Why Samsung's New Chromebook Has My Attention

I spend way too much time every day on my pricey Macbook, but I’ve come to realize that all I really need is a Chromebook. Samsung’s new Chromebook 2, available now for preorder, looks like the perfect blend of features at a reasonable price. 

All the apps I use are available on Chrome, and it’s a much calmer experience than other operating systems. Like most people, the majority of what I do on a PC is word processing, email, and the occasional movie streaming. You don’t need a $2,000 laptop to do any of these things. 

The problem is that most Chromebooks are either cheaply made or too expensive. There are some exceptions to this rule, such as Google’s own highly rated Pixelbook Go lineup that starts at $649. 

The Price Is Right

Samsung is beating Google on price, with the Chromebook starting at a reasonable $549. At this price tag, I won’t have to worry too much about the Chromebook 2 getting banged up or obsolete within a few years. 

I tend to be obsessively careful with my Macbook, because it was so expensive to the point where I sometimes don’t use it. The ability to throw the Chromebook 2 into a backpack without fear will be great when we return to a world where leaving the house is a thing. 

It’s a slick-looking beast, although slightly thicker and heavier than its more expensive predecessor at 2.71 pounds and 0.55 inches thick. I really like the squared-off edges of the Chromebook 2, which is reminiscent of Apple’s latest designs. 

The Chromebook 2 has the same striking colors as the previous generation—mercury gray and fiesta red—and sports an aluminum chassis, a backlit keyboard, and a color-matched touchpad. I’m a big fan of Samsung’s keyboards, and if this one matches up to the company’s standards, it could be a great way to get real work done. 

It’s got a touchscreen with stylus support, but keep in mind that a stylus is not included. Goodbye glorious 4K OLED panel from the previous model but the Chromebook 2 comes with a 13.3-inch QLED display with 1,920x1,080-,pixel resolution screen, which Samsung claims can produce over a billion colors.

At this price I can hardly complain about a slight downgrade to the screen, and with those specs the Chromebook 2 should be more than capable of doing what I want. 

Samsung offers two configurations available to order. The lower-end model has an Intel Celeron 5205U processor with 4GB of memory and 64GB of storage.

For those wanting a little more oomph, a $699 version offers an Intel 10th-gen Core i3-10110U CPU with twice the memory and storage of the base model. Both models have two USB-C ports, a microSD slot, and a headphone/microphone combo jack, as well as a 720p webcam.

Chrome Helps Me Concentrate

Chromebooks are perfectly suited for our pandemic times. What are most of us doing if not browsing the web or streaming? There’s no need to fiddle with dozens of applications in Google’s vision of an operating system. 

The Chrome OS is a refuge from the maddening world of distractions that threaten our peace of mind in 2021. It’s easy to get lost in your work or entertainment with an operating system this simple. On my Mac, I’m constantly flicking between apps to check news feeds, email and messages. 

I’ve tried a number of low-end Chromebooks before and they were junk. What I want is a Chromebook with an excellent screen and keyboard, and a decent processor for not too much money.

On the other hand, I don’t want a Chromebook that’s so cheap that it’s not usable. The Chromebook 2 looks like the perfect balance of price and specifications.