Ever since Google announced their Chromebook in mid-2011, the netbook has received a lukewarm response. Chrome OS came installed on Chromebooks and its minimal design consisted of nothing except a Chrome browser window. Chrome OS was basically a stripped-down version of a Linux Operating System (OS) running entirely on the cloud and online-based services like Google Docs and Play Music. When Chrome OS first came out, there were a lot of bugs and also questions regarding where exactly Chromebooks fit in the whole spectrum of personal computers and devices. But Chrome has grown since then and so have the capacities of our Internet connections. Chrome OS now performs really well as a budget system specifically for working on the Internet.

When Chrome OS first came out, it was famous for its quick boot and resume times as well as its exceptional battery life, although all of that should have been obvious since the OS is stripped down to only a web browser. The OS is also incredibly stable and won’t get bogged down by all the applications that you install because everything you do on the device happens on the cloud. The OS does not even install applications on your hard drive but rather runs them as extensions for your Chrome browser. Not everything on the OS is online, though, and the OS does have essential applications like File Manager and a video player that works without an Internet connection.

But since an active Internet connection is so instrumental to properly using Chrome OS, this renders the OS almost unusable without an Internet connection—although you could use it to perform some basic tasks like playing music or watching videos that you have saved on your local hard drive. Also, because the OS runs primarily on web applications, you won’t have access to your Windows programmes or even your Linux applications. The OS will definitely not run popular applications like Office and Adobe Creative Suites but it does support some Android apps (Google is working on extended support for Android Apps.)

So why buy a Chromebook if it has limited functionality? Why are we even talking about an OS that is severely limited in comparison to anything that you can do on a full-fledged Windows or Mac PC? Because the Chrome OS is just right for people on the move or for students—and if you have an old PC lying around, you can actually bring it back to life with Chrome. In terms of functionality, the capabilities of web applications have grown and popular software like Microsoft Office have an online version, which although offering only limited advanced features, can work wonders. Especially with web applications like Google Docs that let you seamlessly collaborate with other users on the Internet, Chrome OS doesn’t seem as limited as when it first came out. And there are quite a few to choose from. Chomebooks and laptops with Chrome OS pre-installed are much cheaper than any Windows or Mac variations, and cheap Chrome Ultrabooks are also available in the market. A boxed PC with Chrome OS, called Chromebox, is also available for purchase for use as a PC or simply to add Internet support to your HDTV.

Since we spend most of our time on the Internet today, Chrome OS no longer seems like a farfetched idea. Chrome OS also boots up in seconds and is very fast and stable. You can also rest assured that no matter what you install, the Chrome OS will remain fast and reliable. And with web standards and online web applications growing and turning more and more complex, most of what you can achieve on a regular PC can easily be achieved on Chrome OS. But it’s not for users who run advanced programmes on their PCs, like graphic design software or film editing software, who will definitely not benefit from moving to Chrome OS.

Chrome OS is definitely a very different take on the operating systems that we know and have grown accustomed to, so before actually investing in a Chromebook (Chrome OS is not officially available for download), check out the online iterations of the Chrome OS, which can be found on the Internet. Since Chrome OS is derived from its open-source counterpart, Chromium OS, there are people online who provide unofficial versions of Chrome OS for free on the Internet. Setting it up is easy and can be done without any change or harm to your computer; however, Chrome OS has limited hardware support and it might not work on your computer at all. Much like installing any other Linux operating systems, Chrome OS (which is based on Linux) can be transferred to any 4 GB flash drive. Chrome OS also has a live boot option, which comes with many Linux distributions, that lets you boot to the OS directly from the flash drive without installing it on your machine. You can test out Chrome OS and check if everything works perfectly and install it to your hard drive if you’re willing.

With the internet growing and the capabilities of online web applications increasing drastically, Chrome OS doesn’t feel so out of place today as when Google first announced it. Since Chromebooks are very cheap in the market too, a Chromebook might be a better investment in comparison to a low-priced netbook. Chromebooks are reliable since they are rarely susceptible to viruses or system errors. Also since Chrome OS works on the cloud, you’ll never lose any of your bookmarks or your system setting since everything on your Chrome OS is backed up to your online account. Even in the case of a hardware failure, your files will remain safe on the internet and a fresh install of Chrome OS will bring you right back to the system you know. Give Chrome OS a go and you might grow accustomed to the idea of an OS that works entirely on the Internet.