No one can disagree that this new world that we are living in has pushed us (and our hardware) to its limits because of our ability to stream our classes. When virtual classes started, you probably made do with whatever hardware you already had, and that’s fine. However as your audience has grown, more instructors joined the fray, and expectations have grown, you may have found that you want better quality audio and video, which can mean a better laptop, camera, microphone, and audio add-ons.
You might be surprised to learn that streaming requires a considerable amount of processing power; you simply won’t be able to stream like a pro with an entry-level computer such as a ChromeBook. But that doesn’t mean you need to buy the most expensive laptop you can afford, either.
If you are only broadcasting yourself from a camera and microphone, you can get by with a relatively modest system. If you are simultaneously streaming via a camera and mic, or even lining-in though, that’s a different story — you’ll need a beefier computer to deliver crisp, smooth high-resolution content to your students, not to mention handling normal day-to-day activities.
Minimum Laptop Requirements
Operating System
Windows 11 or Windows 10: Home, Pro, or Enterprise
No S Mode for compatibility purposes.
Processor
Dual-core 2Ghz or higher (Intel i3/i5/i7 or AMD equivalent)
RAM
8Gb or higher
Operating System
macOS X with macOS X (10.10) or later
Processor
Dual-core 2Ghz or higher (Intel i3/i5/i7 or AMD equivalent)
RAM
8Gb or higher
While their price points are very attractive, ChromeBooks offer very little in the way of processing power and memory. Putting it bluntly, these machines are mainly designed for internet browsing and should only be used for simple tasks.
Therefore due to their limited compatibilities and capabilities, we do not recommend using any ChromeBook for live streaming.