The Acer Chromebook 15 Attaches a Small Price Tag to a Big Screen


AcerChromebook15031815-1Let’s be honest – in the world of Chromebooks, there isn’t a whole lot of diversity. Since Chrome OS works pretty much the same across the board, regardless of hardware, the main distinguishing factors you’re left with when choosing the right Chromebook for you is size and price. With the release of the new Chromebook 15, Acer looks to have hit the mark on both.

AcerChromebook15031815The Acer Chromebook 15 is the biggest Chrome OS device to date. Let that sink in – the biggest one out there yet. Quite a bit larger than Google’s own Chromebook Pixel 2 in fact, which holds one of the highest price tags in its category but whose screen measures in at just under 13 inches. The Chromebook 15 boasts a whopping 15.6-inch screen, even larger than one of its priciest competitors, Apple’s 15-inch MacBook Pro. And just to sweeten the deal, Acer has attached a very affordable price tag to even the higher-end model, making this latest addition to the Chromebook family quite a steal.

AcerChromebook15031815-2The Chromebook 15 starts at $249 and the base model includes a low-res 1366 x 768 pixel display, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage. The next step up is a version that goes for $349.99 and offers a 1080p IPS display, 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. Plus, it’s powered by a dual-core Intel Celeron processor – a real laptop chip! (Most other Chromebooks use lower-power mobile processors). This is key in setting the Chromebook 15 apart from the pack, as the new 1.6GHz dual-core Celeron 3205U allows multiple windows and dozens of videos to run simultaneously with virtually no slack. The usability when compared to other laptops is pretty great too, with a full-sized spacious keyboard and the biggest trackpad currently offered on a Chromebook. The deck holds two big, loud speakers that send sound straight up rather than to the side or off of another surface. Lastly, it offers a smorgasbord of connectivity options, with a USB 3.0 port, a USB 2.0 port, an HDMI port, a full-size SD card slot, a headphone jack, and support for 214GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi networks. It even has a surprising amount of battery life for its size - Acer claims the Chromebook 15 offers up to nine hours of use per charge.

While the bulk of the Acer Chromebook 15 may be a put-off for some, this is not a laptop geared towards the carry-and-go crowd. This system seems more apt to replace your current desktop setup than to travel in your backpack (and even then, it’d have to be a pretty big backpack – in addition to its 15.6-inch screen, it weighs in at just under five pounds). It is set to go on sale in early April and will offer several options in its $250-350 range, including both a white plastic and a black version.

Topics: Technology News Laptops & Ultrathin Ultrabooks Tech Reviews

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