In Mashable's 2011 review of one of the first Chromebooks, our writer said it "could change the world of computing." And you know what? They were sort of right: Most current lists of the best laptops under $500 to $700 are Chromebooks all the way down.

If you only think of Chromebooks as crude laptops geared toward students , it's time to catch up with the times. Newer models have mostly shed the category's reputation for fugly clunkers, for one thing, finding a happier medium between durability, practicality, and premium features.

Yes, Chromebooks still have some software quirks that cap their value for certain use cases. But unless your workload revolves around demanding specialty apps, or your computer is your primary gaming device, a Chromebook probably makes more sense than

See Full Page