RISE OF THE CHROMEBOOK

Are Chromebooks the revolution the laptop space needs or will Windows emerge triumphant? Christian Guyton explores

- Christian Guyton

CHROMEBOOKS—plucky little brother to the Windows laptop, typically trading performance for portability and ease of use. An affordable option for performing basic tasks such as word processing and web browsing.

While Chromebooks may be disparaged by tech-heads, they’ve come a long way since their introduction in 2011. Google describes today’s ChromeOS laptops as ‘speedy, simple and secure’, with virus protection built-in and effective cloud-based storage for files and user data.

So, how do modern Chromebooks compare to their Windows counterparts? We break down some of the best ChromeOS systems on the market right now— it’s about more than just performance, of course; value, ease of use, portability, and general hardware quality will all be factors. Will Chromebooks emerge victorious or should we stick to what we know best?

Asus Chromebook Flip CX5

DESPITE BEING A relatively high-end model, the Asus Chromebook Flip CX5’s $700 price tag puts it closer to the budget space, adrift in a market dominated by slick MacBooks and $1,000+ gaming laptops. The Flip CX5 needs to justify its price tag since it occupies that space between more powerful Windows laptops and more affordable Chromebooks.

Out of the box, it’s off to a strong start. While Chromebooks have been price-sensitive machines, a design ethos that all too frequently extends to the build quality of the external casing, the Flip CX5 feels premium. It’s the heaviest of the three Chromebooks on test here and the largest too. The blue-tinted exterior looks great, with shiny metal hinges that feel remarkably sturdy.