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One of the most common questions K12 Montana gets from school administrators is: should we buy Chromebooks or Windows laptops? It's a question we help Montana districts answer every year during technology planning and device refresh cycles. The honest answer is: it depends - and the right choice depends on how your students and staff actually use technology.
Here's a balanced look at both options from the perspective of Montana K-12 schools.
The Case for Chromebooks
Chromebooks are purpose-built for the web and Google Workspace. They're fast to boot, easy to manage through the Google Admin Console, and far less likely to get malware than Windows machines. They're also significantly less expensive than Windows laptops at comparable build quality for the K-12 market.
Management is a major advantage. Through Google Admin, you can push apps, restrict websites, enforce policies, and see all your devices in one place - without needing a complex device management platform. For student devices especially, the simplicity is a feature.
Chromebooks are also durable and the battery life is typically excellent - two things that matter a lot when 25 students are hauling devices around a school all day.
The Case for Windows Laptops
Windows laptops make sense when your district relies on software that doesn't run in a browser. Specialized assessment platforms, SPED tools, CAD or design software, or locally-installed database applications all require Windows. Staff in roles with specialized software needs may be better served by Windows machines.
Windows devices also integrate more naturally with Windows-centric environments - Active Directory, on-premise file servers, and certain printing setups - though these are becoming less common as schools move to the cloud.
The Hybrid Approach
Many Montana districts use both: Chromebooks for students and most teaching staff, Windows laptops for administrative staff and specialized roles. This gets you the management simplicity of Chromebooks for the majority of your devices while keeping Windows where it's genuinely needed.
K12 Montana helps Montana school districts make informed technology procurement decisions. Contact us before your next device refresh and we'll help you figure out what makes sense for your students, your staff, and your budget.