There is a wide variety of Chromebooks available for purchase, with Google's Chromebook Plus program helping to establish common standards for ChromeOS devices. The new Acer Chromebook Plus 514, recently announced, appears to meet the necessary criteria for a basic Chromebook suitable for most users.
The Acer Chromebook Plus 514 model CB514-4HT is priced at $399 and comes with surprising specifications such as an Intel Core i3-N305 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage. This Chromebook meets the Plus specs with a 1080p webcam that includes a privacy shutter. The webcam's performance in real-life situations will need to be evaluated.
Acer
Acer.
The screen is a 14-inch, 1080p touchscreen, which is slightly smaller compared to the 1,920 x 1,200 displays on some other Chromebook Plus models. However, considering the affordable price, this minor difference is not a major concern. The laptop also offers a decent variety of ports, including two USB-C and USB-A ports, along with a microSD card slot. While an HDMI port would have been beneficial to avoid using up the USB-C ports for power and an external monitor, it is essential to remember that this computer only costs $400.
The Acer laptop is expected to be available in stores in early May, with a particular version potentially launching at Costco next week. Acer plans to release more configurations in the future without specifying the changes. It's possible that upcoming models may offer less storage or exclude touchscreen features to lower the price. Despite potential variations, the current model promises to deliver a good performance at an affordable price.
