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Hendy
 
 
 
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  • Review count
    2
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    71
  • First review
    November 30, 2016
  • Last review
    December 12, 2016
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    5
 
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    2
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    1
  • First review comment
    December 3, 2016
  • Last review comment
    December 3, 2016
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    November 30, 2016
  • Last answer
    December 12, 2016
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Hendy's Reviews
 
Acer R 13 Convertible 2-in-1 Chromebook: Experience the combined benefits of power, flexibility and mobility with this Acer Chromebook laptop. It has a 2.1GHz quad-core MediaTek processor and 4GB of RAM for multitasking efficiency and enhanced productivity, and it runs efficiently on Chrome OS. This Acer Chromebook laptop has a 13-inch touch screen that flips for use as a tablet.
 
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Excellent Chromebook
on December 12, 2016
Posted by: Hendy
from Colorado
I have had great capability and use out of my Acer C720. So, it was no surprise to me that the R13 was a worthy successor. I'm typing this on the screen keyboard now. It takes a little getting used to, but it is nice to have type-ahead like a phone (not exactly the same, but workable). l wanted a Chromebook with touchscreen so I could take advantage of Android. So far it exceeds my expectations and works very well. I didn't anticipate the device having sensors. I thought it would be a "dumb" computer and less like a smart phone. It senses orientation in four directions. Of course it acts like a tablet (in tablet mode), but without the home or other hard buttons. BTW, since I'm typing this lengthy and detailed review, I quickly reverted back to the keyboard since it is much faster for me even though it doesn't have type-ahead built-in (that will probably happen in future equipment and/or operating system upgrades). One thing I absolutely love is the pinch and zoom capability. It is so much easier and faster to set it to see what I'm typing.
To me, the lid seems just right. It is not too loose and not too tight. It flips open easily and does not move unless you want to move it. The hinge and plastics are not six-sigma designed and form fitting, but they are very passable for a computer of this price range. I have read other complaints about this being lower quality workmanship or materials. It may not be the top of the line, like the now "near-extinct" Chromebook Pixel (but WAY below the original price; you can get a Pixel near the same price now, but it is already 3 or 4 generations old). The R13 is very sturdy and has a professional feel and appearance. I don't have any problems with lag or slowness so far.
The speakers are as good as I could ask for in this package. It won't blow your room away, but it is many levels better than other laptop-style computers I have dealt with in the past.
The HDMI capability is good. The video card is capable of 4k+, but I wasn't able to run a stable configuration. It is probably something between the TV, cables, switches, etc. rather than a real problem with this computer. It isn't a big deal for me because I have several other sources to run 4K video. It works fine with 1080P and I'm OK with that.
I did get a little scare out of the box as the system seemed to constantly reset itself. However, that was quickly remedied by a Google/Chrome update. I guess the drivers are in bad shape from the factory, but I was pleasantly surprised to see it start behaving well immediately after the update. So far, the Developer Channel has also been stable.

FYI: if you want to use Android apps for this computer, as of 12/2016, you need to switch to Developer Channel (Mode) on Chrome O/S (just google for how to do it). However, it is on the list of future upgrades to Chrome and will eventually be on the Stable Channel.
My Best Buy number: 4203936029
I would recommend this to a friend!
+15points
24of 33voted this as helpful.
 
HP Laptop: This HP notebook is all about getting the perfect combination of design, reliability, and great features. Style and productivity while keeping your needs in mind - now that's something to get excited about.
 
