3 Reasons Why Chromebooks Are the Spiritual Successor to Netbooks

Apr 27, 2024

Many people consider netbooks a thing of the past, but they're still with us in the form of Chromebooks.

You may remember netbooks, cheap small-footprint laptops designed for surfing the web. While mobile devices have mostly replaced netbooks, Chromebooks might be the spiritual successor to the netbooks of the late '00s, and here are some reasons why.

In the 2000s, laptop computers were becoming more popular due to the spread of Wi-Fi, but they could be expensive and complicated. They also tended to be fairly bulky for portable devices.

PC manufacturers saw a gap in the market and filled it with smaller, lower-powered devices, or at least what passed for mobile in the late 2000s. The major manufacturers like Dell, ASUS, HP, and others came out with netbooks. Many of the early models ran Linux but later switched to Windows XP as it was more familiar to the general public.

Manufacturers limited the specs of netbooks to preserve sales of higher-performance laptops. They were finally done in by the emergence of smartphones and tablets, especially the iPad, that offered on-the-go internet usage in smaller, thinner, lighter form factors that could slip into a pocket or book bag.

At the same time, thin and light "ultrabooks" like Apple's MacBook Air and Dell XPS series emerged at the high end that offered powerful performance in a smaller package.

The YouTube channel 91Tech has more info on what netbooks were and why they ultimately failed in the marketplace:

Despite the popularity of mobile devices, Chromebooks have staked out a niche in the computer market that netbooks once held. There are several reasons that they might be the second coming of netbooks.

Chromebooks run the gamut from very cheap to flagship models. Still, the vast majority of Chromebooks on the market tend toward the lower end of the market.

You can buy basic models for under $300, and models with more RAM and touchscreens can be had for under $500.

One aspect of netbooks that has survived in modern Chromebooks is their orientation toward the internet. For such an internet-focused company like Google, that's not surprising.

While it's possible to install local apps, most work with the machine is done using web apps like Google Docs or Microsoft 365. This is also why Chromebooks tend to have paltry local storage. Chromebooks are well-integrated with Google Drive, and the company hopes you'll use that to store your files (and pay for extra storage if necessary).

The downside to this arrangement is that you'll need a reliable internet connection. Fortunately, there are ways around this. Some web apps, like Google Docs, let you save offline copies of your work in case you lose connectivity.

A primarily web-based machine is more feasible today than in the '00s, with the ubiquitous deployment of cellular and Wi-Fi networks.

If you work primarily with web-based apps, Chromebooks are well worth a look if you're in the market for a laptop.

While Chromebooks are designed with the assumption that you'll use them with web-based apps, there are some reasons you might prefer local apps instead.

Local apps can work even if the network connection doesn't. And you might want more control over your data than if you were working across the web. Streaming services like Netflix and Spotify allow you to download content for offline use using apps, which you can't do with their websites.

Some categories, like games, have fewer options available on the web.

There are two solutions for local apps. The simplest is Android. Almost all Chromebooks sold today have the option to install Android apps from the Google Play store. Many of the most popular apps are available for Chromebooks.

The downside for Android games is that many of them are designed to work with a touchscreen, and they may not have keyboard or mouse controls. If your Chromebook does have a touchscreen, you can play these games as you would on an Android tablet.

If you're a developer or power user, you can also install a full Debian Linux environment. It's simpler to set up than a Linux desktop by itself and gives you access to an even broader array of programs than web apps and Android.

If you need to do more demanding work like photo or video editing, you'll probably be better off with a Mac or Windows machine, as the available software is much better than what you can get on a Chromebook.

Due to their cheapness, simplicity, and being designed for internet use while still being able to run full-fledged apps, Chromebooks are a viable alternative to smartphones and tablets for more extensive web-based work.

For these reasons, they can be seen as a replacement for the netbooks of the late 2000s. With their affordability, simplicity, and security, it's easy to see why Chromebooks have given Windows laptops serious competition.

David is a freelance writer based in the Pacific Northwest, but originally hailing from the Bay Area. A journalist by training, he discovered the power of Unix-like operating systems and the command-line interface while learning how to edit video on macOS. He has been using Linux regularly in some form since 2006. David has been able to combine his passion for computing and writing in his career as a freelance writer. His writing has appeared in Techopedia, TMCnet, and the Motley Fool blog network. David holds a B.A. in communication from California State University, East Bay.