Kim's 5 reasons to set up a financial Chromebook By Mark Jones, Komando.com

Do you have a Chromebook in your arsenal of gadgets? If you don't know, they are similar to a laptop but just a little bit different.  Chromebooks run on a web-based operating system by Google known as Chrome OS. It's specifically built to be used with an internet connection and they are fairly inexpensive.

Most of the apps and documents for a Chromebook are based in the cloud. The great thing is, Google provides 100 GB of cloud storage for free on all Chromebooks for the first two years.

(Note: 100 GB of storage is $1.99 per month or $9.99 for 1 TB per month after the first two years.)

There are many practical reasons to get yourself a Chromebook. One is to use a dedicated Chromebook to take care of your finances. Some of you might be skeptical, asking yourself, why not just buy a laptop?

That's why you need to know Kim's five reasons to set up a financial Chromebook.

1. Conduct your financial business with peace of mind

The best reason to set up a financial Chromebook is for security purposes. Using a Chromebook strictly for the purpose of conducting financial business is a procedure known as "sandboxing."

Sandboxing is a security term that refers to programs that are set aside from other programs in a different environment. This is important in situations where errors or security issues occur. When programs are separated like this, issues will not spread to other areas of your gadget. Programs or files are sequestered in their own area, in the case of Chromebooks, in the cloud.

Since Chromebooks store everything in the cloud and not on a hard drive, you don't have to live in fear of being infected with a virus. Using Google's Chromebook means you don't have to worry as much about security.

Google has multiple layers of protection built into Chromebooks. Those include:

• Automatic Updates - Chromebooks are always running the most updated version of the OS, so you don't have to download patches.
• Sandboxing - Each webpage and application runs in a confined area called a sandbox. If the Chromebook is directed to an infected page, it can't affect the other tabs or apps, or anything else on the machine. The threat is contained.
• Verified Boot - Chromebook automatically checks for malware when you start it up, and it fixes any problems before it opens.
• Data Encryption - Most data on Chromebooks are saved to the cloud, but anything saved to the computer is encrypted so it's nearly impossible to be hacked.
• Recovery Mode - If anything goes wrong, you can simply revert to an earlier version that was safe.

Another reason Chromebooks are secure is its operating system does not allow the installation of traditional apps or programs. This really cuts down the chance of downloading a virus.

To keep your finances secure, only use the Chromebook for financial business. Don't use it to surf the web, check email, shop online, or visit any social media sites.

Also, delete all financial bookmarks that you might have on your old computer and don't forget to clear its history. Once your financial Chromebook is set up, never use another gadget to access your financial accounts.

2. The right gadget at the right price

Another reason to set up a financial Chromebook is the low cost. Laptops can run you over $1,000, which wouldn't be cost effective to exclusively use it for one function.

However, you can pick up a powerful Chromebook for under $200. (Psst! Keep reading and we'll show you a few under $200 Chromebook options.) That makes it the perfect device to have for the sole purpose of conducting financial business.

3. Programs you want with no extra costs

When you're working on your finances, you might want to use some of the programs that come with Microsoft Office. As you know, that can be expensive and not something you want to pay for if you're trying to save some money.

Good news! Chromebook's use the free Google Drive suite for its spreadsheet and word processing functions. Since it's free, you won't have to pay for Office and you can keep some coin in your wallet.

4. Super easy to use

With a portable design and seamless offline transition, Chromebooks make work easy for everyone on the go. It's basically an instant-on gadget.

What I mean is, once you've logged into your Google account, you're ready to go. No long load times and no confusing setup. Just flip it open and get going.

5. Stay charged all day

Chromebooks are known to have extremely long-lasting batteries. In fact, there's a good chance that your Chromebook's battery will last from one charge for most of the day.

The typical Chromebook has up to 10 hours of battery life. That makes it a reliable device to keep track of all your financial business whenever you need it.

Keep reading for a few of our Chromebook picks that you can choose from. They're easy on the wallet so you're sure to love them.

Check out these impressive under $200 Chromebooks

Google created the Chromebook operating system. Then, manufacturers like Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo and Samsung make the gadgets that run Chromebook OS.

So, you have a lot of options when buying one. Of course, when you're paying $200 or so for a Chromebook, you're not getting all the bells and whistles you will with a more costly laptop.

Yet, you can do just about everything on a Chromebook that you would on a more expensive laptop. You'll want to check each Chromebook's specs, though, to compare one to another.

If you're thinking about picking up one of these inexpensive devices, here are a few to look into. These Chromebooks are available for under $200 on Amazon.
HP Chromebook

This HP Chromebook 11 G5 is affordable but still packs a punch. It has an 11.6-inch screen with a sharp LCD display.

It comes with a 16 GB hard drive, 4 GB of RAM, and an Intel Celeron processor with a processing speed of 1.6 GHz. It weighs just 3.9 pounds and runs the Chrome operating system.

You can't go wrong with this HP Chromebook. Order yours from Amazon for under $185 today while you're thinking about it by clicking the link below.

Samsung Chromebook 3

If you're looking to spend even less, this certified refurbished Samsung Chromebook 3 might be perfect for you. It comes with a 90-day warranty, so don't fear the refurbished tag.

This Chromebook has an 11.6-inch display and a 16 GB hard drive with an Intel Celeron processor. The Google Chrome operating system is used and has 4 GB of RAM. Simply click the link below to pick one up today.

Acer CB3

Here's another under $200 Chromebook that will get the job done. Acer's Chromebook CB3 has an 11.6-inch screen that provides sharp images.

It has an Intel Celeron processor and runs the Chrome operating system. This slick gadget has a 16 GB hard drive with 2 GB of RAM. Order yours from Amazon for under $185 by clicking the link below.

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