Key Points:

  • The first recognized laptop was created in 1981 by Adam Osborn to be basically a portable version of a desktop computer.The Chromebook was introduced on June 15, 2011 and was intended as a budget-friendly alternative to laptops.Chromebooks can’t be directly connected to a printer via Wi-Fi or a cable. They can only print to Google Cloud Print printers. Chromebooks also were not designed for gaming.Laptops are designed to handle basically any computing needs – including web browsing, email, streaming, photo editing, local and cloud storage, music, gaming, and much more.

When it comes to the exterior design, Chromebooks and laptops look basically the same. The differences are primarily in the internal hardware with the main difference being the operating systems. Chromebooks use the Google Chrome operating system, while laptops use either Windows or a Mac operating system. For a detailed breakdown and to see which device is right for you, continue reading below.

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Chromebook vs Laptop Side by Side Comparison

Chromebook vs Laptop: 15 Must Know Facts

  • Chromebooks were designed as a budget-friendly alternative to laptops. They were not intended to replace laptops.Chromebooks require less memory than laptops.Chromebooks typically use low-end processors while laptops require more powerful processors.Chromebooks are very secure and security is handled behind the scenes by Google. All security updates are automatically downloaded.Windows is more complex and has more security holes. Security primarily handled through downloaded applications.Chromebooks primarily use web-based applications which improve processor performance.Chromebook prices are typically considerably lower than a laptop.The battery life for chromebooks is usually much longer than a laptop.Chromebook portability is similar to a tablet and is better on average than a laptop.Chromebooks can download android apps from the Google Play Store and are compatible with Linux softwareLaptops can handle basically any computing need and can download a wide variety of apps..Chromebooks have ports similar to laptops such as HDMI, USB, and a headphone jack.Unlike Chromebooks, laptops were designed to be used online and offline.One of the main difference between Chromebooks and laptops is the operating system.Laptops utilize solid state drives and hard disk drives

Summary of Chomebook vs Laptop

Chromebook

The Chromebook was introduced on June 15, 2011 and was intended as a budget-friendly alternative to laptops. They were designed to primarily operate using web-based applications with an internet connection. Chromebooks use the Chrome OS. Chromebooks are very lightweight and don’t require a lot of RAM memory or processing power. The typical Chromebook has 2GB to 4GB of RAM memory and a processor of 2.0 GHz or less. Chromebooks have a portability advantage because of their lightweight and slim design. They are best suited for web browsing, streaming, email, photo editing, music, and cloud storage. Chromebooks have a long battery life of 10 to 12 hours. They are popular in the education community because of their user-friendly design. Chromebooks are extremely secure and are automatically updated.

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There are a number of key differences between Chromebooks and laptops. Most of the differences are related to Chromebook limitations. The primary difference is between the operating systems. Laptops use a Windows or Mac operating system. The Chrome OS has many limitations when compared to these operating systems. Chromebooks rely heavily on an internet connection and the cloud to operate. Laptops can function online or offline. Another difference is that Chromebooks primarily store data in cloud and files in Google Drive. They can also store limited data in USB drives and SD cards. Laptops can store data locally and come with internal hard drives. They can also store data on USB drives, SSD cards, CD/DVD, or in cloud. Chromebooks are unable to download Microsoft Office or other applications. They can use Office cloud-based services and Google Docs and Sheets. Chromebooks can’t be directly connected to a printer via Wi-Fi or a cable. They can only print to Google Cloud Print printers. Chromebooks also were not designed for gaming.

Laptop

The first recognized laptop was created in 1981 by Adam Osborne. Laptops are basically portable versions of a desktop computer. They are designed to handle virtually any computing needs. They run on either Windows or Mac operating systems. Laptops can download a wide variety of applications such as Microsoft Office. Unlike chromebooks, they require plenty of RAM and processing power. Laptops typically have at a minimum 8GB to 16GB of RAM and a 2.0 GHz processor or higher. They also come with internal hard drives. Laptops come with a wide variety of ports to connect basically any external device. Security is typically performed by downloaded applications. Embedded applications such as Windows Defender does a good job of protecting the system against viruses.

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When it comes to limitations, laptops have very few if any. This is because if you are willing to spend the money, you can purchase a laptop to fit any need. More expensive ones can even rival Chromebooks in portability. The average laptop has a battery life of 1.5 hrs to 4 hrs. This is considerably less than a Chromebook, although some higher-end laptops have a longer battery life. Because laptop operating systems are so complex, they are more susceptible to viruses. Chromebooks are less susceptible to viruses and usually resolve attacks faster.

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