Today at CES 2016 in Las Vegas, Acer announced its next lineup of budget-friendly Chrome OS and Android based products. It announced a brand new Chrome desktop with Intel Core processors, a small, durable Chromebook and an affordable tablet…
CHROMEBASE 24
The new Chromebase — which features a large 23.8-inch full HD IPS display — is the first all-in-one Chrome OS desktop to be powered by Intel’s Core processors. Although Acer didn’t say specifically which Core processors they are, they did announce that you’ll be able to order it with up to 8GB RAM. In other words, it’ll be bigger, faster and more powerful than the Chromebase launched last summer, which we reviewed. Like last year’s model, the new Chromebase will be equipped with a large multi-touch display.
“Intel Core processors work seamlessly with Chrome OS to deliver the incredible performance and graphics that consumers and businesses expect from an all-in-one desktop,” said Gregory Bryant, Corporate Vice President and General Manager, Desktop Client Platforms Group, Intel. “With smooth video conferencing, a great HD video experience and ability to multi-task, the Acer Chromebase 24 with Intel Core is an exciting all-in-one design.”
Design-wise, it looks similar to an iMac in that it has a thick black frame around the display, with a silver portion underneath and an adjustable ‘foot’ which enables the display to be tilted from -5 to 30 degrees. Exact specs and pricing will vary by region.
CHROMEBOOK 11
Along with the new Chrome desktop, Acer announced a new model for its Chromebook 11 lineup. The manufacturer boasts that this new, affordable Chromebook is even more durable than the last and features a “premium nano-imprinted cover” which gives it a more high-end look and feel. The CB3-131’s durable design means it can cope with up to 60kg of downward force on the top cover, while corners are built to withstand 60cm drops without damage. It measures just 0.73-inches thick and weighs just 2.42 pounds.
Other key specs include the following:
- 11.6-inch 1366 x 768 non-glare ComfyView display (135ppi)
- 2GB or 4GB RAM
- 16GB or 32GB storage
- Up to 9 hours battery life
- 2×2 MIMO 802.11ac Wi-Fi
- Bluetooth 4.0
- USB 3.0, USB2.0, SD card reader and HDMI
Pricing will start at $179 in the US and €329 in Europe when the new Chromebook 11 launches in February.
ANDROID
As well as the new Chrome OS products, Acer announced a new affordable Android device: The 8-inch ‘pocket-friendly’ Iconia One 8. It features an 8-inch 720p display, Android 5.1 Lollipop, 9 hours battery, quad-core MediaTek processor, 5MP main camera, 1GB RAM and 16GB storage with the option to expand up to 128GB via MicroSD. It’s designed to be kid-friendly, thanks to a bespoke app with a simple interface and customizable parental controls.
The Iconia One 8 (B1-850) ships preloaded with Kids Center, an app featuring a simplified child-friendly user interface, and pre-screened content appropriate for children, including videos, games, books, and websites. It also features parental control features such as blocking access to unapproved content, pre-selecting content for children, or even setting a daily time limit for using the tablet.
Prices for the small tablet will start at $99.99/€129 when it launches next month.
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