What Is a Google Chromebook?
Google Chromebooks differ from most laptops in that they run natively (and exclusively) on the Google ChromeOS and tend to have limited built-in software and memory. The idea is for a user to produce and save their work on the cloud, so maintaining files and documents on a desktop is unnecessary.
Rather than a classic computer on which you produce and save your work, think of a Chromebook as a gateway device that gives you access to the cloud-based applications and storage that you’ll use to produce and save your work. Because it is limited, it’s more mobile: A Chromebook is lighter than a notebook of comparable size, so it has a longer battery life and lugging it around is less onerous.
And because it’s not loaded up with business software, it’s less expensive than comparable laptops.
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What Are the Advantages of Chromebooks?
All of that makes Chromebooks an attractive option for many kinds of businesses, especially small businesses, organizations with lots of fieldworkers and those in computer-sharing environments where instead of having their own computer, workers pick up a device from a stack when they report to work.
There are plenty of options when it comes to hardware. Chromebooks are produced by many manufacturers — not by Google itself — and are available in various sizes and styles. For example, some are essentially touch-screen tablets with detachable keyboards while others look and operate more like conventional notebooks.
One thing IT leaders like about Chromebooks is that they’re easy to manage. In enterprise environments, Chromebooks come with a comprehensive mobile device management solution called Chrome Enterprise Upgrade, which allows IT administrators to view and manage all Chromebooks in the environment. Businesses using a separate MDM solution to manage other devices can easily integrate that with Chrome’s MDM if desired.
Meanwhile, software updates and security patches are pushed out automatically via Chrome; there’s nothing end users need to do to ensure an update takes place, and they may not even notice when it has. And while it’s fair to say that Chromebooks offer a seamless experience for workers whose employers use Google Workspace applications for email and videoconferencing, those using Microsoft 365 will find that their user experience is also fine.
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How Do Businesses Get Started with Chromebooks?
Chromebook deployments are easy. They’re designed to begin enrolling users according to an organization’s specifications as soon as the device is switched on and connected to an authorized Wi-Fi network. CDW also offers a white-glove deployment service that turns on the machines before shipping to ensure they’re installed with the latest version of ChromeOS and that everything is working correctly.
Still, some businesses worry that while the devices themselves may fit the organization’s needs, integration with a Microsoft, Apple or other non-Google environment will cause challenges. That’s why we also offer a Google jump-start program: We’ll evaluate your current environment, help you prepare to deploy Chromebooks and, if desired, adopt Google Workspace tools or other Google enterprise solutions.
Meanwhile, we can also help businesses that already have a Google environment in place but sense that they’re not getting the most out of it.
Whether your organization has experience with Chromebooks or is just considering making the leap, it’s best to work with an experienced partner to help you decide on the right devices, deploy and configure them, and integrate them into your environment.
This article is part of BizTech’s AgilITy blog series.
