Chromebooks can be good computers — it really depends on what you want to do with them. Let me break it down clearly so you can decide whether they fit your needs.
💡 What Chromebooks Are Good At
Fast and simple: They boot quickly and feel snappy because ChromeOS is lightweight.
Great for web‑based tasks: Browsing, email, Google Docs, YouTube, Netflix — all smooth.
Long battery life: Many models last 8–12 hours.
Affordable: Often cheaper than Windows or Mac laptops.
Secure: Automatic updates and strong built‑in security.
⚠️ Where Chromebooks Can Be Limiting
Not ideal for heavy software:
No full Microsoft Office (only web versions unless you use Android apps).
No Adobe Photoshop, Premiere, or other pro apps.
Not good for PC gaming.
Offline use is limited: They can work offline, but they’re designed for internet use.
Storage is usually small: Often 32–128 GB.
👍 Best for
Students
Casual users
People who mainly use the web
Travellers who want something light and reliable
👎 Not great for
Video editors
Gamers
Programmers needing specific tools
Anyone who relies on Windows/Mac-only software
If you tell me what you want to use a laptop for, I can help you decide whether a Chromebook fits your needs or if something else would be better.
Here’s a clear, grounded breakdown of what you’re looking at, Michael — and whether that ASUS CX14 14in N50 / 4GB / 64GB Chromebook for £129 is actually good value.
I pulled in fresh info about the ASUS CX14 line to make this as accurate as possible.
💻 ASUS CX14 Chromebook — Is the £129 Model Worth It?
⭐ What the reviews say
The CX14 series is praised for solid build quality, silent fanless design, and long battery life.
Consumer Reports confirms the 14‑inch ASUS Chromebook with MediaTek Kompanio 520, 4GB RAM, 64GB storage is a real configuration and will receive ChromeOS updates until June 2033.
It’s designed for basic tasks: browsing, streaming, email, Google Docs — and it handles these well.
📊 Quick Specs Overview (for the £129 model)
| Feature | What You Get | Good/Bad |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | MediaTek Kompanio N50 / similar entry chip | Fine for light use |
| RAM | 4GB | OK for ChromeOS, not for heavy multitasking |
| Storage | 64GB eMMC | Small but normal for Chromebooks |
| Screen | 14-inch | Usually decent but not premium |
| Updates | Until 2033 | Very good for longevity |
| Price | £129 | Excellent value if your needs are simple |
👍 Ideal for
Web browsing
YouTube / Netflix
Email
Google Docs / Sheets
Students or casual users
Travel / backup laptop
👎 Not ideal for
Windows apps
Heavy multitasking
Video editing
Gaming
Big offline storage needs
🧭 My verdict for you
For £129, this is very good value if you want a lightweight, reliable machine for everyday tasks. ChromeOS is efficient enough that 4GB RAM is usable, and the long update support makes it a safe buy.
If you want something for heavier work, or lots of tabs, or anything beyond web-based tasks, you’d need a Windows laptop instead.
If you want, I can compare this Chromebook to a similarly priced Windows laptop, or help you find the best option under a certain budget.
Here’s a clear, decision‑ready comparison for you, Michael — grounded in the search results you triggered.
🥊 ASUS CX14 Chromebook (£129)
vs
🥊 Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 N100 Windows Laptop (£179)
These two machines are very different types of computers — one ChromeOS, one Windows — so the choice depends on what you want to do.
Below is a clean, evidence‑based breakdown using the information from your searches.
📊 Side‑by‑Side Comparison
| Feature | ASUS CX14 Chromebook | Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 (Intel N100) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £129 | £179 |
| Operating System | ChromeOS | Windows 11 |
| Processor | MediaTek / entry‑level chip (suitable for light tasks) | Intel N100 (modern, faster budget CPU) |
| RAM | 4GB | 4GB |
| Storage | 64GB eMMC | 128GB SSD (much faster & larger) |
| Screen | 14" (likely HD) | 14" Full HD (confirmed in review) |
| Performance | Good for web browsing, streaming, Google Docs | Noticeably faster for multitasking, Windows apps, Office |
| Battery Life | Typically strong on Chromebooks | Varies; budget Windows laptops often average |
| Best For | Simple, web‑based use | General everyday computing, Office, light productivity |
| Limitations | No Windows apps, limited offline use | 4GB RAM is tight for Windows; not for heavy workloads |
🧠 What the reviews say
ASUS CX14 Chromebook
Designed for basic tasks and ChromeOS simplicity.
Lightweight, secure, long update support.
Best when you live mostly in the browser.
Very low price makes it excellent value for casual use.
ChromeOS devices like this are often recommended for affordability and simplicity.
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 (Intel N100)
The N100 version is reviewed as a budget-friendly Windows laptop for students and casual users.
Full HD screen, SSD storage, and Windows make it more flexible than a Chromebook.
Still an entry-level machine — 4GB RAM limits heavy multitasking.
Better for Microsoft Office, Zoom, and general Windows apps.
🧭 Which one should you choose?
✔️ Choose the ASUS Chromebook (£129) if:
You want the cheapest reliable machine.
You mainly use: Chrome, YouTube, Gmail, Google Docs.
You prefer long battery life and simplicity.
You don’t need Windows software.
This is the better value if your needs are light.
✔️ Choose the Lenovo Slim 3 N100 (£179) if:
You want a proper Windows laptop.
You need Microsoft Office, Zoom, Teams, or downloadable apps.
You want more storage (128GB SSD).
You want a sharper Full HD screen.
This is the better computer overall — more capable and more flexible.
🔥 My verdict
If you want the best performance and flexibility, the Lenovo Slim 3 N100 is worth the extra £50.
If you want the cheapest, simplest machine for web use, the ASUS Chromebook is unbeatable at £129.
If you tell me what you plan to use it for — browsing, writing, streaming, travel, work — I can give you a personalised recommendation.
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