We’re still finding our way in the post-PC era and so far gadget-makers have produced a few duds along the way. Apple’s slick iPad still sets the standard when it comes to striking a good balance between portability and usability, but Acer’s AU$299 C710 Q1V2C Chromebook proves that the traditional notebook form factor has plenty of life left in it.
Brimming with potential and priced to sell, Acer’s stripped-down C710 Chromebook is the perfect travel companion.
At $299 the Acer Chromebook is pitched more as your secondary laptop computer and a perhaps travel companion rather than your everyday workhorse.
The Chromebook runs Google’s Chrome OS, which is basically a stripped-down version of Linux designed to do little more than run the Chrome web browser. That’s not as inconvenient as you might think in this age of web apps and cloud services.
Meanwhile Acer’s $299 hardware is surprisingly impressive considering the budget price tag. The 11.6-inch, 1366×768 LED screen is bright and crisp, while the keyboard is firm and well-spaced. The notebook weighs in at only 1.38 kg and comfortably slips in a travel bag, while you’ll squeeze three to four hours from the Acer As10d31 Extended Life Battery. In terms of connectivity you’ve got three USB 2.0 ports, an SD card slot, Ethernet, VGA, HDMI, webcam, headphone/mic jack and 802.11b/g/n wi-fi.