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
You generally get what you pay for...
on November 30, 2016
Posted by: Hendy
First, on sale for $549. You will be hard pressed to find any laptop with latest i7 at this price. I wanted a 17" simply for the fact that my farsightedness is problematic now. I would have preferred a 1080P monitor, but the difference is $100-300 (never mind the increase if you want 1440P or 4K) if you want to keep the other specs the same. I didn't need the battery drain of a touch screen, nor the functionality. I wanted the best CPU I could get in a laptop for under $800. You can get a laptop elsewhere that beats the i7-7500U but it will have too many more things draining the battery (anything better than an i7-6700HQ is going to push the price way up over $1,000). I don't need a speedy SSD because I can simply upgrade later when I'm ready to boost. I don't need the backlit keys, when a light switch or daylight will work just fine. I will probably upgrade the memory later, but 8 GB is quite sufficient. Other laptops cut corners by using DDR3 instead of DDR4, that was a plus with this one. I don't need a powerful discrete GPU, I'm not running games or design programs on it. The Intel combo of CPU/GPU is quite powerful compared to any earlier generations (and all AMD CPU/GPU offerings). As stated by others, this is no battery wonder, but it is enough. If you need more, the battery is removable and an extra battery would be a good investment. The best laptop review sites recommend about 40% backlight level as well as integrated GPU (bypassing discrete if equipped; this one is integrated) and other power saving measures.
Two things were annoying but not deal breakers: no gig-Ethernet (or USB 3.1 and/or Thunderbird to adapt to gig-Ethernet) and N instead of AC wi-fi. If you need gig-Ethernet and/or AC wi-fi, this is not the computer you're looking for.... I didn't need the included DVD, but I will eventually convert that over to a SATA storage device with an aftermarket adapter. I would have preferred a 7200 rpm HDD or a SSHD (solid-state hybrid drive) over the 5400 rpm HDD, but that too is preference rather than need. Ultimately for me the 1T drive will be a data drive. For now it is the boot drive. The webcam is no champion, but I don't demand much from it. It's not super sturdy, but it is not flimsy either. It feels lightweight to me, but I'm over 6 feet (and grew up in Texas) so I'm used to everything bigger.
You may prefer the reputation of Dell or Lenovo, but their offerings (on sale or regular price are mostly at a premium-+$50-100 for the same specs). Dell really lost a customer with me when I originally ordered an XPS 15 screamer with way too much stuff for over $2,000 total order; lost me by authorizing charges on my credit card three times the actual price which took a week before that was straightened out and my balance was again made available after multiple phone calls to multiple departments and multiple credit card departments to ultimately cancel the order. I was mortified by "Big Blue" and the leviathan of industry. I will only ever buy from brick and mortar stores after that and reading about the recommendation of "try before you keep" by laptop reviewers. I suspect "open box" items will become more and more readily available as consumers learn this little trick.
I recommend updating all of the drivers (most of them were already up-to-date, but your experience may be different).
My Best Buy number: 4203936029
I would recommend this to a friend!
+46points
47of 48voted this as helpful.
 
Hendy's Review Comments
 
HP Laptop: This HP notebook is all about getting the perfect combination of design, reliability, and great features. Style and productivity while keeping your needs in mind - now that's something to get excited about.
 
