What Is It? – When it comes to choosing a laptop, you probably first think: Windows or Mac? But there’s a good third choice: a Chromebook. Laptops with Google’s Chrome operating system first came out about 5 years ago, and their sales have largely been to schools, as inexpensive computers for students to use. But you can be long out of high school – our kind of “senior” – and make a Chromebook your everyday laptop. One of the newest models is the Acer Chromebook 14, which is a good-looking and well-performing device. It features a quad-core processor, up to 4 GB of RAM, and up to 32 GB of storage space – you’re supposed to be using Google Drive for your “real” storage. The case is solid aluminum, not the plastic of some other Chromebooks, with a 14-inch matte HD screen. Did I mention that Chromebooks work only on Wi-Fi? True, there’s no Ethernet port, but they can be used “off-line” as well. The Acer comes with two USB3 ports, an HDMI port, a headphone/microphone jack, and front-facing 720p camera. There’s also Bluetooth to connect other devices, such as a mouse, if like me you just hate touchpads (although this touchpad is pretty good). The Chromebook 14 weighs less than 3.5 pounds and Acer says it can work up to 12 hours on a charge.
Is It 50+ Friendly? – Absolutely. Lightweight, nice sized keys, a sharp and clear screen with a matte finish that cuts down on annoying glare and reflections. The Chrome OS starts up quickly.
Frustration Factor? – I’m hard pressed to think of any, other than you must have a Gmail or Google Apps account to sign in with. I used this Chromebook over several days, took it with me on chores such as waiting at my car dealer for my vehicle to be serviced, and found it good for email, web browsing, even a little writing. The knock on Chromebooks used to be that they were limited to basic Google apps, but that’s no longer true, as there are plenty of apps in the Chrome Web Store including free on-line versions of Microsoft Office apps, such as Word and Outlook. Some Android apps can also work on a Chromebook.
Is It Worth The Money? – If you’re looking for a power user’s laptop, this is not for you, but if you want a well-made, well-performing, easy to travel with everyday laptop, the Acer Chromebook is a very good choice. Under $300 at Amazon.
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