Chipmunk basic on chromebook5/6/2023 ![]() ![]() The Samsung Chromebook will cost $429 for the Wi-Fi only version and $499 for the 3G version. It’d cost you even more to get better performance and features, but for mainstream users, the Chromebook 14 represents a fairly sweet spot.Samsung and Acer will each be offering Chromebook laptops starting June 15. You’re already paying a little more just for those two perks. The aluminum shell and high-resolution display do a lot to separate it from its lower-cost cousins and give you a better experience. ![]() The price of niceĪcer’s Chromebook 14 is about look and feel. Look at that Dell go! Melissa RiofrioĪs if to drive home the Chromebook 14’s mainstream theme, here’s how it fared on OortOnline, a WebGL test that focuses on graphics-intensive applications and games. Even though it has a more powerful SoC than the two other Chromebooks (excepting the standout Dell), it posted the lowest score by a small margin. The Chromebook 14 posted slightly lower scores than its cohort, basically a certificate of attendance. Google’s Octane 2.0 JavaScript benchmark simulates advanced browser-based activities, including productivity applications, games, and interactive content. All three Chromebooks posted close scores, but the Chromebook 14 was a tad slower despite having a faster chip. (Note: We couldn’t add the Dell to the Basemark chart, as it was tested with Basemark’s predecessor, Browsermark.) Melissa Riofrio The tests cover web-based technologies including WebGL 1.0.2 and WebGL 2.0 real-time graphics, as well as JavaScript. Anecdotally, even running multiple media-heavy sites simultaneously seemed to strain the Chromebook 14, so keep it simple.īasemark Web 3.0 recently replaced Browsermark 2.1 as Basemark’s comprehensive browser benchmark. This setup will make it through mainstream web apps and a streamed movie-which is what most people with Chromebooks do-but this isn’t the Chromebook for bleeding-edge users tinkering with web gaming or other graphics-intensive tasks. The Chromebook 14’s performance reflects its modest SoC: Intel’s Celeron N3160 quad-core running at 1.6GHz, with 4GB of LPDDR3 RAM and integrated Intel HD graphics. The left side of the Acer Chromebook 14 has two USB 3.0 ports, an HDMI port, and a Kensington lock port. While the 32GB of eMMC storage is nice, I think a lot of users will miss an SD card slot-there’s none on this machine. The right side of the Acer Chromebook 14 has the headphone/mic jack and power port.ĭirect connectivity is limited to just two USB 3.0 ports (first-generation, meaning a 5Gbps transfer rate) and an HDMI port. I was particularly unhappy with the keyboard, which has the hard-plastic keys and harsh, abrupt travel typical of entry-level Chromebooks-not what the Chromebook 14 is supposed to be. The chiclet-style keyboard on the Acer Chromebook 14 has hard plastic and a harsh travel. Anyone whose expectations were raised by the high-end look may be at least a little disappointed. I don’t mean to seem ungrateful for the Chromebook 14’s good things, but Acer appears to have bet everything on those features, meaning the rest of the Chromebook is less remarkable. ![]() Wi-Fi covers every available flavor with dual-band 2×2 MIMO 802.11ac/a/b/g/n. It has Bluetooth 4.2 for the latest in close-range performance and privacy. You also can’t argue with the Chromebook 14’s connectivity. The Acer Chromebook 14 has dual speakers on either side of the bottom panel, with surprisingly good sound. You might still plug in external headphones, but at least your laptop won’t sound like a cyber-chipmunk if you have to use its speakers for a presentation. The dual set, nestled underneath the left and right sides, provide good bass and stereo effects. I never expect to like a laptop’s speakers, which is why the Acer Chromebook 14’s deserve mention for being surprisingly good. The laptop’s dimensions are a trim 13.3 x 9.31 x 0.67 inches. The AC adapter (the typical black brick) and cables weigh an additional 0.55 pounds. Of course, the material is also durable and light, making the Chromebook 14 a comfortable 3.42 pounds by Acer’s specification. ![]() Amid a pile of plastic competitors, the brushed-metal shell looks refined and feels great. The Chromebook 14 is Acer’s first all-aluminum model, with a brushed finish.Īcer touts the all-aluminum chassis on the Chromebook 14, and for good reason. The Chromebook 14’s best features Melissa Riofrio For a midrange price ( $286 on Amazon), the Acer Chromebook 14 gives you an all-aluminum chassis and a very nice display, even if its performance and other attributes are less remarkable. But you don’t have to step up into the higher-priced territory of the Dell Chromebook 13 or HP Chromebook 13 to find satisfaction. It’s easy to get sucked in by a low price, only to find yourself with a disappointingly low-quality device on your hands. ![]()
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