Chromebooks are great for basic Internet tasks like web browsing, social networking and sending / receiving e-mail but the one major drawback to the Windows alternative is they can’t run true desktop-class software.
It’s a valid argument but one that apparently won’t stick forever as Adobe and Google are aiming to improve Chromebooks’ image (no pun intended) by bringing Adobe’s Creative Cloud software to the search giant’s budget-friendly platform. There are a few caveats to take note of, however.
For starters, the offering will initially be limited to a streaming version of Photoshop. Due to the streaming nature of the application, files are saved / opened / etc. from a user’s Google Drive rather than locally. Adobe has a full list of features that aren’t included in the streaming version that can be found by clicking here.
What’s more, Adobe is limiting access to US-based Adobe education customers with a paid Creative Cloud membership from the get-go.
The good news is that since it’s a streaming version of Photoshop, it runs straight from the cloud to your Chromebook and is always up to date. Google also touts the fact that there is no long client installation so it’ll be a breeze to deploy to a company’s Chromebook fleet.
In addition to being able to access Photoshop from a Chromebook, users will also be able to access it from any Windows device with a Chrome web browser.
While there are some limitations, it’s better than the alternative of nothing at all.
Interested parties that meet the above criteria are invited to head over to Adobe’s website to apply for access.
