Affordable alternate OS laptops

Laptops specialist Joel Burgess rounds up the best Chromebooks and Windows 10 S laptops to see how good lightweight PCs are for today’s cloud-based workflows.

Cost is generally the driving force that motivates someone to consider a Chromebook, and while cost generally equates to compromise, Google’s Chrome OS has developed into an elegant and versatile operating system that can be even more efficient than Windows 10 for certain workflows. In much the same way MacOS fits into Apple hardware so seamlessly, you get a similar feeling of continuity and ease of use from a Chromebook running ChromeOS. For those with an Android phone, or anyone that’s used the GSuite web apps it won’t be a surprise to hear that Google is on top of the game when it comes to simple to use cloud software design, and Chrome OS is perfectly suited to make the most of Google’s online document processing tools.

Sure, more intensive or detailed workloads are going to require Microsoft’s productivity expertise or Adobe’s creative clout, but for small business, students and individuals, Google is the clear winner on cost and ease of access. All the online apps are free for any user with a Google account and Chromebooks come with a one year subscription to Google One, which bolsters your online storage from the free 20GB base storage to 100GB, and allows you to share this space with five family members (a privilege that usually costs $25 a year).

Google Sheets and Docs have all the essentials for producing basic spreadsheets and simple written documents, and while it isn’t as feature rich as Microsoft’s alternatives, this streamlined system is faster online and easier for newcomers to master. Both of these attributes combine with a responsive web browser and standalone apps to make Google’s documents the easiest of the bunch to collaborate with others on – a feature that is becoming more and more important by the day.

The Chromebook’s excellent work solutions are complemented by Android’s large catalogue of lightweight apps that are almost all available on Chrome OS and run well on laptops and 2-in-1s.

Even the cheaper Chromebooks are capable of running the full gamut of smartphone designed software, and while you will have a less full-featured experience in many applications, the software translates well and often makes it easier to just get on and do what you need to do.

Windows 10 S

If you want a budget device, but you’re really keen to keep your PC-styled OS, then Microsoft will tell you that Windows 10 (in S Mode) is a good solution for today’s low powered PCs. Much like the name suggests however, Windows 10 (in S Mode) isn’t so much a carefully curated operating system for low powered PCs as it is a mode that restricts you from a world of applications that your computer may not be powerful enough to run well.

We’ve never been able to see any battery benefits from running laptops in S Mode, and performance doesn’t seem to be affected whatsoever these days, so we really don’t see much point in ever using S Mode... even on the most lightweight PCs like Kogan’s 11.6-inch Atlas here.

Fortunately, swapping from Windows 10 (in S Mode) to full Windows 10 Home or Pro is as simple as toggling a switch in your settings… you don’t even need to restart the device to continue using it (which may give some indication as to why you don’t really see any performance benefits from S Mode).