A few days ago, I received a message asking me what I thought the best Chromebook was to use in an educational setting. The 
question surprised me as I had never really given it much thought. I just assumed that if people were interested in buying Chromebooks for their school that they would shop around for the best price, write up a PO or start working on a grant, and buy what they needed.
I felt pretty silly not having given any more thought to the subject than that and wondered how awesomely I had just failed at being a trusted advisor that is supposed to know about all these gadgets that people are using in educational technology to enhance and revolutionize education.
After all, 1 in 5 US school districts are now using Chromebooks, so I decided it was time I stop slacking and start being helpful.
I do write this blog, don’t I? Shouldn’t I have a better grasp of the Chromebook subject than what I do now?
The answer to that question was overwhelmingly YES. I set about to quickly remedy that situation and put together a comprehensive review of the Chromebooks on the market currently and make a recommendation.
Here’s what you can expect to learn after you’ve read this article:
What exactly is a Chromebook?
Why would I want to use one in my classroom?
What are the similarities in the Chromebook models?
What are the differences in the Chromebook models?
How do I decide which one is right for me and my school?
Is there an overall “best” Chromebook for education?
Let’s start by defining exactly what a Chromebook is for anyone that might not be familiar with the term.
What Is A Chromebook?
A Chromebook is a new type of computer that operates a little differently than your traditional PC, Mac, or Linux computer. Rather than having programs installed on a hard drive (or the more modern solid state drive), everything you do on a Chromebook is done through a web browser. That web browser just happens to be Google Chrome, hence the name Chromebooks. You may already be using Google Chrome on your current computer, making the environment of a Chromebook very familiar.
You don’t install software on your Chromebook, you use apps that are based in the web. To put it in very, very simplistic terms, your Chromebook is an access system to thousands of web-based apps that will do just about anything any other computer can do now. However, they use a stripped down architecture since everything is accessed through the Internet and not from programs installed on the hard drive.
That’s a very basic overview of what a Chromebook is; enough to move on in this post. I’ll add another post that goes into greater detail on the specifics of a Chromebook.
Why Would I Want To Use One In My Classroom?
Again, I could go on for several pages on the possible uses of a Chromebook in a classroom, but I’ll do that in another post. Briefly, Chromebooks provide a low-cost option for schools that want to give their students access to technology that can be used to enhance their learning. Rather than spending $400 – $500 per laptop (which is on the low end of pricing), schools can spend around $250 per Chromebook and get a device that will open the doors of technology to their students.
Now, I’ll be the first to tell you that although Chromebooks are great, you have to remember what they are. They are a low-cost, low-power mobile device. No matter what the Google zealots may tell you, you cannot do the same things on a Chromebook that you can on a MacBook Pro or even a MacBook Air.
It’s just not going to happen.
But, there are still hundreds of uses for Chromebooks in your classroom. Let’s just be honest: Many schools are going to have a difficult time purchasing ONE classroom set of MacBooks let alone enough for the entire school ( which should be the topic of another post that will probably see me use some less-than-appropriate language ). It’s an rather large investment. Chromebooks give you a viable option for new technology spending that school boards are going to be more willing to accept.
Here’s just a few things you can do with a Chromebook in the classroom that I thought of right from the top of my head. Look for more detailed posts on each one of these topics to come as explorations over at TeachFlip.com.
Students can take assessments that you’ve created in Google Forms
Students can
Also, I’ve heard that the management of multiple Apple devices, be they iPads or MacBooks, is not necessarily an adventure that even the most qualified and experienced tech guru wants to undertake (Apple, let’s get back in the education game a bit, shall we? Google is kicking your you-know-what right now and that bothers me as a proper fanboy). Chromebooks, on the other hand, seem to be incredibly easy to manage. At least that’s what I’ve heard from those in-the-know.
What Are The Similarities In The Chromebook Models?
