In many ways, the new Cortana in Windows 10 is a lot like Google Now in Chrome. Winner: Chrome OS. Though it's not as great for multitasking, Chrome OS offers a simpler and more straightforward interface than Windows 10. Downloaded via the Google Play store on specific Chromebooks that support them, Android apps can run in Chrome OS, but they're not optimized for a keyboard and mouse, so you'll need to use a touchscreen to make the most of them. And with the new universal apps in the Windows app store, you'll be able to run most of your favorite programs in both desktop and tablet modes.Ĭhromebook shoppers should definitely look for models with touch screens, though, as the tappable display helps them take advantage of the platform's latest major feature: Android apps. Windows 10 has tablet mode, which removes your taskbar icons and puts all apps in full-screen mode, leaving you with a minimalist workspace that removes a lot of desktop distractions. There are Windows 10 and Chrome OS laptops with touch screens, and both benefit greatly from them, in differing ways. However, Windows lets you snap up to four windows, compared to two for Chrome OS.Īnother thing to consider is touch-friendly devices. For each OS, all you need to do is drag a window to one side, where it snaps to half-screen mode. On the flip side, you simply can't run all your legacy Windows or macOS programs on a Chromebook.īoth Windows 10 and Chrome are great for working in side-by-side windows. Chrome OS is also speedier than Windows and macOS for this exact reason - Chrome OS isn't weighed down by dozens of processes running in the background. With Chrome OS, you don't have to worry about a bunch of Windows junk programs clogging up your storage space. Unlike Windows 10 and macOS, you can't install third-party software on a Chromebook - all the apps you get come from the Google Play Store. That's because the OS centers around the Chrome app and web-based processes. Chrome OS is a lightweight operating system compared with Windows 10 and macOS. Chromebooks vs laptops (Windows 10, macOS) Should I Buy a Chromebook? Buying Guide and Adviceīut first, let's take a brief look at how Chromebooks compare to other laptops by exploring the software and hardware.Who makes the toughest Chromebook? We dropped 11 models to find out.

Check out the best 2-in-1 laptops and best Chromebooks.So, which computing platform is truly the best? To answer that question, we put both Windows and Chrome OS to the test and compared them in 12 rounds of head-to-head competition. However, Microsoft isn't taking this threat lightly, continuing to update Windows 10 with new tricks, revolving around an ever-improving Start menu and the helpful Cortana assistant.

Chrome os vs windows