This means that it’s pretty difficult for users to get a virus on one. Chromebooks are much less vulnerable to virusesīecause of the emphasis on cloud-based working, using a Chromebook doesn’t tend to involve much installation of software. Tip: For a detailed overview of when and why you might want to use Google Workspace or Microsoft 365, check out our Microsoft 365 vs Google Workspace (G Suite) comparison. Chromebooks can lower your software costsįor many individuals and businesses, Google Workspace - Google’s suite of productivity apps - is now capable of handling core computing needs - word processing, spreadsheets, email and diary management - perfectly well, and cheaply too (Google Workspace starts at $6 per user per month). (That said, investing in a third-party cloud backup service like Backupify or Spanning Backup is definitely a good idea). Third, because there are no moving parts in them, Chromebooks are much less prone to developing mechanical faults, meaning that Chromebook users generally enjoy greater reliability and longevity - and a lack of repair bills.Īnd finally, because Chromebook users generally work ‘in the cloud,’ you don’t need to spend as much money on physical storage to handle networking or backups. (And, if you’re a Google Workspace customer, you have a 24/7 Google helpdesk at your disposal too). This is because by default, any updates to your Chromebook and the Google software you use on it are carried out regularly and automatically by Google. Second, because Chromebooks do not particularly rely on locally-run applications, there is less of a need for an IT department to install software.

In particular, if you apply these sort of cost differentials across a large team’s computing requirements, you’re talking about saving a LOT of money (making Chromebooks a particularly attractive option for anyone starting a new business). So, whether you’re an individual or a business, there are significant cost savings to be made by using Chromebooks. My mid-range Windows laptop cost four times as much as this without - when it comes to using Chrome and cloud-based software at least - being four times as good. I’m typing this on a machine that cost me just $175 I picked it up in a sale, but you can definitely buy a perfectly usable Chromebook up for less than $300 (as the screenshot above highlights). The pros of using Chromebooks Chromebooks can significantly lower your hardware and IT costsĬhromebooks have the potential to lower your IT (information technology) costs in quite a few ways.įirst, and for the reasons discussed above, they are much cheaper to buy than ‘normal’ computers.

Skype for chromebook on google play.