Introduction:
In today’s digital age, having a reliable and affordable laptop for coding is essential, especially for students or those on a tight budget. Recently, I decided to experiment with a budget-friendly Chromebook, priced at just $75 (approximately 5000 rupees). In this blog post, I’ll share my in-depth experience and compare its performance with my 7-year-old Windows laptop. Join me as I explore the power and capabilities of this inexpensive Chromebook for programming.
Section 1: Chromebook Overview and Specifications
The Chromebook I purchased is an ASUS model, featuring an 11-inch compact design. Although it comes at a low price, it does have some limitations in terms of specifications. It is equipped with 4GB of RAM and a modest 32GB of storage. While these specs may seem insufficient for programming, it’s worth noting that the Chrome OS is highly optimized for resource efficiency.
Section 2: Booting and Performance
To make the Chromebook more versatile for coding purposes, I decided to install Windows 10 on it. By using the Chromebook Recovery Utility and a portable SD card, I was able to boot the Chromebook with a Chrome OS Flex image. Surprisingly, the boot-up speed was faster on the Chromebook compared to my older Windows laptop. Chrome OS’ optimization, similar to Apple’s approach with its hardware, contributed to this noticeable speed improvement.
Section 3: Linux-based OS Advantages
One of the notable advantages of Chrome OS is its Linux-based foundation. Linux is renowned for its lightweight and highly customizable nature, making it an ideal environment for programming. In terms of resource usage, Linux-based OSs like Chrome OS are known to be highly efficient. Moreover, the learning potential for programming on Linux is vast, and it allows for faster development compared to Windows. If you’re considering learning programming, using a Linux-based OS is highly recommended.
Section 4: Coding on Chrome OS
Enabling Linux on a Chromebook is a straightforward process. By navigating to the settings, you can enable Linux development and gain access to a terminal. This terminal allows you to run various programming languages and development tools. Surprisingly, the coding experience on the Chromebook was smooth, even when compared to my older laptop. With its 8GB RAM and faster storage, executing code and running development environments was noticeably faster.
Section 5: Limitations and Compatibility
While the Chromebook proved to be a capable coding machine, it does have some limitations. For instance, if you intend to do Android development, you may encounter compatibility issues with certain apps, especially if your Chromebook has limited RAM (like mine, with 4GB). Additionally, storage space may become a concern, as 32GB is not sufficient for resource-intensive development projects. For smooth development experiences, it is advisable to invest in a Chromebook with 8GB RAM and a larger storage capacity.
Section 6: File Transfer Speed and Battery Life
When it comes to file transfer speeds, the Chromebook performed admirably, particularly with smaller files. However, for larger files, my older laptop with its SSD outperformed the Chromebook. Nevertheless, the battery life of the Chromebook was impressive, lasting around 6 hours, while my Windows laptop averaged around 4 hours. This makes the Chromebook an attractive choice for coding on the go or in situations where power outlets may not be readily available.
Section 7: Conclusion and Recommendations
In conclusion, my experience with the budget Chromebook for coding was quite positive. With the right specifications (8GB RAM, good processor, and SSD), a Chromebook can be an excellent choice for programming on a budget. Its Linux-based OS, optimized.
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