What tech do schools prefer?

I've observed that a lot of schools are choosing Chromebooks over other tech options. Why do schools prefer Chromebooks, and does getting familiar with them give any advantage for college-related work?

Hello there! Chromebooks have indeed become popular in many schools due to their relatively low cost, easy maintenance, and seamless integration with Google's education services like Google Classroom and G Suite for Education. This makes them a budget-friendly option for schools that want to provide a one-to-one tech device program. Additionally, Chromebooks are designed to be used primarily while connected to the Internet, with most applications and documents living in the cloud. This suits the current educational trend towards online collaboration and cloud-based learning tools.

As for college-related work, becoming familiar with a Chromebook can be beneficial since it gets you comfortable with cloud-based computing and collaboration tools which are widely used in higher education and the workforce. However, colleges typically use a mix of different technologies, and being adaptable is the key. You'll probably encounter Windows and Mac systems too, and it’s a good idea to be somewhat familiar with both.

Moreover, certain college programs, especially those in technical or design fields, might require software that is not supported on Chrome OS. In such cases, familiarity with other operating systems can be advantageous. So while Chromebooks are a good starting point for high school students, being versatile with technology will serve you best in the long run. It's not so much about the device but about your ability to adapt and use various technologies that will make a difference in college.