MacBook Air vs. Chromebook

[bwillard92]

I didn't know where to put this but I figured someone could move it if wrong. Anyways if you search MacBook Air vs. Chromebook on google you find a lot of interesting information. It seems many people are replacing their MBA with a Chromebook or not buying an MBA at all.

I currently own a 13" MacBook Air and really enjoy using it. After the holidays I'm thinking of buying a Chromebook to see what all the fuss is about. I currently use Chrome as my browser and have been experimenting with if I can do everything online. I've found Google Docs actually works just as well as OpenOffice installed on my Mac. I'm not very fond of Google Play Music and use Amazon Music instead. I do know I need a Mac or Windows PC for iTunes and my iPhone though.

https://tech.itiswhatitis.biz/chromebook-beats-macbook-air/ This article inspired my post.

 

[gooser]

well, try it out then and give us your opinion.

 

[BenTrovato]

Give it a shot and let us know!

It's like driving an economy 4-banger or a luxury car. One gets you there for thousands cheaper. The other is simply a lot more enjoyable to use.

 

[joshlalonde]

I considered putting Chrome OS on my Macbook Air just for fun. But it didn't work..

 

[sracer]

I didn't know where to put this but I figured someone could move it if wrong. Anyways if you search MacBook Air vs. Chromebook on google you find a lot of interesting information. It seems many people are replacing their MBA with a Chromebook or not buying an MBA at all.

I currently own a 13" MacBook Air and really enjoy using it. After the holidays I'm thinking of buying a Chromebook to see what all the fuss is about. I currently use Chrome as my browser and have been experimenting with if I can do everything online. I've found Google Docs actually works just as well as OpenOffice installed on my Mac. I'm not very fond of Google Play Music and use Amazon Music instead. I do know I need a Mac or Windows PC for iTunes and my iPhone though.

https://tech.itiswhatitis.biz/chromebook-beats-macbook-air/ This article inspired my post.

I bought a 14" HP Chromebook with free lifetime 4G data access for $200 on Woot for that very reason (to see what all the hub bub was about).

There are definitely limitations with Chromebooks... printing is a big one. But there are many things that are impressive. Using the web versions of iWork, MS Office, and Google Docs, was a pleasant experience. I'm impressed with the growing number of Chrome apps that work offline (no network access required), and the whole snappiness of the whole package.

It won't replace my 11" MBA, but if I had to replace my MBA, I'd seriously consider an 11" Chromebook.

 

[joshlalonde]

I think the Chromebook is a great idea. And I think a lot of people could definitely replace their laptop with a Chromebook.

Think: Students

I believe the Chromebook caters primarily to students. You can disagree, and you might be right. But as a student, I can see some valid points.

1. Portable/slim
2. excellent battery life
3. great for surfing the web

The Chromebook definitely covers those three points. And if that satisfies you, then by all means, get a Chromebook.

But the Macbook doesn't stop there.

4. great for doing real work (from programming/compiling all the way to professional video editing)
5. full computer capable of running Windows, has more software
6. more offline capabilities (you can argue that the chromebook has some too, but it's not geared towards offline)

So, you can get the Chromebook. You could even do some pro work like programming. It's not hard to find some code editors. Website programming with HTML5/JS/CSS3 would be a dream. But..

If you want the real deal, get a PC/Mac. Mac being the preferred option here. But that's another thread..

By the way, I'm a first year programmer analyst at saint lawrence college. Though, I'm not new to programming so..