2020 was a terrible year for many important things that I do not need to remind you of. But I think it’s been a great year for Chromebooks. For example, we have seen more high options from companies that are not named Google. We have seen that the middle choices have lower prices, even before sales. And we’ve seen a tablet show the potential of the form factor that has not had a horrible launch like the Pixel Slate. So it’s hard to pick my personal Chromebook of the year.
And there were a lot of participants. My own choices ranged from the $ 279 Lenovo Duet Chromebook to the $ 629 Acer Chromebook Spin 713, with the $ 409 Lenovo Flex 5 Chromebook plugged in between the two from a price perspective.
You all had thoughts too. When I asked what you would recommend for 2020 Chromebook of the year, I got a number of comments.
Here are a few, with others happy to use older devices, and agree with one of my three best contestants and even my choice from 2019, the Pixelbook Go (though it does not qualify for this year’s selection):
If you want premium, I really like the Asus Chromebook Flip 436FA. The i3 feels just as fast as the i5 Acer Chromebook Spin 13, and the screen somehow feels slightly larger. The 128 GB PCIe SSD can help you deliver the extra performance. The fingerprint sensor, keys with a light, a large glass touchpad and a USI stylus are very nice to use every day. The separation of the four speakers sounds wonderful. I often work an eight-hour day and only work on the battery. It is also very pleasing to the eyes, with the lid open or closed.
Cajun Moses
My new Acer Chromebook 715 with its full keyboard, number pad and touch screen is my ideal computer. Those who are familiar with Chromebook already know the amazing capability compared to Windows 10 computers. During Black Friday sales, I was able to buy for less than $ 300, including shipping and 7% tax.
Phil
Clearly, anyone can sue on the Chromebook they selected is the best. And it’s probably … for them. So, as I said last year with my 2019 choice, this is not about the ‘best’ Chromebook. We all have different budgets, usage cases, preferences and requirements, so there is no “best” Chromebook for everyone.
That said, my choice for the 2020 Chromebook is the Lenovo Duet Chromebook.
This is not a device I use regularly. I checked it out and mostly came across it positively, and I take it out every now and then. Because of what I do on a Chromebook, it really does not meet my daily needs.
Yes, I can use it and have used it for general purpose, email, video consumption and writing blog posts. But I also write code daily, so I need something with more horsepower and a bigger screen, or at least, better big screen support. I also need strong Linux performance for some of my coding projects.
When I look at what Lenovo offered at $ 279 or $ 299, depending on the configuration, I have to admit that it’s an incredible value. You get a high-resolution touchscreen tablet with embedded keyboard and standard. Honestly, the Lenovo Duet Chromebook is a small workhorse for less than $ 300. And you can often get it for sale. Today, Best Buy has the 128 GB configuration for $ 249, which is a $ 50 saving.
Lenovo and MediaTek (which made the processor) should be praised because they offer so much value for such a low price.
This is how I see it: there are still hundreds of millions of daily computer users who have not yet taken a chance on Chrome OS. In many cases, people may have a specific need that a Chromebook cannot meet. I understand that. For many others in this group, however, they just did not try Chrome OS.
For a low access cost, this audience can take advantage of Chrome OS on a Lenovo Chromebook Duet. And they do not have to worry about spending $ 400, $ 800 or even more to take the chance. Simply put, I think the Lenovo Chromebook Duet is an excellent bridge between alternative computer choices and Chrome OS. Not to mention, many current Chromebook users have picked one up for a secondary device.
No, the Lenovo Chromebook Duet is not the fastest option, but it’s fast enough for regular internet and Android applications. And it supports external monitors for use on a desktop or office. Plus, you can use it with a digital ink stylus.
It’s enough to move people outside the Chromebook camp to the ‘hey, this is not bad’. And once they’s there, they can explore other options that could be faster, offer larger screens, or offer other features and functions they did not know Chromebooks and Chrome OS even had. I am thinking of fingerprint sensors, multiple virtual desktops and good Linux performance.
I really expected the Pixel Slate to do this in 2018, but it was not intended. For starters, the device has a much higher price point, albeit with good reason: the internal hardware is much better and the screen is larger and has a higher resolution than the Lenovo Duet Chromebook.
Design choices, such as the keyboard addition on the lap and the base model with a bad Intel Celeron chip, did not help. Nor the weight or condition of Chrome OS at the time, which does not match the actual hardware. It was eventually repaired, but the damage was done. So the Pixel Slate simply did not have a chance to appeal to new Chromebook owners on a widespread basis.
By comparison, the Lenovo Duet has had excellent software support from day one, includes useful accessories for a complete home or on-the-go computer package and can be easily taken anywhere. It is a fantastic little device for an excellent price and has shown that even a cheap Chromebook can keep many people productive and happy with Chrome OS. This is not a ‘perfect’ Chromebook; that unicorn does not exist. But for the price you get a lot of money.
Obviously, my opinion is simply the same: my opinion. If you had to choose the Chromebook of the year 2020, which might not be the Chromebook you would use yourself, what would it be and why?