My choice for the Chromebook of the year 2020

2020 has been a terrible year for many important things that I don’t need to remind you of. But I think it’s been a great year for Chromebooks. We’ve seen more high-end options from companies not named Google, for example. We’ve seen mid-range choices come at lower prices, even before sales. And we’ve seen a tablet computer show the potential of the form factor that didn’t have a horrific launch like the Pixel Slate. It is therefore difficult to choose my personal Chromebook of the year.

And there were a lot of suitors. My own picks ranged from the $ 279 Lenovo Duet Chromebook to Acer’s $ 629 Chromebook Spin 713, with the $ 409 Lenovo Flex 5 Chromebook falling in between in terms of price.

You all also had thoughts. When I asked what you would recommend for the Chromebook of the Year 2020, I received a number of comments.

Here are a few, along with others happy to use older devices, okay with one of my top three contenders and even my pick of 2019, the Pixelbook Go (although it doesn’t qualify this year’s choice):

If you want premium, I really like the Asus Chromebook Flip 436FA. The i3 is just as fast as the Acer Chromebook Spin 13 i5, and its screen appears slightly larger. The 128GB PCIe SSD can help give it a bit more performance. The fingerprint sensor, backlit keys, large glass touchpad, and USI stylus are all great fun for everyday use. The separation of the four speakers sounds good. I often work an eight hour day with her running on battery power alone. It is also very easy on the eyes, with the lid open or closed.

Cajun Moses

My new Acer Chromebook 715 with its full-size keyboard, including a numeric keypad and touchscreen is my ideal computer. Those familiar with Chromebook are already familiar with the amazing capabilities compared to Windows 10 computers. During the Black Friday sales, I was able to buy for less than $ 300 including shipping and 7% sales tax.

Phil

Obviously, a case can be brought by anyone besides the Chromebook. they chosen is the best. And that’s probably… for them. So like I said last year with my pick for 2019, this isn’t the “best” Chromebook. We all have different budgets, use cases, preferences, and requirements. So there is no “best” Chromebook for everyone.

That said, my pick for the Chromebook of the Year 2020 is the Lenovo Duet Chromebook.

Now, this is not a device that I use often. I have reviewed it, coming out quite positive about it, and I take it out from time to time. Due to what I’m doing on a Chromebook, it really doesn’t meet my daily needs.

Yes, I can, and have, used it for general browsing, emailing, streaming video consumption, and blogging. But I also write code daily, so I need something with more power and a bigger screen, or at least, better large format display support. I also need strong Linux performance for some of my coding projects.

Still, when I look at what Lenovo has shipped for $ 279 or $ 299, depending on the configuration, I have to admit it’s incredible value. You get a high-resolution touchscreen tablet with keyboard and stand included. Frankly, the Lenovo Duet Chromebook is a little workhorse for under $ 300. And you can often find it on sale. As of today, Best Buy has the 128GB configuration for $ 249, a savings of $ 50.

Lenovo and MediaTek (who made the processor) should be commended for offering so much value for such a low price.

Here’s how I see it: There are still hundreds of millions of daily computer users who haven’t tried their luck on Chrome OS yet. In many cases, users may have a specific need that a Chromebook can’t meet. I understand that. For many other members of this group, however, they just haven’t tried Chrome OS.

For a low cost of entry, this audience can try their luck with Chrome OS on a Lenovo Chromebook Duet. And they don’t have to worry about spending $ 400, $ 800 or even more to grab that chance. Simply put, I think the Lenovo Chromebook Duet is a great bridge between alternative computing choices and Chrome OS. Not to mention that many current Chromebook users have chosen one for a secondary device.

No, the Lenovo Chromebook Duet isn’t the fastest option out there, but it’s fast enough for typical web and Android app use. And it supports external monitors for desktop or office use. Moreover, you can use it with a stylus for digital ink.

That’s enough to move people out of the Chromebook camp to the “hey, that’s not bad” crowd. And once they’re there, they can explore other options that might be faster, offer bigger screens, or provide other features and functions that they didn’t even know about Chromebooks and Chrome OS. I’m thinking of fingerprint sensors, multiple virtual desktops, and solid Linux performance.

I really expected the Pixel Slate to do this in 2018, but it wasn’t meant to be. This device came at a much higher price point, to start with, although for good reason: the internal hardware performs much better and the screen is both larger and has a higher resolution than the Lenovo Duet Chromebook.

Design choices, such as the floppy keyboard add-on in the lap and the base model with a poorly performing Intel Celeron chip, didn’t help. Neither the weight nor the condition of Chrome OS at the time, which did not measure up to the real hardware. This was eventually fixed, but the damage was done. So the Pixel Slate simply had no chance of attracting new Chromebook owners in a generalized way when it launched.

In comparison, the Lenovo Duet enjoys great software support from day one, includes useful accessories for a complete computer package at home or on the go, and can easily be taken anywhere. It’s a fantastic little device at a great price and has shown that even a low cost Chromebook can keep a lot of people productive and happy with Chrome OS. It’s not a “perfect” Chromebook; this unicorn does not exist. But for the price, you get what you pay for.

Obviously, my opinion is simply this: my opinion. If you had to pick the Chromebook of the Year 2020, which might not be the Chromebook you could use on your own, what would it be and why?