Chromebooks are still pegged as cheap and minimally equipped, but manufacturers are working to expand the limits of what these budget laptops have to offer. Like Acer and its new Chromebook 15.
Announced at CES 2015 in Las Vegas this weekend, the Chromebook 15 adds a new model to Acer’s line while also serving as the first ever Chromebook with a screen of its size, measuring at 15.6in. And if you get the 1920×1080 resolution option, it’s sure to be a looker.
But it’ll no doubt cost you, as Acer is also offering a 1366×768 resolution model for “budget-minded consumers.” Both have Acer’s ComfyView anti-glare screens to reduce reflections, but there’s no word yet on how much of a price difference will exist between display choices.
The Chromebook 15 starts at $249.99 (about R3,000), but Acer promises several models, and the higher-end perks might add up quickly. For example, you can choose between an Intel Core i3 or Celeron processor, 2GB or 4GB RAM, and a 16GB or 32GB SSD within.
For now, however, it’s unclear when the Chromebook 15 will launch or expand worldwide, let alone how much the various configurations will cost, but anyone considering a Chromebook in the near future might wait to see how the largest-yet model shakes out.
Additionally, Acer announced that its current Chromebook 13 – which has a Tegra K1 processor within – will be available in a new touchscreen model starting this month in Europe, with a base price of €329 (about R4,650). However, Acer’s previous Chromebook struggled with the added computing demands of touch, so perhaps wait for a review on that front. And confirmation that it’ll be landing here, of course. We’ll keep you posted
