Can a Chromebook Replace Your Laptop?

For years, my daily computer was a commendably-powered and somewhat pricey Asus gaming laptop, but after natural wear and tear began to set in, it became obvious that my machine was slowly but surely breaking down—performance was becoming more and more sluggish, the battery's capacity was dropping, and I even had to have its charging port repaired at one point. But as clear as my trusty Asus' inevitable demise was, I didn't have the funds to replace it with a new Windows-powered machine, so instead of continuing to use an unreliable computer for work, I was given a Chromebook Pixel to try out.
The idea had me feeling somewhat uneasy. CES was quickly approaching and the thought of tackling one of the year's biggest tech events using a glorified Chrome browser didn't exactly seem like the best plan. But I was just as curious as I was cautious. Could a Chromebook really replace my traditional laptop?

Fortunately, I survived CES using the Pixel as my primary computer—even tackling a live blog in the process—and came out surprised by the platform's potential and value. As a result of my generally positive experience, I've stuck with Google's Chrome OS to handle most of my work. But it isn't all roses and rainbows. Chromebooks have some serious limitations, but that isn't to say that they aren't worth your time or money.
The Chromebook Pixel, in case you don't recall, is an expensive piece of hardware that uses a beautiful, high-resolution touchscreen display along with build quality that rivals Apple's laptops. But that isn't the norm for Chromebooks. With most priced under $400, Chromebooks more closely resemble the forgettable Windows-powered netbooks of yesteryear: they're made of cheap plastic and have low-powered internals, but they're some of the cheapest computers you can find.
After regularly using the Pixel for some time, I ended up purchasing a low-end Acer C720 for my wife, whose old Toshiba laptop (a hand-me-down from yours truly) was also taking a turn for the worse. This particular Chromebook is equipped with an 11.6-inch display, a 1.4GHz Intel Celeron processor, 2GB of RAM, and a 16GB SSD—specs that most of us would gladly avoid—but at just $199, it seemed like a decent substitute for someone who typically uses their computer for the browser alone.
The initial transition was equally easy for both of us. As Chrome browser users, we were familiar with the "operating system," and basic navigation around the UI isn't much different than what we were used to with our Windows laptops. Right mouse-button clicks function much the same, and most actions are handled through the very Windows-like taskbar, where you can access the computer's app list or pin particular programs for easy access. Google Now is also integrated into the OS, which is a nice touch if you already use the service with Android or iOS.

Because of the incredibly lightweight OS, performance is snappy for the most part—although the Pixel, with its Intel Core i5 processor and 4GB of RAM, handles things noticeably better, even when pushing visuals to a 2,560 x 1,700 resolution display—and accessing content through the browser portion of Chrome is a mostly pain-free experience.
When it comes to writing, Chrome OS provides just enough to make work possible. Most of what I do is handled through a browser, and simple photo editing (e.g. cropping and resizing) can be done using an app available in the Chrome Web Store.
But problems arise when you need more than just a browser. For work, we regularly use Skype for both messaging and video calls. As you may know with your Windows or Apple computer, Skype doesn't function within a browser window. Instead, a separate client must be installed to use the service. These clients, unfortunately, do not work with Chrome OS, making the platform almost useless for those that rely heavily on programs that require a separate installation.
Skype is just one scenario, though. If you use an iPhone, don't expect to utilize iTunes to move and manage files, and while Chrome OS does a good job at detecting peripherals like mice, using a printer is much more of a hassle. Instead of the standard plug-and-play technique, you'll have to rely on the cloud to get those documents in physical form, which is a feature that may not be included with your printer. Otherwise, you'll have to use Google Cloud Print along with a standard printer attached to a Windows or Apple PC that has the Chrome browser installed. Yes, it can be that difficult to print a document in 2014.
The Chrome Web Store offers a decent selection of plug-ins and add-ons for the OS, but when it comes to things like Spotify or Tweetdeck, these are essentially just web shortcuts. If you require an actual app installation outside of the browser, you're completely out of luck. There are some alternatives to traditional desktop programs, like Pixlr Editor for Photoshop users, and a few video editing apps, but these aren't as full-featured or efficient as those on full-fledged PCs.
Thankfully, a constant internet connection is not required to make use of Chrome OS. There are a number of document creation and editing apps available, which can be accessed offline, and you can also compose emails, load up locally stored files, and use photo editing apps while away from a Wi-Fi connection.

Storage space is another area that can be problematic. Chromebooks typically have a small amount of built-in storage, so I regularly have to rely on cloud services (unsurprisingly, Google Drive is natively supported) or USB drives to handle and transfer files. This may not be a problem for everyone, as plenty of us are used to using the cloud, but it can be annoying for those who intend to use a Chromebook as a standalone device.
There is also the issue of screen size. Chromebooks are only offered with smaller displays ranging from 11.6 inches to 14-inch models. Given the performance and app selection for these devices, though, you may not need or want something bigger since you won't be doing any intense photo and video editing or playing many games—there is a faithful Bastion port available, for those interested. On the bright side, the screen selection is still larger than almost all tablets, so for word processing and composing emails, Chromebooks can be an better solution.
Price, on the other hand, is something that can tip the scale for those curious about Chrome OS. A vast majority of the models currently offered are cheaper than Apple's iPads, full-sized Android tablets, and Microsoft's Windows-powered Surface tablets. If bargain hunting, a Chromebook like the aforementioned Acer can even be picked up for less than Asus and Google's Nexus 7 tablet. Chrome OS may not have as many apps as Android or iOS, but a fully functional browser doesn't require them in many cases.
Depending on how you intend to use them, Chromebooks can fall short in some areas, but they are still capable machines powered by a very functional browser. Even at home, more often than not I find myself picking up a Chrome OS notebook over a tablet when doing casual web browsing or keeping up with social networks, and they can be a great and inexpensive companion device for those that already have a traditional desktop or stationary gaming rig. Because of the platform's obvious limitations, Google's other operating system may not be for everyone, but after months of use, I'm convinced that it can offer enough to satisfy most people's computing needs—as long as you can get past the whole "glorified browser" idea.