Computers are becoming more and more common in school classrooms. It is undeniable that a computer equipment has many advantages for learning. Google realized this a few years ago and released Chromebooks. These are computers that seek to be economical, while offering good performance with their Chrome OS operating system. Today we focus on the usefulness of Chromebooks for school , their advantages and disadvantages compared to a Windows PC
Chromebook prices are much more affordable
Returning children to school can be very expensive. Books, notebooks, drawing materials, dictionaries… there are many things they need for the new course. Adding a computer can significantly increase the cost for parents, so the price must be adjusted as much as possible .
Fortunately, Chromebooks are much cheaper overall than a Windows laptop. This is because its operating system is free, and it can work very well with really modest hardware. There are computers like the Acer Chromebook 11, which has an 11.6-inch HD screen, an Intel Celeron N3150 CPU and 2 GB of RAM, for 240 euros. You can see all the available models on the official Google website.
Finding a laptop with Windows for less than 300 euros is more complicated, even more if you want it to have specifications that move the system with ease.
Less variety of advanced applications on Chromebooks
Chromebooks were originally optimized for Google apps like Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Drive. This makes it easy to set up if you already use those apps. The negative point is that it greatly limited its possibilities of use.
The Android applications are becoming increasingly Chromebooks to alleviate the problem of lack of applications. The idea is to give Chromebooks access to more games, productivity options and other applications to make these machines more versatile.
Unfortunately, the most popular software applications, such as Adobe Photoshop and the Microsoft Office suite, are not available on all Chromebooks. However, the Android version of Office is rolling out to Chromebooks with access to the Google Play Store. If you need Office, but your team doesn't have access to the Android app yet, you're limited to using Google Docs.
Chromebooks are more limited without internet
Chromebooks are designed to be highly dependent on the internet, which means that many apps won't work if you're out of Wi-Fi range . Fortunately many applications that can work without an Internet connection, including many of the Android applications that are or will be available soon.
Very long battery life on Chromebooks
Chromebooks typically offer exceptional battery life. It is common to see how this type of equipment is able to keep running for 9 hours or more without going through the plug.
This is because its modest hardware consumes very little power, and also the Chrome OS operating system, which is much lighter than Windows 10 . The cheapest Windows 10 laptops barely get to 4 hours of use.
This means that a Chromebook will be able to last a whole day at school without problems, perfect for the child to learn without interruptions.
Chromebooks are very sturdy
Chromebooks designed to be used at school are built to withstand falls, scratches and the rest of the punishments that the little ones can give them. There are even computers like the Dell Latitude 5400 Chromebook Enterprise and the Acer Chromebook 14, which are MIL-STD-810G certified, which means they are capable of passing the durability tests of US military equipment.
Finding a Windows 10 laptop that is so resistant is much more complicated, even more so if you are looking for a model with a price similar to Chromebooks. Its higher manufacturing cost means that manufacturers have to cut somewhere without compromising specifications. This results in the use of less resistant materials for the chassis of the equipment.
Chromebooks are more compact and lighter
Most Chromebooks are between 11 and 13 inches . This means that you will have no problem choosing a compact model that your child can carry in their school backpack. These models normally weigh less than 2 kilos, which makes them the most portable and the best options for children.
There are Windows 10 laptops of similar sizes, but they are very scarce and we already know what happens when a product is scarce, prices much higher.
Final conclusion
Chromebooks are small, inexpensive computers that can provide everything children need to improve their learning at school . Google realized the great potential of computer equipment for learning, and did not want to miss the opportunity.
The limitation in the available applications should not be a big problem for the school public. It is not normal for a child to have to use Photoshop, so you should not worry about this aspect.
The user interface of the Chrome OS operating system is much simpler than that of Windows 10, making the handling of the Chromebook much easier and more accessible for young children.
In addition to the above, many Chromebooks have a touch screen, which makes them more intuitive to use. Surely the child remembers how he used the browser on the touch screen of his mother's mobile, when he sees the Chromebook he will have the instinct to touch the screen to start interacting with the computer.
What do you think of the use of Chromebooks at school? Do you think they are a better option than laptops with Windows 10? We want to know your opinion.