I have the 32 GB version and love this laptop. I purchased this about a year and a half ago and now rarely use my windows laptop or desktop. the screen is really nice, even though it's only 720P and the speakers are the best laptop speakers I've heard yet. I use it to pay bills, check my emails, stream videos and light work. It is a fantastic value and is my productivity workhorse. The Battery lasts forever too! Super easy to swap out the internal memory. There are videos on youtube. Swapped my 32 gb for a 128.
1. On OS updates for this model / hardware One thing to consider is the Google Chrome Supported Auto Update lifetime for Chromebook devices. This is essentially the period up to which Google will support the device with chrome OS code updates (your hardware support comes from the manufacturer). As I understand it, this is the bare minimum end of support date you can take to the bank - any time of support past this date where new releases for your chromebook is included is all gravy but don't bank on anything past the date. Remember that "Asus flip C100" that my neighbour's kids love? Well that sell by date is mid next year so it's not an option. Why are code updates important? For me it's about security updates. For others it may be about new features and compatibility.
I would have thought that a quad core celeron, whilst putting you solely in hell as a PC user, would have been pretty snappy for a chromebook that runs much leaner.There are reports of occasionally sluggish performance in Youtube.
-> don't trust me - I've never used this model chromebook - but do go read the reviews, and the more recent reviews with the most recent code, to ensure that it will do what you want it to.
3. Onboard storage Really my only concern is that 16GB storage - as we saw with ipads, if you start downloading apps (as you would if you use the android app capability), 16GB won't hack it. So am now trying to find out if this Asus CB will allow apps to be run from an external USB stick. That for me is the deal breaker - will update if I find anything on this.
So at 99 bucks it's probably a decent deal.
Net net: What the hell.... Spend your 100 bucks and dive into a chromebook. If you do see it for just a little more for the 32Gb version, choose that instead. If it doesn't receive updates past 2022, just use it as a picture frame, youtube watcher and internet radio. Also for you geek types out there, this model (under R11) is on the supported list for running linux apps and Crouton - there's a really interesting article over at Network World on the kind of things you can do when you allow the R11 to run Linux and capabilities (Such as DOS / game emulators) that can be possible, esp on that x86 - see https://www.networkworld.com/article/3193844/review-acer-r11-chromebookaverage-chromebook-awesome-emulation-laptop.html).
Admittedly these devices are pretty much throw away - and 99 bucks is damn cheap IF it works for your/your kid's needs. From my situation, if my kiddos break the screen, you're not crying (at least after day 2), vs when THEY broke MY iPad (yup they did that) or a full spec macbook or PC.
Also an 11" form factor and 2.76lbs is as far as I would go for young kids - am typing (or rather trying to type) this on a brand new 13" macbook (Godawful btw - hold out for a better keyboard, or go back to 2014) from my employer and a 13" chromebook as a size is just too bulky for kids at primary school / middle school. Once they hit 14 or so, am sure the 13" would be fine, but for young kids, a 11" or less is probably best. My neighbour's middle school kids use the Asus C100 "flip" chromebook and they love it - cheap and cheerful but at 2lbs and 10.1" or so, it's very compact, portable and surprisingly rugged - and about as heavy as you would go to use it in tablet mode. So with this Asus here, don't expect to use the 2 in 1 for tablet - more likely as a sketchpad or in tent mode to watch movies.
Really like that this comes with HDMI out, 4GB, USB 3 and AC wireless - those are all useful "specs" but it's how the chromebook behaves as a whole that counts - does it do what you want it to?
Another positive - running android apps - this model is squarely in the stable channel status, so you're all good there - which increases the chromebooks software capabilities.
Comments & Reviews (7)
1. On OS updates for this model / hardware
One thing to consider is the Google Chrome Supported Auto Update lifetime for Chromebook devices. This is essentially the period up to which Google will support the device with chrome OS code updates (your hardware support comes from the manufacturer). As I understand it, this is the bare minimum end of support date you can take to the bank - any time of support past this date where new releases for your chromebook is included is all gravy but don't bank on anything past the date.
Remember that "Asus flip C100" that my neighbour's kids love? Well that sell by date is mid next year so it's not an option.
Why are code updates important? For me it's about security updates. For others it may be about new features and compatibility.
So a look up at: https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/6220366?hl=en
Shows that this platform will be good up until:
Chromebook R11 (CB5-132T, C738T) Jun 2022
onto the last bit - part 3
2. Performance
I would have thought that a quad core celeron, whilst putting you solely in hell as a PC user, would have been pretty snappy for a chromebook that runs much leaner.There are reports of occasionally sluggish performance in Youtube.
-> don't trust me - I've never used this model chromebook - but do go read the reviews, and the more recent reviews with the most recent code, to ensure that it will do what you want it to.
3. Onboard storage
Really my only concern is that 16GB storage - as we saw with ipads, if you start downloading apps (as you would if you use the android app capability), 16GB won't hack it. So am now trying to find out if this Asus CB will allow apps to be run from an external USB stick. That for me is the deal breaker - will update if I find anything on this.
So at 99 bucks it's probably a decent deal.
Net net:
What the hell.... Spend your 100 bucks and dive into a chromebook. If you do see it for just a little more for the 32Gb version, choose that instead. If it doesn't receive updates past 2022, just use it as a picture frame, youtube watcher and internet radio.
Also for you geek types out there, this model (under R11) is on the supported list for running linux apps and Crouton - there's a really interesting article over at Network World on the kind of things you can do when you allow the R11 to run Linux and capabilities (Such as DOS / game emulators) that can be possible, esp on that x86 - see https://www.networkworld.com/article/3193844/review-acer-r11-chromebookaverage-chromebook-awesome-emulation-laptop.html).
just my 2p
Dingo
Admittedly these devices are pretty much throw away - and 99 bucks is damn cheap IF it works for your/your kid's needs. From my situation, if my kiddos break the screen, you're not crying (at least after day 2), vs when THEY broke MY iPad (yup they did that) or a full spec macbook or PC.
Also an 11" form factor and 2.76lbs is as far as I would go for young kids - am typing (or rather trying to type) this on a brand new 13" macbook (Godawful btw - hold out for a better keyboard, or go back to 2014) from my employer and a 13" chromebook as a size is just too bulky for kids at primary school / middle school. Once they hit 14 or so, am sure the 13" would be fine, but for young kids, a 11" or less is probably best. My neighbour's middle school kids use the Asus C100 "flip" chromebook and they love it - cheap and cheerful but at 2lbs and 10.1" or so, it's very compact, portable and surprisingly rugged - and about as heavy as you would go to use it in tablet mode. So with this Asus here, don't expect to use the 2 in 1 for tablet - more likely as a sketchpad or in tent mode to watch movies.
Really like that this comes with HDMI out, 4GB, USB 3 and AC wireless - those are all useful "specs" but it's how the chromebook behaves as a whole that counts - does it do what you want it to?
Another positive - running android apps - this model is squarely in the stable channel status, so you're all good there - which increases the chromebooks software capabilities.
3 quick cautions:
Thank you!