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ebw on 04 December 2012
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superchunk said:
ebw said:
Can someone explain to me why anyone would want to use a Chromebook? I really just don't see the point (I see why Google wants me to buy it, but I don't see what's in it for me).


There is no reason, for most people, to need "Windows".

I've been using solely Chrome and its Chrome Market for months now for 100% of everything I do outside of work. I have yet to find a reason to need Windows at home or for my kids school or my brothers school (college).

Google has services that cover most anything, plus the Chrome App Store or Market or whatever its called has apps that run solely in Chrome that cover pretty much anyone's needs.

Are there cases where it won't work for an individual use? of course. But that is not the mass market anymore. Most people just do online/few docs and that's about it. I'd bet that is easily over 80% of the non-workplace userbase.

However, please don't list stupid things you think or know won't work. Its pointless. Instead open Chrome and search its market to see what you can or can't do and determine if that will work for you.

 

If it does, the benefits are:

  • lower upfront costs for a more powerful computer
  • very little to zero chance of viruses and other malware
  • extreme integration with Android/Google (for Google services users of course)
  • very quick shut down/start up times
  • no data loss possibility as its all backed up in the free google cloud (use google docs format and google plus for pics/vids and you have infinite free storage)
  • probably more I'm just not thinking of

Point is, if you want a light and great laptop... you should see if Chrome only is a good fit for you.

Thanks for this very thoughtful response, superchunk.  These are almost the same advantages that other "post-PC" devices like iPads enjoy over Windows (I've lived basically my entire life without Windows), though I think Chromebooks are cheaper than most iPads.  It's the cloud dependence that I have trouble grasping.  I'd say there is no possibility of permanent data loss, but there is a possibility of data deprivation.  I lost Internet for almost a week pretty recently...while that is extremely frustrating with any type of computer, am I wrong to think that it would be debilitating for a Chromebook?  Is it practical for use while travelling?  (That should be a very significant use case for laptops, especially light ones.)