Chromebooks are becoming popular due to their affordable price, which places them in direct comparison with low and budget priced Windows laptops, which are also being made available in a similar prize range.
Hence, this Chromebook vs Windows Laptop comparison is based from the point of view of an average user, looking to buy a computer for general web browsing, playing games, watching videos and getting some work done.
Chromebook vs Windows Laptop Comparison
As mentioned above, you should find this Chromebook vs Windows comparison useful, if you are basically looking for a computer that can quickly connect to the internet and allow you to safely browse the web and watch YouTube and Netflix.
1. Portability
Chromebooks are basically designed to connect to Google Drive where all the processing and storage takes place. Hence, it is really easy to make Chromebooks light weight and portable.
In comparison, you can also find low priced Windows laptops that are light-weight and match the portability of similar prized Chromebooks.
However, the weight of a Windows Laptop starts to go up when you start looking for Windows Laptops with more storage and the processing to play games and run software programs.
Winner: Chromebooks, for ushering in a new generation of light weight cloud based computers.
2. Interface
Both Windows and Chrome OS have user friendly interface. There is nothing really much to choose between the two, for most users it will just be a matter of getting used to the new interface.
Winner: This is a tie, no winners here.
3. Web Browsing
Chromebooks offer native support to Google Chrome browser which is still the most widely used web browser in the World.
In this regard, it is worth mentioning that Google Chrome is the only web browser supported on a Chromebook, it does not allow you to download and Install any other web browser.
In comparison, you can download and use Firefox, Safari, Chrome and other web browsers on a Windows computer.
Winner: Clearly Windows Computers for offering the flexibility and choice of browsers.
4. Storage
Unlike traditional computers, Chromebooks offer limited space for local storage and low priced models of Chromebooks usually come with 16, 32, 64 GB of SSD storage.
The basic idea behind Chromebooks is to store everything on Cloud. Hence, Google offers 100 GB of Free Cloud storage for 2 years to all buyers of a Chromebook, of any brand.
You can also buy up to 1TB of space on Google Drive for $9.99 per month, in case 100 GB is not enough for you.
In comparison, you can find reasonably prized Windows computers come with 250 to 500 GB local storage, which allows you to download and store Files on the Local Hard Drive of your computer.
Winner: Windows Computer, for being flexible, offering both Cloud and local storage options. In addition to local storage, you can also make use of 32 GB Cloud storage that Microsoft offers for free.
5. Maintenance Cost
A major advantage of Chromebooks is that you do not have to worry about buying productivity and antivirus software programs.
Google takes care of securing and protecting Chromebook and offers Document Editing, Spreadsheet and others Microsoft Office like software programs for free.
Once you buy a Chromebook, you can start browsing the internet and working on Documents and spreadsheets right away, without spending anything.
In the case of a Windows computer, you will be spending money to buy, upgrade and renew Microsoft Office and Antivirus software programs.
Winner: Chromebooks for being virtually maintenance free.
6. Productivity Software
In general, users are familiar with Microsoft Office programs like Word, Excel, PowerPoint and find them reliable for getting things done.
In the case of Chromebooks, you will be using Google Docs and Google Sheets which can also get your work done. However, many users are not completely familiar with these applications.
Winner: Windows Computers.
7. Professional and Business Use
Professional software programs like AutoCAD, Primavera, Timberline and Accounting software programs are designed to work on Windows computers.
These and other popular professional software programs do not work on Chromebooks.
Winner: Window based Computers.
8. Printing and Scanning
Both Windows computers and current generation of Chromebooks are compatible with almost all popular brands of printers and can be easily connected to both Wireless and USB Printers.
Winner: This is a tie, no winners here.
9. Photo Editing
You can do decent photo editing on Chromebooks using programs like Pixlr, online version of Photoshop Express Editor and you can even use the web version of Photos Shop on a Chromebook.
However, Photoshop for the web is not free, it comes at heavy subscription cost of $19.88/month. In comparison, you can install the Photo Shop App on a Windows computer for a similar cost.
Winner: Not declaring a winner in this category, since regular computer users will be happy using Pixlr on a Chromebook and Paint on a Windows computer.
10. Video Editing
On Chromebooks you can edit videos using apps like Magisto and WeVideo.
These apps allow basic image editing capabilities like cutting clips, editing color, sound settings, adding text, adding music or voiceover, and transitions. This should be good enough for most users.
However, these programs cannot match video editing software programs like Adobe Premiere, Sony Vegas or Final Cut.
Winner: We are declaring no winner in this category, considering that an average user is not likely to be worried about lack of professional video editing features in Chromebooks.
Those who are seriously into photo and video editing clearly need to go for a mid-range Windows computer.
11. Online Security
According to Google, there is really no need to install any security or antivirus software program on a Chromebook, which saves you from the hassle of finding and installing reliable third-party antivirus programs.
Chromebooks automatically check for and apply security updates as soon as they are available, ensuring that you are always protected from the latest online threats and viruses.
While Microsoft too provides its online protection software ‘Microsoft Defender‘ for free and updates it regularly, users still prefer to go for additional protection by installing third-party antivirus programs on a Windows computer.
Winner: Chromebooks
Conclusion
Low prized Windows computers that are trying to match Chromebook prices do not offer the functionality of a full-fledged Windows computer that you might be looking for.
Hence, go for a Chromebook, if you are looking for a fast and inexpensive computer to browse the web, play movies and get some work done.
Go for a budget priced Windows computer, if you use Microsoft Office and want a computer for both work and play.