Let me clear this up from the start: I’m aware that iPads and Chromebooks are different devices in different categories, but as someone who uses an iPad for basic tasks, I began to wonder if a Chromebook — which costs half as much as an entry-level iPad Air — could serve me just as well and still leave me with money to spare.
When it comes to getting stuff done while away from my desk, the combination of iPad & keyboard has served me incredibly well until now. It’s a slim & lightweight device, there’s a ton of iPad-optimised apps available on iOS and plenty of third party keyboards to choose from for when you want to get extra productive. I’ve never really needed to look for an alternative solution.
As of late though, I’ve been questioning whether a cheaper Chromebook would be capable of replacing my iPad for the basic tasks that I need it for.
Chromebooks definitely don’t offer the rich app ecosystem available on iOS, nor do they offer the fantastic build quality we’ve come to expect from a manufacturer like Apple. What they do deliver, however, is a way to get basic stuff done at a very reasonable price — and that’s something valuable to a lot of people.
Chromebook vs iPad & Keyboard
For that reason, I recently took the plunge and picked up an Acer C720 Chromebook, and I intend on using it as a substitute for my iPad & keyboard combo. I essentially want to figure out whether a Chromebook will offer the best value for money, based on what I need it to do.
Typical use of my iPad would involve writing up content for Let’s Talk Tech, replying to emails, managing my social media and catching up on the latest tech news — it’s hardly intensive stuff. Frankly, they’re the kind of tasks that a Chromebook should handle comfortably, but I’m curious about the experience of it all.
Have You Used A Chromebook?
I’ll be Tweeting out my experience with the Chromebook, so be sure to follow me on Twitter to keep up with that. In the meantime though, I’d be really interested to hear what you guys have to say!
If you’ve tried a Chromebook already, was it able to replace a powerful tablet like the iPad? If you haven’t tried one before, what stops you from picking one up?
Let me know in the comments section below!
