After I informed myself in detail on the Web about Chromebooks turned me out a list of priorities:
1. Display Quality
(The feature at all. You look so constantly on it)
2. Performance
(Does it matter with a few open tabs limp? Also manages FHD video?)
3. Battery Life
(You get relaxed so a few hours without being permanently tied to an electrical outlet?)
4. General Material Quality
(Chromebooks're generally more likely to settle in the low-budget range, but it does not have to look the same at first glance so or feel)
5. Portability
(How well can it be stowed, lug?)
6. Sound
Display:
The great IPS display (Acer calls it Comfy-View) dissolves in FHD - ie 1920x1080 - on. It is quite stable viewing angle and it is a true joy to work with. Everything looks clear and crisp sharp. I've learned IPS displays on my PC very appreciate and do not want to miss the quality advantage over TN displays.
It is also quite bright, so that it completely enough for me in normal room light environment to allow the brightness to about 60%.
Power:
The installed Intel i3 5005U performs along with the 4GB DDR3 RAM afloat his work and has also with 10-12 tabs open, music streaming and three open documents not the impression would soon come to its limits the system.
One can often read on the net that Chromebooks with their low-power CPUs can often not play FHD videos smoothly. HD Netflix content or FHD YouTube videos are played without stress.
That's enough for me personally, I do not expect records and sensational benchmark results at mobile hardware for Office applications. For Browser Games I could anyway never inspire and for everything else, I have my PC.
Battery life:
Burdened gives me the progress bar to about 6 hours. That seems well but to be only the minimum value. At the moment he is at 61% and are at 5h52min. (Brightness at about 50%). The most strongly depends on usage. Fuel consumption information provided by the automaker can not really be trusted, too.
Update: after a few days use to me is the battery indicator at full charge now 9h Time. But this statement seems to be very dynamic. When I go to 100% high point is only given 8 hours rest time, the display of nearly 50.
Material quality:
There probably are conflicting tastes. However, the textile-like plastic surface of the housing makes a nice impression and also does not look cheap. The general processing looks solid for the price range. It squeaks nothing when lifting and turning. Of course, it will be seen on the white surface rather impurities and quirks. But there has a sophisticated, I think. You can not have everything.
Size (portability):
Here the 15.6 drop to rather negative because the Chromebook but looks rather bulky (38.4 x 24.6 x 2.5 cm). In the category in my opinion, are more likely to score the smaller models. But for me, the larger display was attractive.
Speaker:
Of course the big housing accommodates 2 stereo speakers installed. Acer has also done and selbige do not sound so bad for a notebook. Often have smaller Chromebooks sitting the Speaker for example, under the keyboard. One must here but do not expect miracles. It may at any time headphones are connected via Bluetooth or a corresponding speaker. I for one like to streame music while I surf, write, etc.
Keyboard:
Solid, has a pleasant touch and is not too tiny. The palms are pleasant on the touchpad. Unfortunately it is not illuminated, but you can not expect in the price range. Since you have already access to Google's pixel 2 and 2 times more than spending so much money.
F-keys are nowhere, but one more than the number series different functions are offered.
Touchpad:
Is surprisingly pleasant to use. I'm actually more of mouse users, but the trackpad I can live. It also reacts very jagged and the Multi Finger abilities to operate / Navigation is made even easier. Still, I would rather agree with a mouse, just when I write.
Audible noise:
It tinkers with a mini fan exit back to himself and jumps in demand. That's the tradeoff when it is installed as a slightly more potent CPU found in other Chromebooks. In normal noise you but not listening to him. Otherwise, you can hear no further sounds, since an SSD is installed.
Heat generation:
I could not detect any significant heat generation. No comparison to some smartphones under full load. ;)
Operating System:
A 64-bit version of Chrome OS (which is an enhanced version of the Chrome browser basically) runs preinstalled and self-refreshing in the background. The whole thing looks very tidy and spartan, but in a pleasant way.
But the hammer is the startup time of a few seconds !!! Angemacht and ... whoosh one is already in the password entry. Everything is beautifully coordinated and fluent in the operation. Curse or Blessing is the need to be online. You can not do too much offline.
In Chrome Webstore can stock up on all kinds of software. One must mention fair to remember that you can not compare with the PlayStore him. There are a bunch of applications, but the PlayStore acts as currently considering. Google is reportedly working to let it run Android apps on Chrome OS.
Chrome OS offers a variety of keyboard shortcuts for easier operation. The course you have to first learn by heart, but that is slightly out of hand.
Supposedly Chromebooks over time - unlike Windows computers - not even slow down. Furthermore, obviously you need to worry about viruses or other malware. The two points I can currently say unfortunately nothing and there must rely on Webreviews.
Who so a Chromebook is useful for?
- People who have no desire for great computer management, configuration, and maintenance. Just switch on and get going.
- Thus entirely suitable for older generations, who are brave enough to engage with the modern rubbish
- Cloud users in the Google ecosystem.
- People who are looking for a cost-effective solution for general computer use. Not everyone wants to gamble Hardware hungry games or operate complex image / video editing.
- People want to have a mobile second device
- People who are constantly online anyway.
However, what I miss is a way to access our home NAS and the overall integration into the home network. We'll see what the future holds so.
