Should you use a Chromebook?

When netbooks came to the market in late 2007, users criticized their lower processing power, truncated keyboards and lack of software choices. But they’re making a comeback in a sleeker, simplified format.

That’s thanks to Google’s Chrome operating system, which has been preloaded onto small notebook computers offered by companies like Samsung and Acer. These Chromebooks thrive with lower processing power and boast at least 4.25 hours of battery life (some models up to 9 hours).

Here are more reasons to love these machines.

What they are

Chromebooks are portable computers designed for two uses: accessing the Internet and creating text and spreadsheet documents. They weigh only slightly more than tablets and have bigger screens. They also have fully functional (and often full-sized) keyboards. Plus, they’re affordable: I bought an Acer Chromebook with a 300GB hard drive for less than $200.

What they aren’t

They can’t run most conventional software, including Microsoft Office (though it can run the online-only version). Instead, users access document-creation apps via the Chrome browser and Google Drive (formerly Google Docs). These documents can later be downloaded or sent as conventional Office docs.

Most do not have large hard drives for storing files — many laptops start at 500GB, while some Chromebooks only have 16GB. That’s because you’re supposed to store documents in the cloud via Google Drive. Fortunately, my lifetime of documents, spreadsheets and PDFs take up less than 1GB of space.

All Chromebooks function best when connected to the Internet, leading some to dismiss them as online-only gadgets. But you can still create documents, compose emails, play music and view photos while offline.

Why they’re useful

With widespread wi-fi now common and more back-office services running through browsers, Chromebooks can easily function as main computers for small offices or entrepreneurs. They’re simple to use, update themselves automatically, are less susceptible to viruses, and come with a built-in network (Google Drive) that lets you operate without the hassle of a server.

My spouse, who is self-employed, uses the Chromebook to surf the web, make appointments, do bookkeeping and trade emails and documents with colleagues. She loves it and raves about how the Chromebook is handier and more useful than her laptop or iPad.