

It has an interface that shows an entirely different OS that you can use. The Chrome Remote Desktop is an extension of Google Chrome that simply allows you to access another desktop while using your Chrome browser just like a virtual machine.

Luckily, there are workarounds to use Windows desktop programs on a Chromebook: either running them remotely, through Android, through developer mode or running them on your Chromebook itself. You can avoid Windows junk applications but you also can’t install Adobe Photoshop, the full version of MS Office, or other Windows desktop applications. Google has been updating its Chrome OS with new features since its release but it’s nowhere near to Windows, Mac or even some Linux distributions.Ĭhromebooks don’t run Windows software, normally which can be the best and worst thing about them. Since late 2017, all released Chromebooks can also run Android apps from the PlayStore. As a result, Chrome OS supports web applications mostly data residing in the cloud rather than on the system itself. It is based on free software Chromium OS and uses the Google Chrome web browser as its main user interface. Chrome OS is designed by Google and based on the Linux kernel operating system. For more examples of software alternatives, review our lesson on Migrating to a Chromebook.A Chromebook is a laptop or tablet running the Chrome OS as its operating system. If you're struggling to work without Windows software like Microsoft Office and Adobe Photoshop, remember that there are free alternatives to these types of software, including Google Docs, Office Online, and Pixlr, which are compatible with Chromebooks. Google has also created some excellent how-to guides for new users, and they're really helpful when you're just getting started: We'll talk more about the interface in our Getting to Know the Chromebook Interface lesson. While a Chromebook isn't all that different from a regular computer, it may take some time to become familiar with the interface. If you're not sure whether a Chromebook is right for you, you can review some of the pros and cons in our lesson on Choosing Between a Chromebook and a Laptop. If you're buying it online, we recommend the online stores below:

If you're buying a Chromebook in person, we recommend major retailers like Target and Best Buy. There are several Chromebook models, many of which cost between $200 and $300.
