Final yr, Google trotted out a brand new “Chromebook Plus” label, guaranteeing Chromebooks meet particular hardware requirements in order that they’ve a sure threshold of high quality and—importantly—a beginning value of $400. It has been pretty profitable. Chromebooks from firms like Acer and Lenovo carry out nicely for the cash—practical, reasonably priced {hardware} that does the job.
Acer’s Chromebook Plus 514 (mannequin CB514-4H/T) is one more laptop computer that achieves this objective. This particular mannequin identify doesn’t roll off the tongue, but it surely signifies that that is the Intel-powered mannequin, to not be confused with the AMD-powered Chromebook Plus 514 (CB514-3H/T) the corporate launched final fall. It is a bit complicated, and it would not assist that there is additionally the equally named Acer Chromebook Plus 515, which is shut in value however has a bigger display and a barely totally different processor.
{Photograph}: Daniel Thorp-Lancaster
Regardless of slight variations in port choice and display ratio between the Intel and AMD variants of the Chromebook Plus 514, anticipate them to carry out largely the identical. The grunt work for this machine is dealt with by a succesful Thirteenth-gen Intel Core i3-N305 processor, which is on par with different Chromebook Plus fashions and a pleasant bump over Chromebooks of years previous. Mixed with the 8 GB of RAM and a 512-GB strong state drive on the CB514-4HT-359X configuration Acer despatched me for this overview, you will have a fairly speedy machine for varsity and work. This mannequin is just $350 at Costco, and weirdly, the 128-GB mannequin is more expensive at Amazon for $380.
Chrome OS is designed to be light-weight, and the Core i3-N305 processor subsequently tears via most duties with ease. My day by day ritual of writing in Google Docs whereas watching YouTube movies with a number of different tabs open by no means felt sluggish or unresponsive. Battery life has held up, getting me via eight-hour workdays, normally with an hour or two of battery life to spare.
Regardless of pulling from the cloud, Google Images edits really feel very responsive. I had a whole lot of enjoyable utilizing the built-in editor to tweak my (many) cat images, and video edits felt almost instantaneous. Simply take note this depends closely on the pace of your web connection to drag images and movies down out of your cloud storage, so your expertise could range.
I’ve by no means discovered myself drawn to utilizing contact on laptops, however the 14-inch contact panel on the Chromebook Plus 514 grew on me. Chrome OS lends itself to the touch, and the graceful matte show feels nice to make use of underneath your fingertips (plus it doesn’t go away fingerprints). In my week of testing, I continuously discovered myself reaching out to get a greater choice when enhancing images within the Google Images app or after I wished to extra exactly scroll via YouTube.
My one disappointment is that this isn’t a convertible laptop computer. The power to swing the display round to turn it into a quasi-tablet would make utilizing contact extra snug (and enjoyable), so the clamshell design is a bit limiting. On the brilliant aspect, the hinge permits the again of the show to increase downward a bit when opened, propping it up in your desk or lap for a extra snug angle.
