When you’re thinking about making new device purchases for teachers and students in high school and higher education, Chromebooks often fall to the bottom of the list. But why? This is generally the response I hear when I ask why we aren’t giving older students and teachers Chromebooks: “Chromebooks are inexpensive, low-end devices, so they must not support the needs of teachers, older students, and young adults, right?”
Chromebooks have often been regarded as low-cost options that are ideal for younger students. And this is still true! However, you might be surprised to learn that Chromebooks and other Chrome OS devices today are more powerful and more than deliver on the functionality students and teachers need. Today, users can experience rapid, powerful performance with extensive battery life in a sleek, fashionable 2-in-1 form factor and with the Chrome operating system they may prefer.
Now, I believe in practicing what you preach, which is why I got myself a 10th Gen Intel® Core™ Samsung Galaxy Chromebook. I recently attended and spoke at the two-day Intel® Vision 2022 event, and I brought my new Chromebook with me. Here is what I have experienced so far.
Lightweight, fashionable 2-in-1
I have worked with Chromebooks in the past, and I will admit, they have felt a little heavy at times, but my new device was sleek and very lightweight. As I carried it around the event, I was able to move quickly between sessions.
During a fireside chat I participated in, my Chromebook was great to use as a tablet as well as a laptop. I was easily able to switch it back and forth as needed, whether I was drawing visuals or taking notes. And I was able to surprise my colleagues and peers right from the start because it’s “Fiesta Red.” They were impressed by its stylish aesthetic and form factor, and I don’t blame them. When I found out I could get a Chromebook in red, one of my favorite colors, I was hooked.
Long battery life and seamless connectivity
The last thing anyone needs when they are working on their device is to wander around looking for an outlet when the battery is low. Like a lot of people, I like to avoid the added pressure of having my computer run out of battery right when I need it most. I was impressed with how well my Chromebook was able to keep up with me. It only needed charging at the end of a long day. I was also impressed with the rapid connectivity I experienced, and I have Wi-Fi 6E to thank for that.1 After long days at Intel® Vision, I was grateful for the ability to fully relax while streaming and watching my favorite baseball team play—the Minnesota Twins—without having to worry if my connection would falter or if my device needed to charge.
Flexibility with Chrome OS and Intel® Core™ processors
So many students and teachers enjoy using the Chrome operating system, but they picture having to use older Chromebooks that do not meet their needs. But with all of the features and benefits I listed above, students and teachers can get the best of both worlds—a sleek device that brings all their needed tools together.
I would say my favorite aspect of my Chromebook is the responsiveness and snappy nature with the 10th Gen Intel® Core™ i5 processor. It was hard to go unnoticed, and I know I could put myself in the perspective of a student or a teacher and feel confident that this Chromebook would be able to support all of the demands I would put on it. Whether you are writing a senior paper in an AP/IB English class, are working on code for a computer engineering college class, or have dozens of tabs open as you grade students’ homework in between classes—I truly believe this next generation of Chromebooks can support you. With all the innovations and projects students and teachers are working on right now, they should have a device that’s designed to be fast, reliable, and ready to meet all their needs.
I will also add that if you are looking for an extra kick in performance and manageability—but specifically security—Chromebooks now come with 12th Gen Intel® Core™ processors and the Intel vPro® Enterprise platform. The Intel vPro Enterprise platform for Chrome comes with multilayered security and exceptional performance, providing IT staff the tools they need to keep those devices secure. In fact, all Chrome OS devices come with two cloud OSs, data encryption, and built-in virus protection, including a verified boot process that automatically restarts and restores devices to a stable state if a security threat is detected. The Lenovo ThinkPad C14 Chromebook, one of several new Chrome OS devices with the Intel vPro® platform, will be available soon.
It is time for a Chromebook upgrade
I am a firm believer in empowering technology, and while Chromebooks are a great cost-effective option for younger students, they can also easily be used for students and teachers who need an extra oomph in performance, form factor, connectivity, durability, and battery life. And take it from me—if I can travel with my Chromebook to an extensive work event and feel confident in its reliability, stability, and performance consistency, then I know any high school or college student and teacher can experience the same.
1. Select SKUs only, functionality varies by OEM design, operating system, and routers/APs/Gateways that support Wi-Fi 6E, together with regional spectrum allocation and required regulatory certifications. Check with the OEM or retailer for system configuration details. Visit intel.com/PerformanceIndex (connectivity) for details.
Intel® Wi-Fi 6 (Gig+) products support optional 160 MHz channels, enabling the fastest possible theoretical maximum speeds (2,402 Mbps) for typical 2x2 802.11ax PC Wi-Fi products. Premium Intel Wi-Fi 6 (Gig+) products enable 2x to 4x faster maximum theoretical speeds compared to standard 2x2 (1,201 Mbps) or 1x1 (600 Mbps) 802.11 AX PC Wi-Fi products, which only support the mandatory requirement of 80 MHz channels.
© Intel Corporation. Intel, the Intel logo, and other Intel marks are trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries. Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.
Michael A. Campbell is a Global Transformational Leader with 20+ years of focused experience in product marketing, strategy, business development, and sales, influencing multi-million-dollar revenue increases and organizational growth. Currently, Campbell is the General Manager of the Education Division within Intel’s Client Computing Group.