The Acer C670 CB3-111-C670 is a entry level Chromebook which retails for $150 from Amazon.
A Chromebook is a computer (usually a notebook) that runs Google’s Chrome OS operating system which is a Linux based system developed for delivering web applications and data. This system provides many of the functionality of a Windows based, or MacOS based computer at a lower cost.
Specifications:
- 11.6″ 16:9 anti-glare screen with 1366 x 768 resolution
- 2.16GHZ Intel N2830 Celeron dual core processor
- 16GB SSD hard drive
- 2GB DDR3 memory
- Intel HD graphics
- 802.11 A/C wireless
- Ports: 1 USB 3.0, 1 USB 2.0, 1 headphone, 1 SD card reader, 1 HDMI, power
- Bluetooth 4.0
- Dual built in speakers
- 3220 mAh battery for approximately 8 hours runtime
- 2.43lbs
- 11.77 x 7.95 x 0.73 inches
Chromebooks have really started to become popular with cost conscious consumers in the past few years. They really do provide a great inexpensive, secure, and portable solution that provides everything the majority of home and business users need today. This model is no exception.
Like all Chromebooks it is a simple process to get started answering a few questions and signing in with your Google account. If you don’t have a Google account, creating one takes just a couple of minutes. Once you are logged on and running you are amazed by how well an inexpensive product like this really runs.
Yes, the Celeron processor in the Acer C670 is a little slow, and yes 2GB of memory is not a lot, but that does not stop someone from getting a lot done with the unit.
The keyboard is excellent for something this inexpensive. I have written tons of articles along with currently working on a 150+ page full book destined for both print and electronic distribution. My only complaint is that like many systems it is a little too easy to hit the trackpad while typing.
The trackpad is accurate, and taps well. They sized it pretty well so that it stays out of the way at least as well if not better than most units this size but you still can hit it while typing. I would like to see something in software that added a delay so that you could not hit it while typing at all, but had to wait a second or so after a keypress or it would just ignore the input.
The Acer C670 screen is fairly low resolution and not as vibrant as most notebooks these days but it is a matt anti-glare screen that makes it easy to work on for hours. If I was seriously editing photos I might be disappointed but text and graphics are clear and easy to see. I normally pay extra for computers with non-gloss screens as it makes working on them for hours in any kind of lighting so very much easier on the eyes. It was nice to see Acer add this in such an inexpensive model.
For the size of the Acer C670 it is a little heavy due to the non-removable large capacity battery installed. Still, it is quite light overall and easy to carry around. I have a fairly robust case on my 4th generation iPad and this is just a tad heavier than that. It has four small rubber feet that stick quite well as the light weight could make it hard to use without them.
Speaking of the battery, it does add quite a bit of weight to the Acer C670 but it also provides around eight hours of use on a single charge. Unlike may other devices which almost never get anywhere near the time they claim, this one is pretty much spot on. I have gotten close to eight hours on many occasions and never been lower than 10% before finding an outlet. I have noticed that you get more power with both Bluetooth and Wifi turned off and the screen brightness turned down so if you take a trip out in the middle of nowhere you can extend that battery life to probably ten hours if not more.
The USB ports are on each side of the Acer C670; 3.0 on the left, 2.0 on the right. This is nice as I sometimes am a little more cramped on one side than the other and this gives me options. I like the fact that they included USB 3.0 although I am not sure what you would use it for on this type of unit. It has opened all manner of USB drives I have plugged into it without issue.
Speed on the Acer C670 is somewhat lacking although more than sufficient for most people. If you are writing a letter, working on a typical little spreadsheet, responding to email or just surfing the web you will do very little waiting. The book I am writing on mine pushes the unit pretty hard and still I only really am waiting when I first log in or want to do a lot of scrolling. Typing even in a very large document is perfectly capable of keeping up with a hundred words per minute or more.
You can keep the speed up by not having a lot of things open when you log in, make sure you close everything before closing the lid or turning the unit off.
Overall the Acer C670 is a great unit and I think it is a bargain at $150. You can literally run a business off of this thing, be an author, run your household and do a ton of homework for less than many small tablets. If you are in the market for an entry level Chromebook this one should be on your short list.
UPDATE 03/11/2016: There is a newer version of the Acer C670 available on Amazon with an IPS screen that is slightly more expensive. It seems to be almost exactly the same but a nicer LCD.
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I hope you enjoyed this review of the Acer C670 Chromebook!
