Acer Chromebook Review: 15-inch Model for Enterprise Users

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Sales of Chromebooks — inexpensive laptops running the free Chrome OS supplied by Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG, NASDAQ:GOOGL) — continue to rise. According to numbers from Gartner, Windows and Mac laptop alternatives booked a 79% increase in 2014 and are projected to keep growing at a rapid clip.

Acer Chromebook, Acer Chromebook 15 review intro

Source: Acer

Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) reported its three top-selling laptops over the holiday season were Chromebooks, led by the C720 model Chromebook from Acer Inc.

The two leading Chromebook manufacturers (accounting for over 85% of global sales between them) are Samsung Elect LTD (OTCMKTS:SSNLF) and Acer. The majority of sales have been in the consumer and education market, but 2015 could be the year Chromebooks tackle the enterprise market.

Inexpensive laptops that don’t run Windows and don’t use Office spell trouble for Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT). The saving grace for Microsoft has been that the 11-inch and 12-inch Chromebooks popular with consumers are too small for most business applications.

However, there is now an Acer Chromebook aimed at the professional consumer and business market. It’s a full-sized laptop with a 15.6-inch display, the newest Broadwell CPU from Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC), Gigabit Wi-Fi, all-day battery life and a starting price under $250.

Our Acer Chromebook 15 review explores whether this Chromebook could be the one to make the leap from the consumer and education markets into the business arena.

Acer Chromebook Review: Going Big

Professional and business users may be attracted to the savings and ease of maintaining a Chromebook, but a 12-inch display that passes for casual use is too small to be staring at all day.

Acer Chromebook, Acer Chromebook 15 full sized

Source: Acer

The Acer Chromebook 15 addresses this issue with a 15.6-inch display. The base model has an HD resolution screen, but forking over another fifty bucks (still slipping under $300) gets that upgraded to an IPS full-HD version.

The keyboard is full-sized, and the Acer Chromebook is the first to incorporate Intel’s new Broadwell series CPU for improved performance, graphics support and battery life. It offers 802.11ac Wi-Fi with MIMO for ultra-fast wireless connectivity, a pair of USB ports for peripherals, an HD webcam for video conferencing and an HDMI out for hooking up an external monitor.

Throw all-day battery life (over nine hours in Laptop Mag’s Chromebook review) and this Acer Chromebook makes a compelling case.

In its fully loaded configuration — with 4 GB of RAM and a 32 GB SSD — the Acer Chromebook 15 is still just $349.

For enterprise users that demand maximum performance, there’s a special model (the Acer Chromebook 15 C910) that moves to an Intel Core i3 CPU and switches the case to a more traditional black. This one is priced at $449.

Acer Chromebook Review: A Real Business Solution?

Microsoft has begun fighting back against some of Google’s tactics, offering free Windows upgrades and keeping Office costs down through subscription pricing.

Acer Chromebook, Acer Chromebook 15 business solution

Source: Acer

However, there is still savings to be realized for companies that switch to Chromebooks.

The initial hardware cost is usually cheaper (although PC manufacturers have also been working at releasing less expensive Windows notebooks), maintaining and securing a Chromebook is a hands-off routine that cuts IT costs, and with Google’s free Office-compatible apps there is software savings.

The full-sized Acer Chromebook 15 is not going to replace an engineer’s Windows laptop. It lacks the power, display resolution and ability to run specialized Windows software. However, there are plenty of applications where it makes sense: call centers, sales, reception and general office use, for example.

This Acer Chromebook could also make a good home PC alternative, thanks to its larger HD display, long battery life and a pair of high-quality built-in speakers.

Acer Chromebook Review: Specs

  • 15.6-inch full-HD IPS LED backlit display
Acer Chromebook, Acer Chromebook 15 review specs

Source: Acer

  • Dual-core Intel Celeron 3205U CPU (5th generation) @ 1.5GHz
  • Intel HD graphics
  • 4 GB RAM
  • 32 GB SSD
  • 1x USB 2.0, 1x USB 3.0, SD Card slot, HDMI out
  • Built-in HD webcam, camera, dual speakers
  • 802.11ac MIMO, Bluetooth 4.0
  • Full-sized keyboard and trackpad
  • 3270 mAh Li-Ion battery rated for all-day use
  • Chrome OS
  • Weighs 4.85 pounds

Note: Chromebook review specs based on $349 model Acer Chromebook 15 (CB5-571-C6DL)

Acer Chromebook Review: Conclusion

While you’ll find plenty of Chromebooks in schools and homes, enterprise users have been a little more reluctant to embrace Google’s Windows laptop alternatives.

Acer Chromebook, Acer Chromebook 15 conclusion

Source: Acer

Many companies would love to take advantage of the savings and reduced IT load associated with Chromebooks, but the devices have been too small and a little under-powered for most business uses.

The Acer Chromebook 15 is the first Chromebook to sport a full-sized display, and it can be configured to pack a respectable performance punch as well.

I expect the new Acer Chromebook is just the first in a wave of Chromebooks that will target business users, and I suspect they’re going to have some success. Devices like the Acer Chromebook 15 may never replicate the same 25% market share they quickly carved out in the U.S. education sector, but these bigger, more powerful Chromebooks are primed to carve out a chunk of the business PC market.

As of this writing, Robert Martin does not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.


Article printed from InvestorPlace Media, https://investorplace.com/2015/03/acer-chromebook-15-review/.

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