Since the first Google (GOOG, GOOGL) Chromebook hit the market in mid-2011, these inexpensive notebook PCs have been selling like hotcakes.
Google has especially made inroads into the education segment. In a year when PC sales are once again in decline, Gartner says Chromebook sales are on track to be up 27% worldwide compared to 2014. And nearly three-quarters of those Chromebooks are landing in the education market.
The surging Chromebook popularity is causing Apple (AAPL) grief with school boards, since a Chromebook can cost half the price of an iPad. Microsoft (MSFT) has been in panic mode, first mocking Chromebooks then pushing hardware partners to release ultra-low-cost Windows laptop options.
Chromebooks may have a price advantage — although some Windows laptop models now rival them for cost — but are they always the best laptop choice for students?
In the hope of simplifying your back-to-school high-tech shopping, we explore the advantages and disadvantages of Chromebooks, MacBooks and Windows laptops.
Chromebook, MacBook or Windows Laptop: The Case for a Chromebook
Very few Chromebooks offer high-end hardware or smashing good looks.
The primary example of a premium Chromebook is Google’s own Chromebook Pixel, a $999-plus aluminum laptop with a high-resolution display and powerful Intel (INTC) Core CPU.
That’s OK, because the main selling point for these laptops is their cheap price tag, not looks or specs.
Google’s Chrome OS has none of the baggage of Windows or OS X, and since it doesn’t have to worry about supporting legacy hardware or thousands of peripherals, Chrome has very low hardware demands. This lets Chromebook makers use inexpensive components, including CPUs originally designed for smartphones, and still offer relatively zippy performance.
Storage is minimal because Chromebooks were designed to leverage the cloud for running Google apps and saving files (you can also create and edit files locally).
The result is, Chromebooks can sell for $200 and offer a decent user experience.
The savings to parents go further, thanks to the use of Google’s free apps instead of paid software like Microsoft Office.
Finally, Google updates Chromebook software automatically, making security less of an issue.
With a Chromebook, students pay less than they would for many tablets, but get a compact laptop with a keyboard and often robust battery life. That’s a pretty compelling case for picking a Chromebook for school.
Chromebook, MacBook or Windows Laptop: The Case for a MacBook
Apple makes some of the most popular portable PCs.
Its MacBook line — the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro and the new MacBook — are consistent top sellers, despite a premium price tag.
The primary argument against Apple laptops has always been software availability, but that’s much less of an issue now. Most popular software (including the all-important Microsoft Office) is released for both Windows and OS X.
If specialized software is required for a college or university course, MacBooks can actually install and run Windows in dual-boot mode, effectively becoming a Windows laptop.
Ultimately, the biggest knock against Apple’s portable PCs – especially for money-conscious students and parents — is the price tag. The cheapest Apple offering is the $899, 11-inch MacBook Air, while a 15-inch MacBook Pro starts at $1,999.
Chromebook, MacBook or Windows Laptop: The Case for a Windows Laptop
Windows laptops have always had the key advantage of running the operating system that powers nearly nine out of 10 computers.
That has been a bragging point when it comes to the availability of compatible software and third-party accessories.
The downside to Windows laptops has been somewhat uninspired design (compared to competitors like the MacBook Air) and a price disadvantage compared to the new Chromebooks.
However, both of those weak points have been largely addressed of late.
Ultrabooks have gotten progressively better, to the point that some — like the latest Dell XPS 13 — are beginning to make the MacBook Air look dated.
Microsoft has been working with manufacturers to bring prices down too, hoping parents decide the best laptop for their kids would be an inexpensive Windows portable instead of a Chromebook. Slashing the Windows license fee has helped introduce a new generation of low-cost Windows laptops in the $200 range, like the Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) Steam 11.
These cheap new Windows laptops are priced like Chromebooks, but able to run Windows software. Just don’t expect much in the way of performance at this price …
Chromebook, MacBook or Windows Laptop: Which Is the Best Laptop for Students?
Unfortunately, there’s no simple answer here. Chromebook, MacBook and Windows laptop — each has its advantages.
If you take cost out of the equation, it’s hard to go wrong with any of Apple’s MacBooks or a Windows laptop, although the Windows machine will always have an edge when it comes to software availability.
The real question is whether the money-saving Chromebook is adequate for all students.
In most cases, they would be better off with a Chromebook than with a tablet (the other popular low-cost choice for school kids). The Chromebook gives them a real keyboard to type with — a significant advantage.
And while the Chromebook can’t run Microsoft Office, Google’s equivalents offer online and offline ability to open, edit and save Office files, at no cost. They can’t play games on a Chromebook, but most parents would write that off as a plus rather than being a negative. And security is about as good as it gets.
So for most grade school and even high school students, a Chromebook should be fine.
College and university students have different needs, however, and specialized courses that may require specific software.
If all a post-secondary student is using a PC for is research and writing essays, then the value alone may mean the Chromebook is the best laptop. Otherwise, this is the point where specific software needs and hardware requirements (like a big, high-resolution display) mean a Windows laptop or MacBook is needed.
As of this writing, Brad Moon did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.
