Now's the best time to ditch Windows and switch to Chromebooks

HP Dragonfly Pro Chromebook review
(Image credit: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)
Beyond the Alphabet

Android Central's LLoyd with a projection with a Google logo

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Beyond the Alphabet is a weekly column that focuses on the tech world both inside and out of the confines of Mountain View.

Last April, I wrote a piece about the negative stigma that still surrounds the idea of someone using a Chromebook. By and large, that stigma remains, but I think that there's never been a better time to buy a Chromebook over a Windows PC.

If you ask around here at Android Central, there's a pretty good chance you'll find that I might just be the most pessimistic member of the team. While I love and have an affinity for various devices, my mind mostly defaults to the negatives. This includes Chromebooks and ChromeOS, so when our accessories editor, Namerah, asked for my opinion about an article she was working on about switching to Windows, my initial impression was one of agreement. 

However, after letting my thoughts stew and marinate for a little bit longer, I came to a surprising and different conclusion. In her piece, she explains why she's giving up on Chromebooks and will instead be picking up a Surface for her next computer. There was a time when I would have said, "Hell yeah, I can definitely get behind that." However, the days of scoffing at the idea of using a Chromebook over a Windows laptop or MacBook are gone, at least in most regards.

Namerah's piece demonstrates how the stigma around Chromebooks is still very much alive. That's not to say her experience using one isn't valid—it very much is—as we all have our preferences, and not everyone will enjoy using a Chromebook as much as a Windows PC. However, Chromebooks are much more capable machines than many people think they are.

(Image credit: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

One example pointed out in the piece is trying to resize "an image to a specific size or sharing files to and from a ChromeOS tablet." For the first one, I would argue that it's actually a bit easier to accomplish, as there are two different ways to go about resizing an image.

When using the native Gallery app, there's a button at the top, and then you can either manually resize it or choose one of the presets at the bottom. You can also open the Google Photos app, view your "On Device" images, click the Edit button, and make changes from there. Not to mention, Google continues to add other editing options, such as Magic Editor with ChromeOS 125.

As for sharing files between devices, this is something I've complained forever about, as nothing seemed to work as seamlessly as Apple's AirDrop. Although it's still not quite as smooth as it should be, Google's continued improvements to Quick Share have paid dividends. 

Phone Hub open on Chromebook with Galaxy Z Fold 4

(Image credit: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)

Then there's Phone Hub, which also works pretty well, even if it is limited to only showing you a few recent photos and files. If anything, I'd like for Google to make it so that I can view all of the files and photos on my phone, not just a handful of the most recent ones.

The piece goes on to talk about problems with various peripherals not working with Chromebooks. This isn't something I've experienced frequently, and the only times I've personally run into problems have been when using a gaming mouse. The majority of the time, it's a "connect and go" situation, even if the peripheral doesn't explicitly have the "Works with Chromebook" stamp. I've even managed to get a spare Apple Magic Trackpad paired with a Chromebook, and it works pretty darn well.

That's not to say there isn't room for improvement, but it's also something that the ChromeOS team is working on. Back with ChromeOS 123, added the ability to customize what your mouse buttons do, provided that you're using a mouse with more than two buttons. It also added a flag to enable keyboard shortcut customization before it was enabled by default with ChromeOS 124

Ultimately, Namerah explains how the Surface Go 3 "checks all the boxes" as it "can be used as a tablet, too, and because it runs Windows 11, you can use it like any other computer." This was the part that really caught my attention, simply because I find Windows on a tablet to be downright awful.

(Image credit: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

I've learned this more and more as I've gone deeper into gaming handhelds such as the Steam Deck, ROG Ally, Lenovo Legion Go, MSI Claw, and others. Trying to do anything outside of the OEM's dashboard without a mouse and keyboard is just asking for punishment. That's why I have an arsenal of foldable Bluetooth keyboards with built-in trackpads—well, that and my continued love of foldable phones

Again, I'm not saying that Namerah is wrong or that I'm right. What I am saying is that ChromeOS is much more capable now than it was even six months ago. The proof is in the pudding, as evidenced by the release of ChromeOS 125 and the announcement of six new Chromebook models.

At the end of last year, I wrote about the things that I hoped to see from ChromeOS and Chromebooks over the course of 2024. With one fell swoop, Google and its hardware partners checked off two of the four boxes. ChromeOS 125 brought with it Gemini integration, something that I'd argue should have been there from the start. Meanwhile, ASUS introduced a new ChromeOS tablet, and it seems we could be in store for a few more options.

Google Gemini on Android at MWC 2024

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Admittedly, I don't expect to go 4/4 with my predictions. Doing so would require Google to resurrect the Pixelbook successor and for a Chromebook to be released with a dedicated GPU along with more than 128GB of storage. I don't see either of those things happening, but hey, a guy can dream.

If you're deciding between a Chromebook and a Windows device, I'd recommend thinking twice. Sure, all of the Copilot Plus features seem cool, but if you look a bit deeper, Microsoft is morphing Windows into the ultimate platter of ads.

Recently, Microsoft has been testing out different ways to serve users more ads, but I'm not just talking about hounding you to set Edge as the default browser. I mean actual ads from companies other than Microsoft that show up in the Start Menu or Settings app. As pointed out by Sean Endicott of Windows Central, "The fact that Microsoft won't even allow people to pay to remove ads suggests the company makes more money off promotions than people would be willing to pay."

