While yes, there is a browser based version, the native, desktop apps are considered a must have for many and will run smoothly on even the most bare-bones budget laptop. Windows laptops have a big advantage, though, in Microsoft Office.

They’re great for web browsing, checking email, video streaming and more - but, yes, all of those things can be done on Chromebooks as well. So what can you realistically accomplish on a cheap Windows laptop? Quite a bit, especially if you’re doing one thing (or a limited number of things) at a time. Tablets can also be just as expensive as some of the cheapest Windows laptops, and that’s without a mouse or keyboard.Ĭhromebooks are a good alternative for those that basically live in a browser, the trade-off being you must give up the “traditional desktop.” And Chrome OS is a more limited operating system than Windows when it comes to the programs you can install and run. Tablets will only work for the most mobile-competent users like kids who have been grabbing smartphones out of their parents’ hands since they’ve been dexterous enough to do so.

Those instincts aren’t wrong, but Chromebooks and tablets aren’t the best buy for everyone. Now, you may be inclined to recommend a Chromebook or a tablet to all of the people listed above.

And, depending on what you need them for, these devices can be decent daily drivers, too. (Hello, mom and dad?) They’re also good for kids who have no business putting their sticky little hands on a $2,000 gaming rig. Affordable Windows notebooks are great options for people that only use a computer to check email, shop online or post on Facebook.

Surface i5