There's no denying that a laptop 30is the perfect vicinity to deal with a heavy productiveness session. That stated, regardless of how limited a touchpad and tiny show might be, as a minimum the usual laptop gives full software program functionality. So, what are the chances that a reasonably-priced Chromebook could suffice as a workhorse?

The idea of having work carried out from a Chromebook regarded unlikely whilst my editor first requested me approximately reviewing one. Much to my wonder, a browser-based totally working gadget isn't as boxed in as I thought it would be, even as $200 really worth of hardware is not as underwhelming as I anticipated for ordinary overall performance.

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For our experiment, we picked Asus' Chromebook C202SA based totally on several factors, but particularly two of them: rate and ruggedness.

Asus Chromebook C202SA-YS02 ($two hundred, 2.65lbs, eleven.6 x zero.nine x 7.9in)

  • 11.6" 1366x768 matte anti-glare display
  • Dual-middle Celeron N3060 (Braswell, 2MB cache, up to two.48GHz)
  • Intel HD Graphics four hundred (12 execution gadgets, 320MHz base, 600MHz increase)
  • 4GB DDR3L-1600 SDRAM, soldered
  • 16GB EMMC flash storage, additionally soldered, no optical drive
  • SD/SDHC/SDXC reader, USB 3.0 ports, HDMI-out
  • 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, WiDi
  • Combo audio jack, HD webcam, stereo speakers, mic, mild sensor
  • Two-cell 38Whr battery that lasts 10+ hours (12 hours isn't unrealistic)
  • Reinforced rubber guards, smooth grip points, and a spill resistant keyboard
  • Runs Chrome OS but can open/edit Microsoft Office files many methods

Software

The most obvious shortcoming associated with Chrome OS is that you're confined to Google's Chrome browser and its environment for the majority of your enjoy, however this is not as lousy because it sounds for everyday use given how focused computing is around net services today. If nothing else, Chrome OS is a good suit for low-cease hardware along with the Celeron in Asus' C202SA, resulting in a quick gadget that boots in seconds and wakes from sleep instantly.

Assuming you can live within the obstacles provided through Chrome OS, the biggest barrier to entry is having to relearn navigation habits. For instance, clicking the time and date within the machine tray on Windows opens a small interactive calendar, even as on Chrome OS it brings you to the machine settings without a calendar in sight. Context menus are opened with a two-fingered contact on Chromebooks rather than the use of a right click button, or even small habits like glancing down at your immediate messenger in the Windows taskbar is distinctive -- now it's in a Chrome tab.

Fortunately, the examples do not get much more damning than that. Overall, workflow becomes fast after a destroy-in length that need to be quite quick for the common consumer because once more, most of what you're doing is in the equal window (Chrome), that you're in all likelihood already acquainted with navigating.

It additionally enables that shortcuts consisting of Ctrl+W to shut tabs in-browser also work in applications that open outside of Chrome inclusive of the document explorer and media player, and that the bottom right menus do a very good job of presenting short get right of entry to to most of the features immediately to be had to you on Chrome OS: the capability to sign out or close down, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth configurations, app notifications, volume controls, date, time, battery percent, settings launcher, and so forth.

Marketed closer to college students, the C202SA is cause built for word processing on a budget and there are plenty of alternatives for engaging in this. Google Docs is capable enough on this class, and the Offline Editing extension makes it easy to open Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint files via dragging them into Chrome. It's hardly ever your only choice although with all the writing and notetaking applications in Google's Play shop, not to say the loose on line model of Microsoft Office, which helps all the aforementioned document kinds in addition to OneNote.

Given that word processing is this system's strongest in shape, it is unlikely that you'll be shopping for it with amusement in mind. However, there is plenty enough horsepower for video playback and YouTube down load services consisting of KeepVid make it easy to store content material on an SD card for offline viewing. Audio and video files (.3gp, .Avi, .Mov, .Mp4, .M4v, .M4a, .Mp3, .Mkv, .Ogv, .Ogm, .Ogg, .Oga, .Webm, .Wav) are opened in a media player outdoor of Chrome with primary controls such as a progress ticker, a play/pause button, volume slider, and no longer much else.

