Chromebooks: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. A quick look.

A Chromebook is a laptop made by Google that features their new Chrome OS, which is basically the Google Chrome web browser... and that's it. I have one and I love it, but I'm going to keep this article non-biased so you can get an idea of what a Chromebook is and if they are for you.

Note: The laptop I am reviewing in this article is the $250 Samsung XE303C12, and although all Chromebooks are the same in terms of OS, they all differ in system specs.

First, let's talk about the perks of the Chromebook.

The physical device is small and light, and I've only seen a "real" laptops that can brag the same thing. The Chromebook XE303C12 weights in just less than one pound and roughly half an inch tall. Like I said, it's small and light. You can take it practically anywhere and it won't become a burden. This is a great feature for those who are not always home bound with their laptops.

Chromebooks are known for being speedy, and mine starts up in about five seconds and I am already online. The web speed is fast so browsing the internet is great. I can write documents, watch videos, play games, listen to music, and do all the stuff you can do in a internet browser. Google also has a Chrome web store where you can download plugins and extensions to add features to your desktop.

The webcam is also decent, though is one of the lower quality webcams that Chromebooks offer. It's a nice feature to have and the mic picks up very nice sound. The laptop is small but features a full keyboard with thin but big keys and a very responsive touch pad.

The first thing people dislike about the Chromebook is it's disability to install software, like Photoshop, Microsoft Word, Skype, etc. Programs and software are a necessity for a lot of people and can be an instant turnoff.

The only other downfall I can find is that it becomes difficult to see the screen in bright conditions, like outdoors. It's affordable, but lacks a very serious feature that many people look for in laptops. So, if you need software or programs that you can not find alternates for in the Chrome Web Store, you may want to overlook this laptop.

The Chromebook can be hacked into to have other operating systems installed, like Windows or Lunix, but isn't recommend unless you know exactly what you are doing. You can also install new hardware or upgrading existing hardware but will void the warranty when you take the laptop apart.

The Chromebook is an affordable device, as cheap as $200, and great for anyone on a budget or someone looking for a simple and easy to use laptop.