks are extremely light. They rely on Google apps and cloud services to function.
Students are increasingly using Chromebook laptops because of their sleek design, easy-to-use features, and simple interface. While a Chromebook cannot replace a Notebook computer, it can be very useful for certain tasks. Chrome OS is very lightweight and looks very similar to Windows OS.
A Chromebook can store music, images, and videos as well as document files, just like a Notebook laptop. However, all files are stored on cloud servers instead of internal memory. You can easily sync your Chromebook with Android devices using your existing Google account.
A Chromebook can also be programmed to automatically update, so you don’t have to do the tedious task of manually downloading and installing updates.
What are the main differences between a Chromebook and a Notebook?
Let’s now look at the differences between the Chromebook and the Notebook.
Operating System (OS),
The main difference between a Notebook laptop or a Chromebook is its operating system. The operating system that a Notebook uses is Windows or Mac OS. These are the same operating systems that are used on laptops and computers.
A Chromebook, on the other hand, is powered by Google Chrome OS. This is basically a simplified version of Chrome’s web browser.
Cloud Server
Conventional laptops like the Notebook require significant computing power, which they derive mainly from RAM and processors.
Chrome OS, however, is essentially the Chrome web browser with more features and functions. The operating system is completely dependent on Google’s online services like Google Docs and Drive. The Chromebook is cloud-based, and all its software and applications are stored on the cloud server.
Storage Area
A notebook laptop requires high-end SSDs and disk drives to store data, while a Chromebook is primarily designed for online use. A Chromebook stores all data on a cloud server such as Google Drive. You can also choose to increase the device’s memory with SD or USB cards.
MS Office
Microsoft Office is an indispensable office automation tool that can be found on all Windows-powered laptops. MS Office cannot be used with a Chromebook. Instead, Microsoft’s cloud-based office automation tools, including One Note, Excel Excel Outlook PowerPoint, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook, can be used. You can also use Google Docs or Google Sheets to replace MS Words and MS Excel.
Remember that Chromebooks are not intended to install and download apps. Instead, they rely on web-based applications.
Printer Connectivity
A Chromebook, unlike a Notebook laptop, requires that you use Google Cloud Print to connect to a printer. If you are looking to print files frequently, you should make sure you purchase a Google Cloud Print-friendly Chromebook.
Gaming
A Notebook is a better choice than a Chromebook if you enjoy computer games. Although there are games that are compatible with Chromebooks, not all PC games are compatible to run on a Chromebook. Some device-agnostic games like Minecraft can be played on Chromebook with a few tweaks.
Conclusion
The main difference between a Chromebook and a Notebook laptop is their operating system. Although they may look identical on the surface, they have different features and functions.