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- Post Publish: 2023-02-22
- Categories: Knowledge
- Updated:
- Posts by Mina Xiao
All you need to know about Google Chrome OS.
Mina Xiao
All you need to know about Google Chrome OS. - Table of contents:
Are you considering running Google Chrome OS on your device, but not sure what to expect? Chrome OS is a lightweight operating system, developed by Google, that runs web apps and is geared toward low-cost user experience. Unlike traditional operating systems like Windows and macOS, it only supports web-based applications and doesn’t offer an extensive range of features. However, there are lots of benefits to using Chrome OS such as fast start-up times and security features. This article outlines everything you need to know about Chrome OS in order to make the right decision for you!
Play Video about Google Chrome OS
What is Chrome OS?
Chrome OS is a PC-based operating system developed by Google. Google Chrome OS is an open-source operating system based on Linux.
Chrome OS is a cloud operating system, that adheres to the fast, simple, and secure features of the Chrome browser, and two computers equipped with Chrome OS can instantly synchronize data.
Google Chrome OS will provide support for Intel x86 and ARM processors at the same time. The software structure is extremely simple, which can be understood as running a Chrome browser using a new window system on the Linux kernel. For developers, the web is a platform. All existing web applications can run perfectly on Chrome OS, and developers can also use different development languages to develop new web applications for them.
Of course, programs developed for Chrome OS can also run in various traditional browsers under Windows/Mac OSX/Linux platforms, which also builds a large enough user base for developers’ programs.
Like Android phones, most Chrome OS devices(E.G google android tablet) released in or after 2017 have access to the Google Play Store. This means that most of the apps you can download and run on your Android phone are also available on Chrome OS. However, keep in mind that not all of these apps are optimized for Chrome OS. You can use these in phone screen format, which takes up just a portion of the screen on a Chromebook.
Some newer Chromebooks also can run Linux apps, which further advances the operating system’s capabilities. This means Chrome OS can even run desktop-level programs, given they are available for Linux platforms.
What Difference between Chrome OS and Chrome browser?
Google’s Chrome browser allows you to access the web and works pretty much the same on all platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Android. Its rivals include browsers like Firefox, Opera, Microsoft Edge, and Brave, among many others. According to StatCounter, Chrome is currently the most popular browser globally, with a market share of around 65% (all platforms combined).
On the other hand, Chrome OS is an operating system that powers Chromebooks, just like Windows and macOS power other computers. It comes with the Google Chrome browser installed, which you can use to access the web. The OS is designed around simplicity, so there aren’t many extra features you get outside of just launching the Chrome browser and surfing the web.
Because of its simplicity, some refer to Chrome OS as nothing more than a glorified browser. While that may have been the case years back, it isn’t true anymore, mainly because of the support for Android apps, Linux software, and other offline functions like document editing.
Some advantages and disadvantages of Chrome OS
Advantages:
* Simple: Chrome OS is all about simplicity. The Chromebook operating system is so simple, even your grandma could use it. It also works fast and boots up in mere seconds.
* Cheap: Chrome OS is open-source and free to use. It’s designed for simple tasks like browsing the web and running Android apps, so it doesn’t need high-end hardware. For those reasons, Chrome OS devices are generally cheaper than their Windows/macOS counterparts, although there are a few expensive models on offer as well.
* Android app support: As already mentioned, Chromebooks released in the last few years all support Android apps, making them a lot more useful than they once were.
* Linux app support: In recent years, Google has added support for Linux applications. This means Chromebooks can now run desktop-level software, given that the Chromebook supports Linux apps and has enough power to run them.
* Secure: Because of its simplicity, Chrome OS is much more secure than Windows laptops, especially since most of what you’ll download will be from the Play Store. There are also frequent and automatic Chrome OS updates available and built-in virus protection.
* Cloud-based: Chrome OS is designed to be mostly cloud-based. You have all of Google’s services available, including Google Docs for creating documents, Drive for storing your files, and Photos for all your images. That means you can access all these files and documents on other devices with an internet connection, regardless of your location. You can also be sure that if your Chromebook gets lost, stolen, or damaged, you won’t lose your files.
* Weight: Chrome OS-powered devices generally don’t have large hard drives and other high-end specs, which means they are lighter than most other laptops — making them ideal for road warriors.
* Battery life: Since Chrome OS is a simple operating system and Chromebooks don’t need a lot of power, battery life is generally excellent.
Disadvantages:
* Software compatibility: We’ve already mentioned this, but we’ll say it again since it’s the biggest drawback of Chrome OS devices. You can’t use full versions of Photoshop, Microsoft Office, and many other programs on Chromebooks. That is unless the app is available for Linux, but many of these big apps aren’t. And if you’re sticking to mobile apps, chances are plenty of features will be stripped out.
* Not great for gaming: You can play games on Chromebooks, but you’re limited to the titles available in the Play Store. So you can’t play AAA games on Chrome OS devices, as they don’t support them. But even if they did, you wouldn’t be able to play many of them since Chromebooks are not powerful machines, to begin with. Keep in mind this is changing, though, as cloud gaming is becoming more common with services like Stadia taking on the market.
* Small storage space: Since they are cloud-based, the storage space you get on a Chromebook is generally a lot smaller than what you would expect on a Windows laptop. Instead of 500GB, expect around 64GB. This isn’t a huge drawback since you don’t need a lot of space, but it is worth mentioning nonetheless.
* Offline mode: Chrome OS devices work best when you have access to the internet. You can use them offline, but the experience isn’t always the best. Some apps won’t work at all, while others will have limited functionality in offline mode.
No.
Newer Chromebooks from 2017 and before likely can’t run either. And if you’re looking to get a Chromebook with Linux support, you’ll want an even newer model.
Yes.
But only the mobile versions are available on the Play Store or the web. They get the job done but aren’t as feature-packed as those you get on Windows machines.
