Google donates more than $5 million to give Chromebooks to refugees

For many consumers, a Chromebook is looked at as an inexpensive secondary computer. The truth is, yeah, they make excellent complementary devices. With that said, when it comes to consumers without a lot of money, laptops running Google's Chrome OS can be a perfectly fine primary computer too -- depending on needs, of course.

Chromebooks are more than low prices, however; they are also very low-maintenance too. Updates are automatic, and malware is largely non-existent. It is for that reason that the machines are perfect for scenarios where resources are scarce. Today, Google announces that it is donating $5.3 million to put Chromebooks in the hands of refugees.

"Last fall, we shared how we're supporting organizations on the frontline of providing essential humanitarian relief support. But we also wanted to do something to help with refugees' long-term challenges, such as the need for access to information and education. So today, we're making a $5.3 million Google.org grant to support the launch of Project Reconnect, a program by NetHope to equip nonprofits working with refugees in Germany with Chromebooks", says Jacquelline Fuller, Director of Google.org.

Fuller further says, "Chromebooks have proven to be a good fit for education purposes. They can be easily set up to run education or language learning apps. They’re automatically kept up to date with the latest features, apps and virus protection. And they can be configured and managed by a central administrator (in this case the nonprofits) to offer relevant programs, content and materials depending on the situation. For example, they can run an educational game for children, a language course for younger adults or even feature information about the asylum application process on a pre-installed homepage".

I know what you are thinking -- Google is biased in supporting an organization that donates Chromebooks. After all, the laptops run the search giant's Linux-based operating system. With that said, Chromebooks are the smartest option for these refugees.

Think about it -- if the goal is to get these people connected, Windows has too much baggage, such as the risk of malware, plus confusing updates and privacy settings. Macs are too expensive -- selecting OS X would decrease the number of machines that can be purchased for the $5.3 million, meaning less refugees connected.

The fact that Chromebooks are secure and easy to maintain makes them perfect for this project. They are even easy to wipe and pass to another user when needed. Even if Google is biased, ultimately, it is the right choice anyway. It is a major win for refugees.

If you work for a non-profit that works with refugees, you can apply for the program here.

What do you think of Google's donation to Project Reconnect? Tell me in the comments.