For recent generations of students, Chromebooks are ubiquitous: Google’s handy, budget-friendly laptops have become classroom fixtures across the US and beyond, handling everything from homework to essays and assignments. But many of those students are now heading to university or entering the workforce, where choosing a laptop for themselves is a different prospect altogether – something Apple is making a play for with the MacBook Neo . Google isn’t sitting idly by, though, and the recent launch of its Googlebooks is a big statement of intent. Far from being the inexpensive Chromebooks familiar in schools, Googlebooks like the Acer Googlebook 14 are premium laptops running a new Android-based OS, with deep smartphone integration and the company’s Gemini AI. After years of gaining a deep familiarity with Chromebooks and ChromeOS, these students might be tempted to stick with Google’s ecosystem as they grow older and their computing needs change. But is familiarity enough? Apple’s MacBook Neo and a wide range of cheaper Windows laptops also offer compelling alternatives, and both platforms are already deeply entrenched in work and everyday life. (Image credit: Acer) School of Chrome
Google launched its Chromebook project back in 2011, initially as a general-purpose laptop, but its success really came in the education sector – long dominated by Windows – where inexpensive hardware, straightforward device management, and Google’s classroom tools won out. Michael Boreham, principal analyst at Futuresource, told TechRadar that Chromebooks accounted for just 16% of US K–12 mobile PC sales in 2013, rising to 50% by the end of 2015. Since 2020, Chromebooks have accounted for between 61% and 67% of annual US K–12 mobile PC shipments, a remarkable level of dominance. The success of Chromebooks has led to millions of students spending their formative years using Google’s OS and apps, with services like Google Docs and Drive also available across Windows and macOS. But those laptops were generally chosen by schools, rather than their students. "As students transition from school-issued devices to choosing their own laptops, preferences typically shift away from the devices provided by their institution and towards products that align with personal needs and lifestyles," says Boreham. (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future) Old habits, new laptops
Carolina Milanesi, president and principal analyst at The Heart of Tech, draws an important distinction between students becoming familiar with Google’s software and actively wanting to buy its hardware. "What a decade of Chromebooks built is familiarity with Google’s tools: Docs, Drive, Classroom, Gmail," she says. "Those tools run in a browser on any laptop, so that familiarity travels with the student wherever they go, including to a Mac." "For most students the Chromebook was a device the school assigned, often low-cost and locked down, and the association is with schoolwork more than with a laptop they chose," Milanesi adds. Futuresource’s Student Journey research , which surveyed students in the US and UK, found that durability, value for money, storage, and battery life were among the main factors influencing their purchases. "The lure of Apple is strong for university students given Apple’s unique position as a lifestyle brand and the power of its joined up ecosystem with the seamless integration between iPhone, iPads and MacBooks," says Boreham. When choosing a brand, students also considered compatibility with their existing devices, brand reputation, and previous experience…