We expect a lot out of our laptops these days because we use them a lot! There used to be a time when the computer was just for writing a paper or checking email. Now, laptops are used for browsing the internet, streaming movies, school work, real work, play, and more. If you have a family, multiply all those uses by the number of family members and you realize just how important a good family computer is. As the holidays approach, I always have an eye out for the perfect gift for my tweens and when I was given the chance to review an Acer Chromebook 15, it seemed like the perfect fit. I was provided with the Acer Chromebook 15 CB515-1HT-P39B in order to facilitate review.
Acer Chromebook 15 Review
My daughter is 12 and she is super picky. You know how kids are these days- they are on the cutting edge of technology and they expect performance. They never waited for dial up internet and the least lag time elicits groans. Plus, the tech needs to “look fancy” as my daughter says. Colors and shininess, well they are a big plus in her book. So the Acer Chromebook 15 passed the exterior looks test. I must say that the brushed aluminum Chromebook looks very similar to my business use MacPro (except that the very base is a black plastic). It also feels amazingly light- just under 4 pounds.
15.6 inch Screen
Next on the looks list is the screen when you open up the Acer Chromebook 15. It has a giant screen -15.6 inches- which is so awesome for having multiple screens open at the same time and being able to pull photos off the desktop and insert them into whatever you are working on. The large screen size is also great for having two windows open and being able to compare or read both at the same time. And my favorite part about the screen is the clarity offered by the 1920 x 1080 full HD display screen. I am on my computer all day so I just have to have a crystal clear screen.
Plus, my kids like to watch movies on the family laptop and the 15.6 inch vivid display screen works great for that. My son tested that out during his last sleepover and it has wide viewing angles perfect for both boys to view the screen easily without losing definition. Oh, yes, and I should mention, it is a touch screen. It is hard for me to get used to that feature but fun to be able to just flick a window away or exit an app with a touch.
Touch Screen And TouchPad
The backlit keyboard surrounded by aluminium palm rest looks snazzy and works great. The touchpad is fully clickable featuring click-anywhere functionality supporting tap, swipe, hold and pinch gestures. On either side of the keyboard, there are two built in upward facing speakers which support High-Definition Audio. It also has a built-in microphone and HD webcam.
Ports
The ports are probably the next thing you want to know about. While you can’t insert a DVD, you don’t have to because you can just use Netflix or some other streaming service. There are 2 USB Type-C Ports (the same kind my Sony Xperia phone uses), 2 USB 3.0 Ports (normal USB as I’d say), 1 headphone/speaker jack, and one Micro Secure Digital (SD) card reader.
OK, so now I have covered most of the basic features that you can’t help but want to know about so know you probably just want to know how it worked and how I feel about the Acer Chromebook 15. Well, I am surprised how much I like it. I was thinking it would be a good family computer for my tweens and husband to use but I am surprised to find that I can actually use it for my blogging work too!
Vivid Display
The vivid display is great. The responsiveness is great. It is easy to use and to navigate. It has a fabulous battery life- up to 12 hours on a single charge, so it can be used for a full day of work plus streaming and fun. Something else I just love is the Acer’s Chromebook 15 fanless design which allows it to run without any noise at all.
Acer’s Chromebook 15 makes a great family computer. It is ideal for sharing with multiple users since users can log into their own account to access Gmail, Docs, website bookmarks and other information. Storage on Google Drive protects files, documents, and photos safely in the cloud, and ensures that the most current version of the file or document is always available and safe, even if the Chromebook is lost or stolen!
Accessible Apps
One more thing that sets the Acer Chromebook 15 apart is the support for Android Apps right out of the box. My daughter loved this feature and immediately but shortcuts to the Netflix App and Youtube App onto the home screen. My son is using the ZapZap math app on the laptop and I like him looking at the bigger screen.
The Acer Chromebook 15 CB515-1HT-P39B which has the 1920 x 1080 full HD display, Intel Pentium processor, 4GB of memory and 32GB of internal storage has a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price of $399.99 and it is available at Best Buy. This makes it one of the most attractive laptops for under $500 and a great gift for families any time of the year. You can also visit Acer.com to learn more.
Acer Chromebook Specs In ReviewProcessor: Intel Pentium Quad-Core Processor N4200 (1.1GHz with Intel Burst Technology up to 2.5GHz
- OS: Google Chrome
- Google Play Store: Yes, to support Android Apps
- Display: 15.6 Full HD (1920 x 1080) widescreen LED-backlit IPS display, Multi-touch screen, supporting 10 point touch
- Memory: 4GB of LPDDR4 SDRAM Memory
- Video: Integrated Intel® HD Graphics
- Audio: High-Definition Audio Support; Two Built-in Upward Facing Speakers; Built-In Microphone
- Storage: 32GB internal storage
- Digital Media Card Reader: Micro Secure Digital (SD) card reader
- Communications: 802.11AC WiFi featuring MIMO Technology (Dual-Band 2.4GHz and 5GHz); Bluetooth 4.2
- Webcam: HD Webcam (1280×720, 720p) with 88 degree wide angle lens supporting High Dynamic Range
- Input and Output
- 2 – USB Type-C Ports USB 3.1 Gen 1 (up to 4Gbps) DisplayPort over USB Type-C
- 2 – USB 3.0 Ports
- 1 –Headphone/Speaker Jack
- Keyboard: Backlit keyboard surrounded by aluminium palm rest
- Touchpad: Fully clickable touchpad featuring click-anywhere functionality supporting tap, swipe, hold
- and pinch gestures.
- Battery Life: Up to 12 Hours of Battery Life
- Battery Type: 4-Cell Li-Ion Battery (3220 mAh)
- Dimensions: 14.88” W x 10.08” D x 0.75” H inches
- Weight: 3.97 pounds
- Warranty: One Year International Traveler’s Limited Warranty
Have you tried the new Acer Chromebook 15 yet? It was just introduced in September of 2017. Let me know what you think @familyfocusblog!
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