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Don’t Buy a Chromebook
Chromebooks thrive in schools. Unfortunately, they are terrible for students and create tons of waste.
If you’re thinking of buying a new computer, don’t buy a Chromebook. Or at least, don’t if you’re not 80 years old and are going to use it to check email or find recipes online.
If you’re a student, even in high school, I would highly advise against it. High schools receive them for students because they are inexpensive compared with full laptops and schools are really providing them to write essays.
Google announced ChromeOS in 2009. Its initial intention was designed to be a user’s secondary device, such as a tablet or “netbook.” It was never designed to be a primary device. I still agree with that.
Many people find Chromebooks to be attractive because they have a low price-point, are relatively quick, and schools love them because kids can’t do things like play The Sims during class. And if you’re in grade school, sure, a Chromebook may be fine.
Chromebooks have also made significant progress in the last several years, gaining the ability to run Linux, Windows in a virtual machine, and can even run Android apps. Still, there are so many shortcomings regarding Chromebooks. Here’s why you shouldn’t buy one.
Chromebooks rely on an internet connection
The internet is everywhere. Whether you’re at home or a coffee shop, you’re very likely to have an internet connection via wifi. Some are even able to get a hotspot through their personal cellular plan.
However, you essentially need an internet connection to operate a Chromebook, compared to a Windows or macOS user who can type documents in either Microsoft Word, OpenOffice, or Apple Pages with no issue regardless of their environment.
Schools, especially those in rural areas, may not have access to a strong internet connection. In a learning environment, your access to learning…
