I have been using my chromebook for about 3 years now.
The key benefits are the cost (of course, under $300 for mine), but also the lightweight and "instant on". It originally would last for 11 hours between recharging the battery, which took less than 2 hours for a 100% charge.
The negatives:
1) My cheap chromebook has a lower resolution screen. Nicer ones are available.
2) The college I teach at as an adjunct -- their new security verification software will not work for me on the Chromebook. No wifi possible at the school other than their restricted guest mode. This is because you need to download a small program and run it, but that program is only designed for MAC and PC.
3) My college -- the course delivery using the on-line system also uses "Blackboard Collaborate" -- their version of skype, to hold group meetings. This also requires a mini software download to initiate each session, so will not work on chromebook. However, this stupid software also has troubles with my Windows 10 Home and half broken PC laptop, and about 20% of the students also can't use it.
4) I do go back to the desktop PC for full features for Word (very heavy editing / formatting tools), some Adobe programs, heavy features in Power point such as narrate&record, if I want to use MS Project, Solidworks or AutoCad, etc. If you are a "super user" for software, be aware. BUT - laptops that can run this software tend to be very expensive and / or very heavy with short battery life.
Chromebook handles 99% of my tasks, anything on the internet / cloud and that includes a programs from tax software to video editing.
It turns on in under 10 seconds and I am off to the races.
:-)