Acer Chromebook: Browse the Internet and tackle work or school projects with this Acer Chromebook. An 11.6-inch LED backlit display and an Intel HD graphics card provide a rich viewing experience for images and video, and a built-in webcam lets you place video calls with crisp clarity. With its compact size and 9-hour battery life, this Acer Chromebook is ideal for travel.Learn more about Chromebooks ›
I purchased the older version of this machine two years ago, and it has been a great product for me. There are a number of reasons it has worked for me. The machine is lightweight, has extended battery life, charges quickly and the battery lasts nearly ten hours on a single charge. It boots up literally in seconds, making it my go to machine for a lot of tasks.The keyboard is a good size for an 11-inch laptop, and the keys feel sturdy and provide good feedback. The trackpad is great; better than my 17-inch Toshiba for sure.
The machine is perfect for email, web browsing, writing, watching videos...anything you don't require a specialized program for. The screen does not provide a high quality HD display, but for watching a lot of shows on Netflix or Hulu, it is more than adequate. The machine is quiet and runs very cool, so propping it on your lap or on your bed is more pleasant than a larger laptop that has a large fan and heats up.
Although many tasks require a wifi connection, there are apps such as Gamial offline, Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides all work offline, and you can download shows, music, or movies to watch offline. Of course, 16GB of storage is not a large amount, so you must monitor that. There are apps that you can use, some of which are more useful than others. You can use Microsoft Office Online for free, but it is not as robust as the installed versions.
This is one of the weaknesses of a Chromebook. You really can't install programs such as office, Turbotax, Quicken, Photoshop, Minecraft, etc. If you require such programs, a Chromebook will not be a proper choice for you. But you also don't need to purchase and maintain an antivirus subscription with this machine so that's a plus.
For those that need an inexpensive laptop to do a lot of basic work on, this machine is fantastic. For those people who already own a workhorse computer and just need an easy grab and go or quick starting machine, this is great. For college students who might not want to drag their heavier, expensive Macbook from class to class, this is a great machine.
One other thought-printing. If you require a printer and do not have a Google print wireless machine or an existing machine to print from, you'll have issues printing.
Bottom line is you should assess what you need first. If this budget laptop can do all you need, you'll be quite happy with it.
Acer CB3-111-C8UB Chromebook: Great for commuters and students, this lightweight Chromebook is optimized for Web-based apps and cloud storage on the go. The antiglare screen, quick Wi-Fi capability, and quiet fanless design allow for unobtrusive productivity at coffee shops, parks and more.Learn more about Chromebooks ›
I've been toying with buying this Chromebook as a backup machine to my 17" Windows based Toshiba Laptop. I know I can't go without a Windows based machine because I run Quicken and Turbotax on my present laptop. Quicken is more robust than online Mint, and because I prepare taxes for a number of people, Turbotax online isn't a viable alternative.
That ebing said, I thought it would be nice to have something that had a very fast boot time and long battery life. I've been doing some writing, and thought a small Chromebook would be nice to have. I toyed with it in the store for about a half hour to get a feel for the machine.
The construction is plastic for the most part. This device won't win any beauty contests, but for a very low priced machine, that isn't surprising. I will say that I was impressed with the keyboard and track pad. They both had a much better feel than I expected. The in-store demo was a bit of a pain as I was trying to use the machine, but I was able to get enough of a feel for it.
For someone on a budget that can use Google Docs and uses the machine to surf the web, this is a fine companion. I like the idea of sitting out on my patio and writing for hours without having to plug it in.
But...the 17 inch screen on my Toshiba is really nice. The entire build is...it feels like quality. As I toyed with this one, it felt useful, but it was a diminished experience compared to the bigger machine. I think if I spent a lot of time away from home near wifi connections, I'd be more inclined to want this because it would be easier to bring with me than the 17 inch. Even though the price point is nice, do I really need to spend the money just so I can boot up in 7 seconds instead of 2-3 minutes? I don't think so, because I already have a laptop.
If I didn't really need a Window's based machine, I'd be quite happy with this little guy at this price. It is a great value for what you can do with it.
Acer CB3-111-C8UB Chromebook: Great for commuters and students, this lightweight Chromebook is optimized for Web-based apps and cloud storage on the go. The antiglare screen, quick Wi-Fi capability, and quiet fanless design allow for unobtrusive productivity at coffee shops, parks and more.Learn more about Chromebooks ›
Overall4 out of 5
Not a bad little machine
ByjaccavfromNew York, NY
I've been toying with buying this Chromebook as a backup machine to my 17" Windows based Toshiba Laptop. I know I can't go without a Windows based machine because I run Quicken and Turbotax on my present laptop. Quicken is more robust than online Mint, and because I prepare taxes for a number of people, Turbotax online isn't a viable alternative.
That ebing said, I thought it would be nice to have something that had a very fast boot time and long battery life. I've been doing some writing, and thought a small Chromebook would be nice to have. I toyed with it in the store for about a half hour to get a feel for the machine.
The construction is plastic for the most part. This device won't win any beauty contests, but for a very low priced machine, that isn't surprising. I will say that I was impressed with the keyboard and track pad. They both had a much better feel than I expected. The in-store demo was a bit of a pain as I was trying to use the machine, but I was able to get enough of a feel for it.
For someone on a budget that can use Google Docs and uses the machine to surf the web, this is a fine companion. I like the idea of sitting out on my patio and writing for hours without having to plug it in.
But...the 17 inch screen on my Toshiba is really nice. The entire build is...it feels like quality. As I toyed with this one, it felt useful, but it was a diminished experience compared to the bigger machine. I think if I spent a lot of time away from home near wifi connections, I'd be more inclined to want this because it would be easier to bring with me than the 17 inch. Even though the price point is nice, do I really need to spend the money just so I can boot up in 7 seconds instead of 2-3 minutes? I don't think so, because I already have a laptop.
If I didn't really need a Window's based machine, I'd be quite happy with this little guy at this price. It is a great value for what you can do with it.
jaccav
New York, NY
In reply to SusieQSiff
July 22, 2015
Lol. Great minds think alike. Mine is a Satellite as well.
I really don't need it, but I want it anyway.It would be nice to leave sitting by the couch and if I want to look something up, I'm on in seconds. Shoot out an email...same thing. My Android phone is great, but typing on that is not the same as using a keyboard. Add in pushbullet, and I can reply to texts from the Chromebook.
If it sounds like I'm trying to convince myself to buy one...I am.
Acer CB3-111-C8UB Chromebook: Great for commuters and students, this lightweight Chromebook is optimized for Web-based apps and cloud storage on the go. The antiglare screen, quick Wi-Fi capability, and quiet fanless design allow for unobtrusive productivity at coffee shops, parks and more.Learn more about Chromebooks ›
Overall1 out of 5
Won't run skyoe
Bytonyhenry
Was not told it won't run skype. I am not using Google to video call
jaccav
New York, NY
Did you ask if it could?
July 22, 2015
It doesn't take a lot of research to understand what a Chromebook can and cannot run. Lack of understanding is not the fault of the machine.