Windows 11's Start menu will soon feature more ads, as will the Settings app on your PC.

(Image credit: Sean Endicott / Windows Central)

It's reached a breaking point where people are creating user-friendly tools to alter the registry in an effort to get rid of ads. It's also the same reason why I've been attempting to become more familiar with Linux, as the writing is on the wall for the day when I have to watch a 30-second ad just to unlock my desktop Windows PC.

For the time being, Microsoft is the only one doing anything like this with its operating system. Google and Apple shove "ads" in your face, but they are the ones that we've basically ignored for years and aren't being blatantly added to things like the launcher. 

If anything, I'd argue that now's actually the perfect time to switch to ChromeOS, especially as more Chromebook Plus devices hit the market. There are still kinks to work out, but it's clear that Google is committed to the platform. How often can we say such a thing about something that Google offers? 

Andrew Myrick
Senior Editor — Smartphones (North America), Chromebooks & Tablets

Andrew Myrick is a Senior Editor at Android Central. He enjoys everything to do with technology, including tablets, smartphones, and everything in between. Perhaps his favorite past-time is collecting different headphones, even if they all end up in the same drawer.

  • rvbfan
    Ya no. Linux is where I'm headed as soon as my wife's accounting software supports it.
    Plus I can't play my steam games on a Chromebook but I can on Linux.
    Reply
  • joeldf
    Still can't run AutoCAD, Revit, Lumion or Audition on a Chromebook.

    Three of those are for my livelyhood. The last is just my hobby.
    Reply
  • klystron
    Great hardware with great features, for most non-technical users out there who want a device with a keyboard for work and a large format tablet for play.

    However, with the slowing of Moore's law computing devices are increasingly used for longer timespans. Google's commitment to not supporting these devices after 10 years would be one thing. But in my experience it is tantamount to bricking these devices by preventing chrome updates - this also poses a big electronic waste issue.

    A more creative path to sunsetting these devices a bit more gracefully would be better for their customers and their ESG credentials...
    Reply
  • rvbfan
    Windows 11. Speaking of an ewaste generator.
    Reply
  • CajunMoses
    klystron said:
    Great hardware with great features, for most non-technical users out there who want a device with a keyboard for work and a large format tablet for play.

    However, with the slowing of Moore's law computing devices are increasingly used for longer timespans. Google's commitment to not supporting these devices after 10 years would be one thing. But in my experience it is tantamount to bricking these devices by preventing chrome updates - this also poses a big electronic waste issue.

    A more creative path to sunsetting these devices a bit more gracefully would be better for their customers and their ESG credentials...
    Really? Do you really use computers that are more than 10 years old? Really? You DO know, don't you, that Chromebooks store all user data in the Cloud and not on the Chromebook itself, right? That's why you can pick up any Chromebook and immediately start using it interchangeably. Of course, if you really wanted to use a $200 Chromebook after 10 years, you could certainly do that. It doesn't "brick," as you suggested. But it simply wouldn't receive updates that block malware, fix bugs, and add features. But 10 years? Really? Ten years from now, you'll probably be in an elderly care facility playing dominoes.
    Reply
  • WillysJeepMan
    AC News said:
    We shouldn't think of Chromebooks as the red-headed step child of the computing world. Google's dedication and investment in ChromeOS is paying off in a big way, even if we don't yet have a new Pixelbook.

    Now's the best time to ditch Windows and switch to Chromebooks : Read more
    One thing missing from this rose-colored glass look at Chromebooks is that nearly all software/services for Chrome OS have gone to a subscription model.

    Subscriptions are the hidden cost to Chromebooks that aren't mentioned by Chrome OS advocates.

    Gone are the early days of Chromebooks when these things were "free" as they were working to gain marketshare and mindshare. I remember those days. At the time, I was a big fan and supporter of the platform because of the value it offered. But times have changed.

    Open-source software provides some outstanding offerings but running them on Chromebooks is not straightforward and requires mid to upper tier hardware.

    There are also some other software options that provide a one-time purchase for a perpetual license. These apps don't run on Chromebooks.
    Reply
  • CajunMoses
    Still can't run AutoCAD, Revit, Lumion or Audition on a Chromebook.
    There are also some other software options that provide a one-time purchase for a perpetual license. These apps don't run on Chromebooks.
    Legitimate reservations. If I had to make a living running AutoCAD, I'd have no choice but to use Windows or MacOS. Also, I only use a few perpetual license purchases on my Chromebook, and they're all Android apps. Such software limitations present a challenge and an opportunity for Google, developers, and end users. But software solutions require business willingness more so than technological advancements. And they aren't an accurate reflection of the capability of ChromeOS and the Chromebooks that run it.
    Reply
  • Village_Idiot
    Why would I ditch an OS that actually works?
    Reply
  • SeeBeeEss
    In other news, now is the time to ditch your car and switch to a skateboard. ;)
    Reply
  • dbareis
    I used Flex to create a fast Chromebook out of a very slow old windows laptop. I still use windows but the thing I hate most about Chrome OS is that it doesn't support the num lock key on external keyboards!
    Reply