The first Chromebook models were built using older processors that, in my opinion, just weren’t up to snuff. The Chromebook architecture was basically the same as the might-as-well-be-a-paperweight Netbooks that for some reason became incredibly popular until everyone figured out that they were completely unusable for anything other than… well… ok, you couldn’t do anything with them.
However, Chromebooks had the advantage over netbooks in their operating system. Netbooks were trying to run one version or another of Windows (save a few models running Linux, but those never saw high adoption rates outside of the tech community) while Chromebooks run Google’s Chrome OS, which just happens to be a Linux-based system. What that means in normal language is this: Chrome OS requires much lower hardware requirements, meaning longer battery life and better performance on much, much cheaper hardware.
Thus, the magic sauce for feeding great, cheap, hardware to the masses was born. It wasn’t long before schools found out about these hot little devices and started buying them by the truckload to use in classrooms. Add in Google’s great Google Apps for Education (GAFE) program and their focus on creating Google Certified Teachers and trainers and you see why Chromebooks have come so far, so fast.
Apple Ed folks, I hope you’re reading this. We have a lot of ground to make up here. We’ve been resting on our laurels in education for far too long. I have some ideas, somebody contact me. Please.
No matter the Chromebook model you purchase, they all have these things in common:
All run Chrome OS
All have built-in Wi-Fi
All have great battery life
The differences are few, but they are important.
What Are The Differences In The Chromebook Models?
Basically, the differences in the Chromebook market, outside of design, are purely in the hardware. There are different levels of processor, RAM, and hard drive space. However, the only point I’ll make here is with RAM. Most of the workload of a Chromebook is done by servers on the Internet due to the fact that you’re always doing something inside of a web browser on your Chromebook. Most of the processing is done “in the cloud” and as such having a 1.4 Ghz processor or a 1.7 Ghz processor doesn’t make a lot of difference. However, RAM is still pretty important. My rule has always been that you can never have too much RAM. Get as much as you can afford. In the case of Chromebooks, that’s 4GB.
Of course, I’m going to take into account the overall design of the device as well. Right now, I’ve got to say the Toshiba is the best looking Chromebook out there, but that’s mostly because it looks like a Mac (can you tell I’m a little biased here?). I know that schools aren’t going to choose a Chromebook based on looks, but I would.
How do I decide which one is right for my school?
The best advice I can give you hear is to start the hunt for user reviews for the models you’re looking at. Ask around the education community and see what other’s experiences have been. What model do they have? What’s the service record? What kind of support are you going to get from wherever you choose to buy from?
These are all important questions that are, unfortunately, outside of the scope of this article. However, they are critical in your decision making process. It’s not just about getting the best deal for your Chromebooks, it’s about getting the best value. Too often, we purchase our computers without knowing or recognizing the difference.
Is there an overall “best” Chromebook for Education?
My personal choice for a Chromebook would be the newer Acer models using the newer Intel Celeron chips, like the Acer C720. I’d also recommend the Toshiba CB35-A3120 if you’re like me and need a bigger screen. Also, Samsung is soon to be releasing their Chromebook 2, which features their own processor rather than the Intel chip. No data on how this performs as of yet, but I’ll keep my eye out.
The nice thing about the Chromebook market is that all the models are very, very similar in quality and price. What’s really going to make the difference for you and your school is where you choose to buy from and the type of support you’ll receive after the purchase.
To help you explore some of what is available on the market, here is a chart comparing many of the current Chromebook models on the market.
