When most hear of laptops powered by Chrome OS, most simply look somewhere else, and for good reason. Often tied with low end parts, Chromebooks can’t handle tasks like gaming. Yet that’s where the value of the HP Chromebook shines. No frills, no nonsense, the HP Chromebook focuses on productivity and productivity only. While this may bring it down in some areas, such as low storage and a bizarre reliance on online connectivity, the Chromebook’s screen, keyboard and low price point make it perfect for a portable coding computer, making it a great selection in our list for Best Ubuntu Laptop and the best laptop. Take a look at this laptop if you want one of the best laptop in the market.
Why We Like It – HP Chromebook
The HP Chromebook is simple and straight to the point. With a fair battery life, rest assured that the Chromebook is reliable as long as there is an internet connection.
- Screen is nice and bright
- Keyboard is surprisingly comfortable
- Low price point
- Low storage
- Relies too much on online connectivity
Power/Performance
Coming in with a Intel Celeron N3060, the Chromebook doesn’t come with an Intel Core i5 or even a Core i3. Yet the HP Chromebook still manages to provide a full HD picture. Still something to get used to with the HP Chromebook is predominantly using the Google Play Store to download android apps. Your performance may vary, depending on your internet connection. To the Chromebook’s detriment, there’s not much storage, instead relying on online storage to keep the Chromebook going. For those who wish not to rely on online services, the Lenovo Thinkpad T580 offers a reliable offline storage solution the Chromebook lacks: a hard drive.
Battery
Running on low end parts, a three cell battery can power the HP Chromebook for a surprisingly long amount of time. Granted the components of the Chromebook couldn’t handle demanding tasks, but that’s the beauty of it. Perfect for coding sessions, HP’s Chromebook can be reliable and long lasting, up to 12 hours according to HP, rivaling the Dell XPS 13 9370 in terms of longevity.
Ports/Expandability
The HP Chromebook comes equipped with an SD card slot, security lock slot, two USB ports, a combo headphone/mic jack, and an HDMI port. The selection is to be expected from a $200 dollar laptop, at the very least there’s an SD card slot so there is an option to expand offline memory, a factor that seems to not be if, but when with only 16GB in storage. If you’re looking for a better port selection, the Acer Aspire E 15 has you covered.
Build Quality
Surprisingly, the HP Chromebook feels quite rugged, durable enough to withstand drops and the occasional accident. Additionally, the keyboard provided feels quite nice, especially for long coding sessions or for the paper that’s due in one hour. No matter how long or how fast you type, the HP Chromebook provides a comfortable typing experience.
See Also: Be sure to also check out the HP 17.3 Laptop review for a larger laptop display.
Value
For $200 the HP Chromebook surprises and finds value in unexpected places. While it certainly won’t run modern triple A games, it can help you through the day, whether it is academic or work wise.
HP Chromebook Wrap Up
Focused on the essentials, the HP Chromebook knows what it’s capable of, and focuses on getting the job done. With a surprisingly bright screen, comfortable keyboard, and low price point, it justifies the issues with storage and online services. Should you need a cheap, reliable and portable laptop, the HP Chromebook may be the best choice for you.
