2020 was a terrible year for many important things that I don’t need to remember. But I think it was a great year for Chromebooks. We saw more sophisticated options from companies not called Google, for example. We saw mid-range options having lower prices, even before sales. And we saw a tablet computer show the potential of the form factor that didn’t have a horrible launch like the Pixel Slate did. So it’s hard to choose my personal Chromebook of the year.
And there were many candidates. My own choices ranged from $ 279 Lenovo Duet Chromebook to $ 629 Acer Chromebook Spin 713, with the $ 409 Lenovo Flex 5 Chromebook between the two from a price perspective.
You all had thoughts too. When I asked you what you would recommend for the 2020 Chromebook, I received several comments.
Here are a few, with others happy to use older devices, agreeing with one of my top three candidates and even my choice of 2019, the Pixelbook Go (although it doesn’t qualify for this year’s choice):
If you want premium, I really like the Asus Chromebook Flip 436FA. The i3 looks as fast as the Acer i5 Chromebook Spin 13, and its screen somehow looks a little bigger. The 128 GB PCIe SSD can help add an extra touch of performance. The fingerprint sensor, the backlit keys, the large glass touchpad and the USI pen are very good for everyday use. The separation of the quad speakers looks great. I usually work eight hours a day with it running on battery only. It also pleases the eyes, with the lid open or closed.
Cajun Moses
My new Acer Chromebook 715 with full keyboard, including the numeric keypad and touchscreen, is my ideal computer. Anyone familiar with the Chromebook already knows the incredible capacity compared to computers running Windows 10. During Black Friday sales, I was able to buy for less than $ 300, including shipping and 7% sales tax.
Phil
Obviously, anyone can argue that the Chromebook they chose is the best. And it probably is … for them. As I said last year with my choice of 2019, this is not the “best” Chromebook. We all have different budgets, use cases, preferences and requirements, so there’s no “best” Chromebook for everyone.
That said, my choice for the Chromebook 2020 of the year is the Lenovo Duet Chromebook.
Well, this is not a device that I use often. I reviewed it, looking quite positive about it, and I take it out every now and then. Because of what I do on a Chromebook, it doesn’t really meet my daily needs.
Yes, I can, and have, used it for general purposes of browsing, emailing, consuming video streaming and writing blog posts. But I also write code daily, so I need something with more power and a bigger screen, or at least, better support for big screens. I also need a good Linux performance for some of my coding projects.
Still, when I see what Lenovo delivered at a price of $ 279 or $ 299, depending on the configuration, I have to admit it is an incredible value. You are getting a high resolution touchscreen tablet with keyboard and support included. Frankly, the Lenovo Duet Chromebook is a small workhorse for less than $ 300. And you can often find it on sale. As of today, Best Buy has a 128 GB configuration for $ 249, a savings of $ 50.
Lenovo and MediaTek (which made the processor) are to be commended for offering so much value for such a low price.
That’s how I see it: there are still hundreds of millions of daily computer users who haven’t yet risked Chrome OS. In many cases, people may have a specific need that a Chromebook cannot meet. Got it. For many others in this group, however, they simply haven’t tried Chrome OS.
For a low cost of entry, this audience can take the chance of Chrome OS on a Lenovo Chromebook Duet. And they don’t have to worry about spending $ 400, $ 800 or even more to get that chance. Simply put, I think the Lenovo Chromebook Duet is a great bridge between alternative computing options and Chrome OS. Not to mention that many current Chromebook users have chosen one for a secondary device.
No, the Lenovo Chromebook Duet is not the fastest option, but it is fast enough for the typical use of web and Android applications. And it supports external monitors for use at a desk or in the office. In addition, you can use it with a digital ink pen.
This is enough to get people outside the Chromebook camp to the “hey, this is not bad” crowd. And once there, they can explore other options that may be faster, offer bigger screens, or provide some other features and functions that they didn’t even know Chromebooks and Chrome OS had. I’m thinking about fingerprint sensors, multiple virtual desktops and solid Linux performance.
I really expected Pixel Slate to do that in 2018, but it wasn’t meant to be. This device had a much higher price to start with, although for good reason: the internal hardware is much more capable and the screen is bigger and has a higher resolution than the Lenovo Duet Chromebook.
Design options such as the flexible keyboard add-on and the base model with a low-performance Intel Celeron chip did not help. Neither the weight or the state of Chrome OS at the time, which was not up to the real hardware. This was eventually fixed, but the damage was done. Therefore, Pixel Slate simply didn’t have a chance to attract new Chromebook owners widespread at launch.
In comparison, the Lenovo Duet has had great software support from day one, includes useful accessories for a complete computing package at home or on the go, and can be easily taken anywhere. It’s a fantastic little device at a great price and has shown that even a low-cost Chromebook can keep many people productive and happy using Chrome OS. It’s not a “perfect” Chromebook; that unicorn doesn’t exist. But for the price, you’re getting a ton of money for money.
Obviously, my opinion is simply that: my opinion. If you had to choose the Chromebook of the year 2020, which may not be the Chromebook you use yourself, which one would it be and why?