Chromebook
Processor
Memory (RAM)
Hard Drive
Screen
Resolution
Graphics Card
Battery
Ports
Toshiba CB35 Chromebook (Newest Model – Jan 2014)
Dual-Core 1.4 GHz Processor
2GB DDR3 RAM
16GB SSD*
13.3″ LED
1366 x 768(HD)
Intel® HD Graphics
~9 Hours
HDMI, VGA Multi-Card Reader, Bluetooth 4.0, 2 USB 3.0, Audio in/out
Acer C720P Chromebook(Nov 2013)
Dual-Core 1.4 GHz Processor
2GB DDR3L RAM
16GB or 32GB SSD*
11.6″ LED
1366 x 768(HD) Touchscreen
Intel® HD Graphics
~8.5 Hours
HDMI, VGA Multi-Card Reader, Bluetooth 4.0, 1 USB 3.0/1 USB 2.0, Audio in/out
Acer C720P Chromebook(Nov 2013)
Dual-Core 1.4 GHz Processor
2GB DDR3L RAM
16GB or 32GB SSD*
11.6″ LED
1366 x 768(HD)
Intel® HD Graphics
~8.5 Hours
HDMI, VGA Multi-Card Reader, Bluetooth 4.0, 1 USB 3.0/1 USB 2.0, Audio in/out
HP Pavilion Chromebook 14-c010us Wi-Fi
(Feb 2013)
Dual-Core 1.10 GHz Processor
2GB DDR3 RAM
16GB SSD*
14″ LED
1366 x 768(HD)
Intel® HD Graphics
~4.15 Hours
Bluetooth, HDMI, Multi-Card Reader, 3 USB 2.0, Audio in/out
Acer C7 C710-2847 Chromebook Wi-Fi
Dual-Core 1.10 GHz Processor
2GB DDR3 RAM
320GB HD (5400RPM)
11.6″ LED
1366 x 768(HD)
Intel® HD Graphics
~4 Hours
HDMI, VGA Multi-Card Reader, 3 USB 2.0, Audio in/out
Samsung Chromebook Wi-Fi (Oct 2012)
Dual-Core 1.70GHz Processor
2GB DDR3L RAM
16GB SSD*
11.6″ LED
1366 x 768(HD)
Integrated Graphics
~6 Hours
HDMI, Multi-Card Reader, 2 USB (3.0/2.0), Audio in/out
Samsung Chromebook 3G (Oct 2012)
Dual-Core 1.70GHz Processor
2GB DDR3L RAM
16GB SSD*
11.6″ LED
1366 x 768(HD)
Integrated Graphics
~6 Hours
HDMI, Multi-Card Reader, 2 USB (3.0/2.0), Audio in/out
Samsung Series 5 550 Wi-Fi (June 2012)
Intel Dual-Core Celeron 867 Processor
4GB DDR3 RAM
16GB SSD*
12.1″ LED
1280 x 800(HD)
Intel® HD Graphics
~6 Hours
Digital DisplayPort, Multi-Card Reader, 2 USB, Audio in/out
Samsung Series 5 550 WiFi + 3G (June 2012)
Intel Dual-Core Celeron 867 Processor
4GB DDR3 RAM
16GB SSD*
12.1″ LED
1280 x 800(HD)
Intel® HD Graphics
~6 Hours
Digital DisplayPort, Multi-Card Reader, 2 USB, Audio in/out
Samsung Series 5 Wi-Fi
Intel Atom N570 Processor Dual-Core 1.66GHz
2GB DDR3 RAM
16GB SSD*
12.1″ LED
1280 x 800(HD)
Intel GMA 3150
~8.5 Hours
1 VGA, 2 USB, Combined Audio in/out
Samsung Series 5 3G
Intel Atom N570 Processor Dual-Core 1.66GHz
2GB DDR3 RAM
16GB SSD*
12.1″ LED
1280 x 800(HD)
Intel GMA 3150
~8.5 Hours
1 VGA, 2 USB, Combined Audio in/out
Related Posts
They Just Got 10,000 Chromebooks – I Can’t Wait To See What Happens Next
Switching to a Chromebook? Here’s Everything You Need to Know
Dell Announces Chromebook 11 Targeting Education Market – Coming In January
4 Apps for Chrome OS That Let Student Creativity Flow
Screencasting Comes To Your Chromebook – Somewhere, A GCT Dances a Jig
Toshiba’s New Chromebook is Bigger and Better Looking Than All The Rest