If you can't find a web app to meet your needs, all modern Chromebooks can run Android apps, too, from the Google Play store. What can be done with web, Linux and Android apps on Chromebooks are increasingly more than enough to get through your day-to-day tasks. This is generally true, but again, many people don't need to do more. Most of my Chromebook conversations are with people buying them for kids, but these Q&A sessions regularly end with them asking 'Should I buy one for myself?' And the stock answer is usually, 'It depends on your needs.' But after a little digging, many people realize they don't need to do any more than what can be done on a Chromebook.Ī common argument against getting a Chromebook is that you can do so much more with a real computer - i.e., a laptop running on MacOS, Windows or a Linux distro. It's likely because of this that I spent more time fielding questions about them from family and friends than I have since they first launched in 2011.Ĭhromebooks have been around for more than 10 years now and a lot has changed. This story is part of Gift Guide, our year-round collection of the best gift ideas.ĭue to the uptick in remote learning and working during the pandemic, a lot of people are now aware of the world of Chromebooks.

Parallels student edition difference