r/chromeos • u/Agreeable_Fox_4595 • 2d ago

Buying Advice Need Advice: Is Chromebook good for accounting student use?

Hi everyone, this is my first time posting here and I could use some suggestions.

I’m an accounting student, and my current laptop just died due to a motherboard issue (repairing it would be too expensive). While looking for alternatives, I noticed that Chromebooks are much cheaper than regular laptops, but I’m not very familiar with them.

My main use would be studying, browsing, and improving my Excel skills for accounting purposes. The big question is: can a Chromebook properly run Microsoft Excel, or would I be too limited.

Any advice or recommendations would be really appreciated.

Thanks!

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u/oriolorrick 2d ago

Google is free and in most cases (like this one) simpler than asking Reddit.

Go to your college’s tech website (or even your major’s website) and look at the tech requirements.

But to answer your question: No. don’t get a Chromebook.

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u/Otherwise-Fan-232 1d ago

365 Office is free for the web as well. I pay for both, not biased.

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u/Candid_Report955 1d ago

If your classes require Microsoft Excel, then you could access that on the web with a subscription, but there are some things that don't work well compared to the installed versions

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/differences-between-using-a-workbook-in-the-browser-and-in-excel-f0dc28ed-b85d-4e1d-be6d-5878005db3b6

With a Chromebook you can use the Linux subsystem to install LibreOffice, which has a spreadsheet app. There are also some available as Android apps.

How to Install LibreOffice on a Chromebook https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzswADAbatI

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u/yotties 1d ago

Accountancy has a high rate of Excel-enthusiasts who use VBA. So you may alienate yourself from that (which can be seen as a positive or a negative.).

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u/Puppy_Breath 1d ago

Google sheets is great and does most of excel functionality. You can also do excel in a browser with O365. All that being said, you’ll probably run into issues and should stick with what they recommend for the major. Over the courses, there will be instructions, add-ons, other software, etc. that will be focused on the main platform and you’ll be delayed in figuring it out.

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u/zdanev 1d ago

the web version of Excel (Office 365) runs just fine on Chromebook, the Windows/Mac versions obviously do not. unless you need some very specific accounting related software you are going to be OK with the Chromebook.

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u/callmeStephen19 1d ago

Slightly off topic, but thought I'd mention it. I'm in the market for a new Chromebook. A surprising number of them don't have the numeric keypad, which I need for personal use, and I expect an accountant couldn't live without. FYI.

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u/Puppy_Breath 1d ago

I have a bluetooth numpad, that works well when I need it.

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u/rebelde616 1d ago

Don't get one if you intend to use primarily Excel. If you can somehow use Google Sheets, then yes, by all means.

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u/Otherwise-Fan-232 1d ago

Cost a concern? Get a used 8th gen or higher intel business laptop Latitude, Thinkpad, Elitebook, then and will be better for you as a student.