Overall5 out of 55 out of 5
You generally get what you pay for...
By Hendy
First, on sale for $549. You will be hard pressed to find any laptop with latest i7 at this price. I wanted a 17" simply for the fact that my farsightedness is problematic now. I would have preferred a 1080P monitor, but the difference is $100-300 (never mind the increase if you want 1440P or 4K) if you want to keep the other specs the same. I didn't need the battery drain of a touch screen, nor the functionality. I wanted the best CPU I could get in a laptop for under $800. You can get a laptop elsewhere that beats the i7-7500U but it will have too many more things draining the battery (anything better than an i7-6700HQ is going to push the price way up over $1,000). I don't need a speedy SSD because I can simply upgrade later when I'm ready to boost. I don't need the backlit keys, when a light switch or daylight will work just fine. I will probably upgrade the memory later, but 8 GB is quite sufficient. Other laptops cut corners by using DDR3 instead of DDR4, that was a plus with this one. I don't need a powerful discrete GPU, I'm not running games or design programs on it. The Intel combo of CPU/GPU is quite powerful compared to any earlier generations (and all AMD CPU/GPU offerings). As stated by others, this is no battery wonder, but it is enough. If you need more, the battery is removable and an extra battery would be a good investment. The best laptop review sites recommend about 40% backlight level as well as integrated GPU (bypassing discrete if equipped; this one is integrated) and other power saving measures.
Two things were annoying but not deal breakers: no gig-Ethernet (or USB 3.1 and/or Thunderbird to adapt to gig-Ethernet) and N instead of AC wi-fi. If you need gig-Ethernet and/or AC wi-fi, this is not the computer you're looking for.... I didn't need the included DVD, but I will eventually convert that over to a SATA storage device with an aftermarket adapter. I would have preferred a 7200 rpm HDD or a SSHD (solid-state hybrid drive) over the 5400 rpm HDD, but that too is preference rather than need. Ultimately for me the 1T drive will be a data drive. For now it is the boot drive. The webcam is no champion, but I don't demand much from it. It's not super sturdy, but it is not flimsy either. It feels lightweight to me, but I'm over 6 feet (and grew up in Texas) so I'm used to everything bigger.
You may prefer the reputation of Dell or Lenovo, but their offerings (on sale or regular price are mostly at a premium-+$50-100 for the same specs). Dell really lost a customer with me when I originally ordered an XPS 15 screamer with way too much stuff for over $2,000 total order; lost me by authorizing charges on my credit card three times the actual price which took a week before that was straightened out and my balance was again made available after multiple phone calls to multiple departments and multiple credit card departments to ultimately cancel the order. I was mortified by "Big Blue" and the leviathan of industry. I will only ever buy from brick and mortar stores after that and reading about the recommendation of "try before you keep" by laptop reviewers. I suspect "open box" items will become more and more readily available as consumers learn this little trick.
I recommend updating all of the drivers (most of them were already up-to-date, but your experience may be different).
Customer Avatar
Hendy
Colorado
Aftermarket SATA
December 3, 2016
I would be surprised if there is one that is going to be an exact fit at this point, but people tend to figure it out sooner or later. Since I'm not in a hurry to replace it, I won't be doing that for a while. I have seen some of these on Amazon for other computers, but I haven't done the research yet. If you're not to picky on aesthetics, then you can probably find something that will work in a pinch.
+1point
1of 1voted this comment as helpful.
 
HP Laptop: This HP notebook is all about getting the perfect combination of design, reliability, and great features. Style and productivity while keeping your needs in mind - now that's something to get excited about.
 
Overall5 out of 55 out of 5
You generally get what you pay for...
By Hendy
First, on sale for $549. You will be hard pressed to find any laptop with latest i7 at this price. I wanted a 17" simply for the fact that my farsightedness is problematic now. I would have preferred a 1080P monitor, but the difference is $100-300 (never mind the increase if you want 1440P or 4K) if you want to keep the other specs the same. I didn't need the battery drain of a touch screen, nor the functionality. I wanted the best CPU I could get in a laptop for under $800. You can get a laptop elsewhere that beats the i7-7500U but it will have too many more things draining the battery (anything better than an i7-6700HQ is going to push the price way up over $1,000). I don't need a speedy SSD because I can simply upgrade later when I'm ready to boost. I don't need the backlit keys, when a light switch or daylight will work just fine. I will probably upgrade the memory later, but 8 GB is quite sufficient. Other laptops cut corners by using DDR3 instead of DDR4, that was a plus with this one. I don't need a powerful discrete GPU, I'm not running games or design programs on it. The Intel combo of CPU/GPU is quite powerful compared to any earlier generations (and all AMD CPU/GPU offerings). As stated by others, this is no battery wonder, but it is enough. If you need more, the battery is removable and an extra battery would be a good investment. The best laptop review sites recommend about 40% backlight level as well as integrated GPU (bypassing discrete if equipped; this one is integrated) and other power saving measures.
Two things were annoying but not deal breakers: no gig-Ethernet (or USB 3.1 and/or Thunderbird to adapt to gig-Ethernet) and N instead of AC wi-fi. If you need gig-Ethernet and/or AC wi-fi, this is not the computer you're looking for.... I didn't need the included DVD, but I will eventually convert that over to a SATA storage device with an aftermarket adapter. I would have preferred a 7200 rpm HDD or a SSHD (solid-state hybrid drive) over the 5400 rpm HDD, but that too is preference rather than need. Ultimately for me the 1T drive will be a data drive. For now it is the boot drive. The webcam is no champion, but I don't demand much from it. It's not super sturdy, but it is not flimsy either. It feels lightweight to me, but I'm over 6 feet (and grew up in Texas) so I'm used to everything bigger.
You may prefer the reputation of Dell or Lenovo, but their offerings (on sale or regular price are mostly at a premium-+$50-100 for the same specs). Dell really lost a customer with me when I originally ordered an XPS 15 screamer with way too much stuff for over $2,000 total order; lost me by authorizing charges on my credit card three times the actual price which took a week before that was straightened out and my balance was again made available after multiple phone calls to multiple departments and multiple credit card departments to ultimately cancel the order. I was mortified by "Big Blue" and the leviathan of industry. I will only ever buy from brick and mortar stores after that and reading about the recommendation of "try before you keep" by laptop reviewers. I suspect "open box" items will become more and more readily available as consumers learn this little trick.
I recommend updating all of the drivers (most of them were already up-to-date, but your experience may be different).
Customer Avatar
Hendy
Colorado
Update to Review
December 3, 2016
One thing I overlooked in specs was that there was no Bluetooth.
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
 
