The ongoing pandemic has forced a shift in education that probably would have occurred anyway but has been profoundly accelerated. It’s no longer optional for kids to have access to a Chromebook or similar device; they’re becoming as necessary for education as a pen and spiral notebook. This need inspires new market innovations by companies like Acer, who are rolling out four new educational Chromebooks designed to fit various students’ (and teachers’) needs!
Any notebook labeled for “education” has to be somewhat rugged; Acer says all four of the new Chromebooks will have integrated bumpers, as well as drainage systems to keep spilled liquids from leaking into the computers. They also sport wider brackets and accessible ports, so there’s less chance of delicate areas getting jammed or abused.
Acer brought something new to the table beyond just rugged designs by integrating recycled plastics into three of the new devices (Chromebook Spin 311, Chromebook 511, and Chromebook 512).
All four new educational Chromebooks also feature what Acer calls “OceanGlass” touchpads, made from recycled plastic found in the ocean. OceanGlass reduces pollution by reusing these plastics, plus the material provides smoothness and a similar experience to using a glass touchpad. Now, on to what makes each of these notebooks unique!
Acer Chromebook 512 (C852)
The Acer Chromebook 512 has a 12″ display with a 3:2 aspect ratio, which translates to 18% more vertical space in English.
More vertical space makes it an ideal computer for reading and writing, where seeing more of the page matters more than watching YouTube on a widescreen. It also has two built-in microphones plus a webcam with a blue glass filter to reduce flare while on video.
The Acer Chromebook 512 is powered by the latest N-series Intel processors, and it offers up to 12-hours of battery life.
Look for it this January, starting at $349.99.
Acer Chromebook 511 (C734/C734T)
Younger kids need durable, safe computers, and that is where the Acer Chromebook 511 shines. It’s not only rugged, but it also meets the ASTM toy safety standards as well.
The 11.6″ screen makes it more compact, another plus for tiny humans with proportionally sized hands. There are dual microphones and a webcam, which can easily go from classroom to remote learning without an issue.
The Acer Chromebook 511 is powered by the latest N-series Intel processors, and it can get up to 12-hours of battery life.
The Acer Chromebook 511 hits this February, starting at $349.99.
Acer Chromebook 314 (C934/C934T)
The Acer Chromebook 314 sports a 14″ anti-glare touchscreen, DTS audio, two microphones, the latest N-series Intel processors, Intel Wi-Fi 6, and up to 10-hours of battery life for those who need more screen real estate.
Acer says this is aimed at teachers and older students, where the extra screen space means better multitasking.
You’ll have to be patient, as this is likely coming out in the second half of 2022, starting at $429.99.
Acer Chromebook Spin 311 (R722T/R723T)
The Acer Chromebook Spin 311 is a convertible-style laptop with a 360-degree hinge and an 11.6″ Corning Gorilla Glass anti-microbial touchscreen.
They’re aiming this at any grade level, with the idea that it can be easily used as a regular computer or flipped around for touchscreen or presentation work.
The HD webcam can also be shuttered for privacy between calls, which is a nice touch when the computer is likely to be used quite a bit as a convertible tablet/notebook.
The Acer Chromebook Spin 311 uses the MediaTek MT8183 processor, and it can get up to 15-hours of battery life. It is available with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 (R723T) or Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 4.2 (R722T).
Look for it this March, starting at $399.99.
I like all of these options and they are all reasonably priced!
Great for older students
Thank you for sharing this great information, I’m needing a new laptop
I was wondering if there were enough differences to justify coming out with 4 models, but after reading this, it’s easy to see that there are good reasons for at least 3 different models. The 511 and 512 still don’t seem that different to me, but there could be good reasons that didn’t make it into their announcement.