Tip: “YouTubeto” stuck our eye as a in particular easy solution that helps you to down load YouTube content by including “to” to the URL of the video you're watching. This works for downloading playlists and channels as properly, although you may should pay for a $10/yr subscription (maximum of these services lock playlist downloads in the back of a paywall -- KeepVid Pro as an instance is $20/yr).

The Celeron N3060 and its integrated pictures engine also can take care of some gaming, although it makes sense to shop for a device with more performance in case you intend to play absolutely fledged PC games. Crysis is honestly off limits in this Chromebook, however it is clean to forget about all of the old flash/HTML5 favorites like Tetris and Slime Volley, not to mention the games that may be set up from the Play shop, which include a drag and drop emulator (GPemu) which could run NES, SNES, Gameboy and Gameboy Advance ROMs.

More video games on the web: Kongregate - Y8 - Miniclip - Newgrounds - Addicting Games - Armor Games

When we reviewed the Celeron N3050, a Braswell chip this is 320MHz slower than the N3060 within the C202SA, its spotlight for gaming benchmarks become 19.5fps in Tomb Raider on low first-class/DX11, which isn't good enough for extreme classes, but it demonstrates some potential. It would not be sudden if this system ought to take care of some of the titles in our community's listing of exceptional video games that do not need first rate hardware to run, despite the fact that you would probably need to get Linux going first, which might also offer access to the whole Steam client along with its one hundred+ Steam OS + Linux-well matched titles.

Granted, maximum may not run in this device, however some will, in particular if you're willing to regulate them to run with even decrease specification than the menu settings allow (LowSpecGamer on YouTube is a splendid aid for this).

If you propose to install Linux, check for compatibility earlier than purchasing your machine and aim for as a great deal inner storage as possible when you purchase your Chromebook. Based on my stories I'll be following as much as this article in some weeks detailing a way to deploy Linux on a Chromebook.

You have many options on this realm depending on how completely you need Linux on the system: a general Live USB power/SD card set up jogging outside Chrome OS, a distro jogging on top of Chrome OS through Crouton on the same internal SSD, a Crouton-based totally set up placed some other place (a USB pressure or SD card), twin booting Linux and Chrome OS (likely calls for a firmware mod), or flat out overwriting your Chrome OS install in desire of Linux.

Your mileage will vary depending on the Chromebook, distro and set up method, but GalliumOS is a secure gamble thinking about it's designed for Chrome OS gadgets. We additionally had achievement strolling Ubuntu (Trusty with the LXDE interface) thru Crouton on a USB power. If you're not skilled with Linux, configuring any such may require a few trial and error, however tinkering is rattling close to endorsed with how quick the Chromebook loads into developer mode and reformats back to everyday mode.

We're talking a few minutes for a complete wipe and reinstall of Chrome OS, plus it is nearly totally computerized and your settings are remembered while you log into your Google account. Experimenting with Linux is pretty low hazard given the ones occasions because it's clean to wipe everything and go back to Chrome OS.

Tip: If you dual-boot Chrome OS and Linux and want to reclaim the latter partition, reinstalling Chrome OS with a recovery force will robotically delete and merge all partitions. Although enabling/disabling developer mode plays a powerwash, this does not seem to the touch different partitions. You can create a Chrome OS recuperation force with the Chromebook Recovery Utility extension, which can run from your Chromebook or Chrome browser on some other machine.

Again although, web offerings are ample enough that installing Linux might also prove to be unnecessary:

Word processing (except Google Docs) - Microsoft Word Online - Dropbox Paper - Zoho Docs - OnlyOffice

Image editing - Fotor - Pixlr - Photoshop Express Editor - Sumo Paint - Polarr

Instant messaging - All-in-One Messenger - WhatsChrome - Signal - Plus.iM - Steam 

Torrenting - Bitford (free, barest of bones) - JSTorrent ($2.ninety nine, closer to a full customer) - Bitport.io - Put.io

Tip: JSTorrent may be pointed to a custom download folder for your Google Drive and many Chromebooks are eligible for 100GB of garage for 2 years. Playback from the cloud changed into easy during trying out and Google even has a page approximately the situation.

Alternate browsers - You're stuck with Chrome unless you install Linux or Android apps.

