According to StatCounter, the Chrome Web Browser is approaching a 60% adoption rate over IE, Firefox, Safari, and others. Chromebooks take the familiarity of the world’s most popular web browser (Chrome) and pairs it with Google’s 100% Web-Based application suite (Google Apps for Work). So with such popularity, why are some still on the fence about adopting to Chromebooks? Let’s take a look at some advantages and disadvantages of Chrome devices.
It only takes 6 seconds to boot up a Chrome Device. That’s impressive. Further, if you depend on video conferencing and virtualization, these devices are a perfect fit. Unlike many devices that get long in the tooth after you unwrap it, Chrome offers automatic upgrades so you’re always performing on the latest version. For more info, click here.
If you’re using Google Apps -and you should if you’re using a Chromebook, be sure to follows Google’s Security Best Practices. Additionally, Chrome devices provide automatic updates, virus protection, sandboxing, encryption, verified boot and safe browsing that allow users to safely access the tools and data they need from anywhere. For more info, click here.
Through the Chrome Management Console, IT admins can assign devices and pull usage reports, pre-install and block applications, apply policies and group settings, set network and proxy settings, and even modify bookmarks and synchronization.
Take a look here. Chromebooks can cost as low as $299 per device. Google has an extensive report on the economic value of Chromebooks. Although this document is designed for Educational Institutions, the cost comparison data is relevant to comparing Chrome devices to commonly purchased machines. The bottom line is they’re super cheap and can save any organization a lot of money.
Here’s a daily breakdown of what I do on my Chromebook at Work:
Don’t get me wrong, I love my Chrome devices. I have a first generation Pixel and a Samsung Chromebox. The Pixel is hands down my most reliable work machine. It’s practically flawless for most of my work.
Yes. I still find myself going back to my MacBook. What this tells me is the source of the problem is having the option to switch back to a PC/ Mac. If I didn’t have another device at my fingertips, I could absolutely get the job done with solely a Chromebook. That being said, a Chrome deployment to specific departments who fit the mold could provide substantial cost savings and security advantages.
You’re kind of out of luck. Simply put, these tools cannot be installed on the device so don’t go in thinking they can. That being said, there’s plenty of comparable replacement applications out there.
Office 365 on a Chromebook Pixel 3/30/16
Google says yes, but to print with a Chromebook, you need to use Google Cloud Print. It works fine with local machine, but go in expecting to troubleshoot a bit if your team shares a network printer.
I was hoping this would be solved by now but it hasn’t. If you’re holding a meeting or training and using GoToWebinar, you’re going to need a Mac or PC. (Note: You can attend a webinar on a Chromebook.) It’s worth pointing out that Hangouts no longer requires a Google account to participate which changes the landscape of a private video conference call with screen sharing. Still though, you can’t record the session unless it’s a Hangout on Air which is public facing (i.e. No dice). Also, if you plan to share videos, don’t expect a pleasurable experience. This is a common issue for any conferencing tool and our solution will likely be a separate post.
Zoom will work! Check out their blog post on all of this. You can host and do everything you want from the Zoom app on Chrome OS. Great stuff! Want more info on Zoom? Check out our post on how to unSuck the video conference experience!
These devices are excellent for the right department. For example, Sales, Administrative, HR, Marketing, and other departments that rely on web based applications are a shoe in for Chrome.
However, if your job requires specific locally installed software, stick to the PC/ Mac for now.
Think about the documents and resources that employees access on a daily basis, then place these at the forefront of your operations site. Our free guide covers how documents, calendars, and more can easily be embedded within a Google Site to create a useful dashboard that employees will reference on a daily basis.
