Chromebooks are a type of laptop that runs on the Google Chrome operating system. They are known for being lightweight and portable, as well as having a long battery life. Chromebooks are a good choice for those who want a laptop that is easy to use and is not as expensive as other types of laptops.
There are many different Chromebooks on the market, so it can be difficult to know which one is the best for your needs. If you are looking for a Chromebook that is good for use with a Cricut machine, this article will help you choose the right one.
What is Cricut?
Cricut is a cutting machine that can be used to cut paper, vinyl, fabric, and other materials. It is a popular choice for scrapbooking, card making, and other crafts. Cricut machines come with a variety of features, including the ability to connect to a computer so that you can design your projects.
You can use the Cricut to cut out shapes, letters, and other designs that you create yourself or that you find online. The Cricut can also be used to make vinyl decals, t-shirts, and other items.
Here is how you connect your Chromebook to a Cricut machine:
- Make sure that your Chromebook is turned on and connected to the internet.
- Open the Cricut Design Space app.
- Click on the “Canvas” tab.
- Click on the “Bluetooth” icon in the upper right corner.
- A list of available Bluetooth devices will appear.
- Click on your Cricut machine to select it.
- Click on the “Connect” button.
- Your Cricut machine will now be connected to your Chromebook.
Five best Chromebooks for Cricut
1. Acer Chromebook Spin 311
The beautiful Chromebook Spin 311 can quickly morph into just about whatever you need. Its versatile, 360-degree Hinge lets you twist it at any angle to create a Notebook, set, Tent, or Tablet. So, this fantastic feature allows you to carry it anywhere and utilize it everywhere! This HD Chromebook touch offers a great wide-view web camera that supports HDR photos. Hence, increasing face-to-face discussions and video conferencing are easier!
Features:
The Chrome Operating System: Google’s operating system was designed to match today’s lifestyle. It includes Integrated virus prevention, has an automatic update feature, boots up in seconds, and accelerates the speed over time.
All of your favorite Google apps are available on Chromebooks. Therefore, you can download, edit and convert MS documents to Google Docs, Spreadsheets, and Slides.
Google Play has over two million Android applications to help you learn and create more.
Chromebooks provide built-in offline storage to keep your important documents safe and an additional 100GB of space in Google Drive capacity. So, the drive will back up all your documents automatically.
The Acer Chromebook Spin 311 brings you an Intel Celeron N4020 CPU, an HD 11.6-inches IPS Touch display, 32GB MMC storage, 4GB LPDDR4 memory, and Google Chrome, plus 10-hour battery life.
Pros
- It has built-in protection from the virus that prevents your computer from malware and unwanted applications running in the background
- It will give you a better experience in video-conferencing with the built-in HDR webcam
- It features a 360° hinge, which you can turn at any angle
- It comes with an extensive storage capacity
Cons
- The computer might get over-heated because of its powerful processor
2. Dell XPS 15
The Dell XPS 15 is not only an excellent choice for Cricut enthusiasts, but it is also one of the best Computers on the market. It comes with some compelling modules. These include an 11th-generation Intel processor and a choice of Nvidia RTX 3050 or 3050 Ti graphics cards for running 3D apps. However, integrated Intel UHD is also an option if you aren’t heavy in cash.
The Dell XPS 15 (2019) has been tested as part of the Laptops & Chromebooks program. Despite the positive views, Dell has much potential to enhance its laptop. Its aged design needs a redesign, and although its battery life is alright, traveling with an additional battery is wise. However, the position of the webcam is still absurdly located.
Features:
Choosing the Intel Core i7-11800H or Core i9-11900H expands your possibilities. Both are octa-core, 16-thread CPUs that can help turbo. So, either of these options gets you a discrete NVIDIA GPU. Also, you can obtain a GeForce RTX 3050 or 3050 ti with a Core i7 CPU or only the 3050 Ti with a Core i9 processor.
So, within this combination, the Dell XPS 15 can easily handle graphic designing and contemporary games. As you improve the processor, RAM and storage possibilities grow. And this powerful laptop comes with 16GB of RAM; you can upgrade it to 64GB if you wish. The Dell XPS 15 supports user-accessible SODIMM slots so that you may purchase RAM afterward.
Storage starts at 512GB for a strong CPU. You may increase this to 8TB to save documents, music, and applications for years. Hence, this large drive can contain movies, games, and other data, including the Cricut design. So, you don’t have to worry at all. Like RAM, you can buy SSDs later if you don’t want to pay more at checkout.
Pros
- It comes with a 16:10 ratio display
- Bezel-free chassis is upgraded
- Full-size SD card reader.
- Great keyboard and touchpad
Cons
- Below-average battery life
- Runs hot
3. ASUS VivoBook L203MA
This ASUS ViviBook laptop is one of the brand’s flagship products. The system’s tiltable lid and ultra-slim design make it more remarkable and engaging. Hence, the ASUS is the ideal device for you if you like to have a sleek and fashionable laptop for maximum portability.
In addition, the computer provides superior performance throughout the day, significantly alleviating your anxieties and stress. This is an excellent alternative for beginners in Cricut design creation. Furthermore, the VivoBook L203MA-DS04 is ideal for all enthusiasts due to its compact form and smaller display.
Features:
As a result of its 180-degree Hinge, it may be set flat on a desk or table. Between the system’s lid and great keyboard is an 11.6-inch display.