If you're an Android consumer, you could discover your self wishing that services such as Google Music functioned in addition to their Android apps. Google Music on Android for example helps you to keep song offline and autocaches some thing you're paying attention to so it continues playing for some time between connections whereas those capabilities don't exist on the browser version.

Fortunately, Google has started rolling out aid for Android on a few Chromebooks. Certain structures have the capacity to use Android apps at the stable release of Chrome OS, others require you to put in Chrome OS beta -- as is the case with the C202SA -- even as many Chromebooks have yet to get hold of Android aid in any respect.

Likewise, availability for Android apps seems to be constrained in the interim, with apps together with Firefox showing a message that this device isn't always like minded. That stated, the Android apps which are to be had to be mounted characteristic largely as anticipated (Google Music helps you to shop an album offline and so forth.).

There's not plenty extra to cover at the software side of things, which once more, is usually constituted of the Chrome browser you are likely already familiar with, including your synced records, bookmarks, extensions and so on.

Also of be aware, caps lock is a "search" key through default that opens the Chrome OS app launcher which includes a Google search bar. This isn't always absolutely vain however you may change this key to function as caps lock or a handful of other keys from Chrome's settings. I suppose a higher use for this key could be to have it robotically seek Google for something text is chosen (example: you highlight a phrase, hit the search key, and it opens a Chrome tab with those Google consequences).

Touchpad - The hardware is slightly recessed and feels slick to touch while the inventory cursor speed is suitable (these settings are often too sluggish on new notebooks). The whole touchpad can be pressed or tapped to perform a unmarried click at the same time as proper click for context menus requires a two-fingered contact or you can single contact even as preserving the alt key.

Ruggedness - Asus' advertising information says the C202SA is water resistant thanks in element to a mylar-coated plate under the keyboard that allows prevent liquid from spilling immediately via to the motherboard. The device can also face up to drops of up to a few.nine toes and have to preserve up towards long periods of physical stress. All four outside edges and corners of the C202SA are covered the use of reinforced nano-molding.

Overall, the device feels durable with little to no body flex and massive rubber toes on the lowest should help save you any slip-ups. The machine wasn't placed thru any torture exams however it did endure a pair months inside the pc compartment of a heavy backpack. Only one trouble has supplied itself: the show and body contact every different when packed, which has resulted in a few beauty wear on both halves (clearly visible in this photograph beside left shift and control on the bezel).

Although we didn't have any plans to test the C202SA's water resistance, it became by accident submerged inside the water for a 2nd or two at the same time as asleep. After being pulled out, the energy indicator persevered blinking white (everyday) so we opened the device and it loaded up like regular. However, the water subsequently seeped in to a degree wherein the device have become inoperable and the battery indicator displayed a static pink light. Surprisingly, after commencing the Chromebook and letting a fan dry the motherboard for 10-15 minutes, it powered lower back on before even being reassembled.

Repairability - iFixit has rated this machine with a repairability score of nine out of 10, praising its modular internal layout, which should make lifestyles clean inside the event that something receives broken. Disassembly includes getting rid of round a dozen screws on the bottom, after which you may pry the top bezel off (along with the keyboard and touchpad) to reveal the innards. Asus advertises that the system is designed to be dismantled in minutes and iFixit notes that the process includes not anything however #1 and #00 Phillips screws -- no proprietary elements or adhesives.

We did not perform a complete teardown to dry the whole lot out, but it changed into extremely smooth to get by means of that first set of screws and expose the internal.

Griminess - The C202SA is lightly coloured however it has a tendency not to attract fingerprints or cling to particles and it is decent at hiding some thing filth it does accumulate, at least partly due to its dimpled rubber outside which creates speckled shadows throughout the floor. This cloth is also easy to grip, which makes it that a great deal smarter of a layout preference for more youthful users.

Pros & Cons

Pros: Great value, rugged layout, easy to use / restore, daylight-pleasant display, nicely-optimized keyboard, top connectivity / expandability, exceptional battery existence.

Cons: A Chrome OS / Celeron-based totally machine has its apparent quirks and limits. Changing navigation conduct is a hassle. We wish the storage wasn't soldered.