Chromebook vs Windows - GenZ and beyond

[bohous]

My zoomer daughter's old Chrome laptop is in need of being replaced, and it occurred to me that she's primarily only used Chromebook most of her life. She has jumped on our Windows based computers here and there over the years but it hit me that there could potentially be a lot of kids in this situation who have grown up using school issued Chromebooks during covid and have continued through HS, and may rarely be exposed to full Windows or Mac OS.

Short question is, am I doing a disservice to her by not forcing her into a Windows based laptop going forward instead of letting her stick with a Chromebook? I feel like once in the real world she should be comfortable in Windows, but broader question, is this going to matter long term with everything increasingly being cloud/browser/app based anyway?

 

[Harry Hooper]

I think I'd be more concerned about not having much experience using Microsoft Office than not using Windows. I would guess that most school systems use the equivalent free Google apps with Chromebooks. Microsoft has responded by making their SaaS Office 365 very available for students: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/education/products/office

FWIW, business schools tend to recommend WIndows laptops over Apple or Chromebook models, but that could change in the coming decade.

 

[ColdSoxPack]

Chromebooks are ubiquitous because they are simple and cheap. The LA Times reported this morning that Google has promised 10 more years of Chromebook updates, so there's that. I agree with both of the above; Windows give's her a more powerful platform. And I'm an iMac guy.

 

[Jimbodandy]

My kids are in their 20s and all flowed pretty easily between tablets, windows, and apple without any adjustment. Not a humblebrag. Kids their age have just seen it all and move between the technology without really needing our help. Even the apple apps, microsoft office, and google apps that they all used in school. For them, there aren't any real deltas. They all have had iphones for a dozen years at least and can still pop on my android phone and do stuff without thinking of it.

Not to say that showing them new things is bad, but your daughter probably could run circles around most of us already.