This Vivobook machine is equipped with an Intel Celeron N4000 CPU that is enough for regular day-to-day tasks. The chipset has a maximum clock speed of 2.6 GHz and a 4 MB cache. The hardware configuration comprises 64GB of eMMC flash memory and 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM. These specs allow you to multitask without difficulty. So, this is useful, but more hardware is necessary for high-end projects.
Pros
- Its 2.1lb weight and tiny size make it easy to travel.
- The keyboard provides a 1.6mm critical travel distance for a pleasant typing experience.
- The Intel Celeron N4000 CPU is a powerful processor.
Cons
- An average battery life.
4. Lenovo Chromebook S330
The Lenovo Chromebook S330 will offer you the best Chrome Operating System. It is a sleek, black, and secure laptop perfect for your Cricut crafts and designing. Also, the Chromebook is capable of taking all computing requirements with ease. Hence, it will give you the best performance for business, education, and your Cricut design.
And LPDDR3 enables you to get your work done super-fast. And with this memory, you will get effortless eMMC storage, multitasking, quick software loading, quick boot-ups, and much more.
Features:
This Chromebook does not feature an Intel or AMD processor but a Mediatek. But have no fear – Chrome OS means simple and easy-going. And this processor provides performance levels that are entirely acceptable for regular computer tasks.
Although the laptop is not foldable, the Hinge allows the screen to be pushed back up and down to 180 degrees. So, that’ll allow you to modify the viewing angle to suit your needs.
This laptop is remarkably lightweight, making it simple to carry anywhere. The construction quality is adequate, but you should limit your expectations at this price range.
Pros
- Affordable
- Impressive lightweight storage solution
- The battery life is sufficient
- The keyboard is quite pleasant to use
Cons
- The viewing angle of the display is limited.
- The processor isn’t always sufficient for heavy tasks.
5. Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 4
The new Samsung Chromebook 4 is equipped with a long-lasting battery and Gigabit Wi-Fi to offer speed and efficiency to any activity or journey. Samsung Quality Encounters is compatible with Chrome OS. Its innovative and integrated design enables you to do tasks swiftly on a secure and portable device. Additionally, the Google suite will help you download and save documents. And the best part? Collaboration with others is quick and straightforward!
So, it is a compact Chromebook, including an 11.6-inch display compared to a desktop replacement with a 15.6-inch screen. This Chromebook is somewhat more effective than its big sister, even though both are bare-bones budget computers. In addition to being more portable, it has longer battery life than other devices. Sadly, its poor display quality is quite visible due to its small size.
Features:
It has a super compact 11.6 Inches display. The trackpad and keyboard are also decent and feel good to the touch. Also, the Chromebook 4 is vital to withstand rough falls, so don’t worry about integrity. And you can stream films or download massive files with the fast Gigabit Wi-Fi connection.
The Integrated Virus protection layers ensure protection all the time. Furthermore, the rapid rechargeable battery with a USB-C charger has strong battery life. And you can use voice control to finish any minor and easy tasks via Google Assistant.
Pros
- Low-cost and compact
- Comfortable keyboard
- Good battery life
Cons
- Dull, blurry display
- It has only one USB-C port and one USB-A port
How to buy a Chromebook for Cricut?
When you are looking for a Chromebook that is good for use with a Cricut machine, there are a few things to keep in mind.
1. Check if you have Google Playstore Installed
You need to check if your Google Playstore is installed. The Cricut Design Space app is only available on Chromebooks that have the Google Playstore installed. If you are techy you could use the windows version but this won’t be native to your Chromebook and could be a hassle.
2. Pick the Right Size
Chromebooks come in a variety of sizes. The size that you choose will depend on how you want to use your Cricut machine. If you only want to use it for small projects, an 11-inch Chromebook should be sufficient. If you want to use it for larger projects, a 14-inch Chromebook would be a better choice.
3. Battery Life
When you are using your Cricut machine, you will need to have a Chromebook that has long battery life. Look for a Chromebook that has at least 10 hours of battery life. This will ensure that you can use your Cricut machine for extended periods without having to worry about your Chromebook running out of power.
4. Processor
The processor is the heart of your Chromebook. When you are using a Cricut machine, you will need a Chromebook that has a fast processor. Look for a Chromebook that has an Intel Core i5 or i7 processor. This will ensure that your Chromebook can handle the demands of using a Cricut machine.
5. RAM
RAM is important when you are using a Cricut machine. You will need a Chromebook that has at least 4GB of RAM. This will ensure that your Chromebook can run the Cricut Design Space app and other apps that you might use while working on your projects.
6. Storage
When you are using a Cricut machine, you will need to store the projects that you create. Look for a Chromebook that has at least 32GB of storage. This will ensure that you have enough space to store your projects.
7. Display
The display is important when you are using a Cricut machine. You will want to choose a Chromebook that has a high-resolution display. This will ensure that you can see your projects clearly and that they will look their best.
8. Connectivity
When you are using a Cricut machine, you will need to connect it to your Chromebook. Look for a Chromebook that has Bluetooth and USB ports. This will ensure that you can connect your Cricut machine to your Chromebook.
Wrapping It Up
Since there are many different Chromebook models on the market, it can be difficult to know which one is the best for your needs. If you are looking for a laptop appropriate for use with your Cricut machine, this article will help you choose the right one. After reading this article, you will know more about Chromebooks and which one might work best for you.