Hendy's Questions
 
Hendy has not submitted any questions.
 
Hendy's Answers
 
Acer R 13 Convertible 2-in-1 Chromebook: Experience the combined benefits of power, flexibility and mobility with this Acer Chromebook laptop. It has a 2.1GHz quad-core MediaTek processor and 4GB of RAM for multitasking efficiency and enhanced productivity, and it runs efficiently on Chrome OS. This Acer Chromebook laptop has a 13-inch touch screen that flips for use as a tablet.
 

Does it run Android apps?

It does run some, and very well, that I'm used to having, but your experience may differ. Since it is on the Developer Channel that you can run Android, you are very likely to find some bugs or other issues if you use a long list of apps. However, this computer is slated by Google/Chrome for inclusion in future updates. So I would expect it to be in really good shape in the near future.
7 years, 3 months ago
by
Hendy
 
HP Laptop: This HP notebook is all about getting the perfect combination of design, reliability, and great features. Style and productivity while keeping your needs in mind - now that's something to get excited about.
 

Is it touch screen

Nope.

If you have to have a touch screen remember the following: 1) if you want a touch screen it is much better to get a convertible 2-in-1 where you can touch the screen without having to reach across the keyboard. 2) Touch screens have drawbacks also: a) drain batteries faster, b) most are glossy by nature and hard to read in bright light, c) add more weight and cost to an already heavy and expensive laptop, and d) provide one more thing to go wrong with the computer.
7 years, 3 months ago
by
Hendy
 
HP Laptop: This HP notebook is all about getting the perfect combination of design, reliability, and great features. Style and productivity while keeping your needs in mind - now that's something to get excited about.
 

Can this computer be used for music production and/or photoshopping?

Simple answer, yes it can. Long answer, it depends. Do you need to do things at a professional or recreational level? If this is for professional music and photoshopping, opt for something reviewed by professionals who have their best setups. If it is recreational, you can get by with most anything. However, you will probably be more pleased with a machine that has a little cheaper CPU (i5 or i3) and a better graphics capability (940MX or better). Go to notebookcheck.com to find out how CPU's and GPU's compare to find your perfect match. Look carefully at other specs. There is no need to get the latest and greatest networking, backlit keyboards, touchscreens, 4K video, etc, if that doesn't really help with your everyday needs.
7 years, 3 months ago
by
Hendy
 
HP Laptop: This HP notebook is all about getting the perfect combination of design, reliability, and great features. Style and productivity while keeping your needs in mind - now that's something to get excited about.
 

What is graphics card like?

This computer has an integrated Graphics Processing Unit (GPU). Comparing this computer to others in the same class (CPU level and other related tech), you will always get a better gaming/3D/graphics capability with a discrete card instead of integrated. However, the combination of Intel's i7-7500U and HD Graphics 620 are the best integrated combo to date (late 2016). So in one way it is the best of the worst, but Intel demonstrated a modern game with this combination running quite well on a similarly spec'ed laptop. Ultimately, you won't know the answer to your question until the exact required things are running on the system brought home. Best Buy has a good return policy, so if it seems good based on reviews and based on desired capabilities, but doesn't live up to expectations, bring it back. If that is too much trouble, then definitely spend the major bucks on a modern gaming system with a Geforce GTX 1060, 1070, or 1080. If the person who needs it doesn't need it portable, a desktop will be so much more powerful and cheaper than a laptop.
7 years, 3 months ago
by
Hendy