While there may once have been a time when you decided between either a Windows or Mac computer, these days there’s another option to consider: the Chromebook. Chromebooks have grown in popularity over the past five years or so as an excellent way to get many of the features you would expect in a laptop, in a lightweight and affordable box.
Of course, because of the fact that Chrome OS, the operating system that runs on Chromebooks, is so lightweight, there are a few features that Chromebooks don’t offer and that you will instead find on Windows laptops. That won’t matter for everyone; if you don’t need those features, then it doesn’t really matter if you don’t have them.
Here’s a rundown of the major differences between Chromebooks and Windows laptops.
User interface
These are different operating systems, and as such, they offer a slightly different user interface. Most of us are probably at least moderately familiar with the user interface of Windows computers.
The Windows 10 user interface includes the main desktop, where you can store files and folders, as well as shortcuts to apps. At the bottom, you’ll find the Taskbar, where you can also show shortcuts to apps.
On the right of the Taskbar, you’ve got notifications and certain settings, while the right is where you’ll find the search bar Start menu, where you’ll be able to access all of your apps, files browsers, and so on. In general, it’s a pretty sleek interface, and most will find it easy to find their way around it.
The Chrome OS user interface is similar to Windows in many ways, but there are also a few key differences. On Chrome OS, you’ll still find the main desktop, with a Taskbar where you can store app shortcuts, and settings on the bottom right, and a menu with all your apps on the bottom left.
The main difference in the interfaces is the Start menu on Windows, which offers access to a range of other files and services, while on Chrome OS, pressing the button on the bottom left simply shows a list of apps.
Other differences come up in things like virtual desktops, which Windows allows for and Chrome OS does not. Generally speaking, Windows is slightly more polished and much more complex — so if you need to do things beyond using simple apps, Windows may be the way to go.
Apps
Perhaps the biggest difference between these two operating systems is their software support. Generally speaking, there are more apps and games available to Windows users, and the apps that are available are often more powerful too.
That’s largely because it’s a full-powered operating system used by many professionals around the world, and companies like Adobe and Avid have created software for those professionals that can run on Windows machines.
That’s not to say there isn’t a wide range of software available for Chromebooks. In fact, now is better than any other time to buy a Chromebook considering the fact that Chromebooks now support a range of Android apps—so many of the apps and games you enjoy on your phone can also be accessed on a Chromebook.
Not only that, but there are versions of Microsoft’s Office suite available for Chromebooks, as well as lightweight versions of Photoshop and more.
Of course, Chromebooks are particularly good at plugging in with Google’s ecosystem of products, so if you’re an Android user and regularly use the likes of Gmail, Google Drive, Chrome, and so on, then Chromebooks may perfectly serve your needs.
If there’s a program you want to run on your laptop, chances are that it’s available for Windows. That’s not necessarily true of Chrome OS. While the operating system did get a huge software boost with the addition of Android apps, the fact is that app support on Chrome OS is still a work in progress.
Conclusions
So what’s better for you? Well, it depends. If you’re looking for a full-powered computer that can run a massive range of apps and programs, then Windows is probably still the better choice.
If, however, you generally stick with Google apps and services and are perfectly happy with being limited to sometimes lower-powered apps, then a Chromebook may be a good choice. There are, after all, some beautifully designed Chromebooks out there, like the Google Pixelbook.
On the flip side, some of the better Windows laptops include the likes of the Dell XPS 13 and the new Huawei Matebook X Pro.
Would you like to read more Windows-related articles? If so, we invite you to take a look at our other tech topics before you leave!
