A Lot To Like About The New HP Chromebook 11 - Forbes

HP Chromebook 11 (image from Amazon.com)

I've never been a big Chromebook fan but HP's new Chromebook 11 is causing me to reconsider.

The little 2.3 pound Chromebook has all the limitations of previous iterations. You can only run software inside the Chrome browser and it won't run any of the major desktop applications that run on Windows and Mac machines. It also has a paltry (16 GB) amount of storage and even though it's possible to run some apps offline, it pretty much requires an Internet connection to take advantage of many of its features.

But, with an improved screen, a solid feel and a very handy new charging system, the $279 Chromebook has a lot going for it

The charger alone is a great feature. Instead of a proprietary charger like most laptops, the new HP uses a MicroUSB cable to charge, just like all Android phones and most other phones and tables (except from Apple Apple). That means you don't need to carry a separate charger for your Chromebook and your phone and it also means that it's cheap and easy to find a replacement if you leave your charger at home.

The new screen is bright and easy on the eyes and is viewable from 176 degrees, so you don't have to be sitting directly in front of it.  Google says you'll get 6 hours of battery life.

Although it comes with a tiny amount of storage Google Google offers 100 GB of free Google drive storage for two years and gives you 12 free GoGo Inflight sessions to use the Chromebook while aloft.

The device has two USB ports. Unfotunately there is no SD card reader and the only way to hook it up to an HDMI TV or monitor is with a special cable.

The Chromebook is plastic but has a magnesium frame for stability and strength. The one Google loaned me is white and is reminiscent of the old White Apple MacBooks.

New $279 HP Chromebook 11

As with most Chromebooks, it has a full-sized keyboard which, for touch typists like me, is a must. Reducing the size of the keyboard by even 5% causes me to make too many typos.

And speaking of keyboards, the Chromebook 11 is priced lower than many tablets and — unlike those tablets — it's a clamshell design with a keyboard so you don't have to type on glass. Given a choice, I'd much rather use a real keyboard than an onscreen one for anything other than a little bit of typing.

On its website, Google promotes the HP Chromebook "for everyone," but it's not for everyone.  A lot of people need to use a Windows or Mac PC because they need the software that only a full fledged laptop can run.

But, for many people, the Chromebook might be all they need, at least in a portable device. If they don't need desktop software but mostly want to surf the web, watch streaming video, do their email and use web apps, than the Chromebook might be all they need.

But even for those of us who need a full featured laptop, a $279 investment in a Chromebook like this might make sense. I'm tempted to use mine around the house, in the living room and even on trips as an adjunct to my desktop and laptop.

Specs: (from Google)

Screen

• 1 Actual storage will be less.