Acer C7 Chromebook Review

Tablets have changed the computer market as we know it. But is the laptop really dead? In our very humble opinion: no way! The tablet is an exciting addition to the tech team, but its lack of tangible hardware components keep the laptop around as a viable competitor. So, when we come across a laptop with a $200 price tag (say what?!), we’ve got to wonder: is it worth it? The Acer C7 Chromebook is that laptop, and we’re going to unravel its goodies to find out.

The Outside

Weight/Portability

First things first, let’s talk size. As the consumer demand increasingly calls for portability and smaller gadgetry, size is a deciding factor for many folks. The Acer C7 Chromebook is light, though we wouldn’t call it a featherweight. At about 3 pounds, it’s significantly lighter than the antiquated laptops from days of old, but is still several times the weight of a tablet.

Screen

The Acer C7 Chromebook features a glossy screen stretching 11.6 inches across. The screen houses a standard resolution of 1366×768, which is by no means impressive, but still decent considering the price.

Keyboard

If you’ve not used a chiclet-style keyboard, there may be a slight learning curve, but aside from the “getting used to” factor, it performs mostly as expected. There is a slight wiggle to the keys that produces an unpleasant cadence for me personally, but for a $200 model, it’s difficult to call this a legitimate complaint.

The Inside

Taking a look under the hood, Acer delivers a solid structure for a very (very!) reasonable cost.

• Chrome OS
• 2 GB DDR3 RAM
• Dual-core Intel Celeron Processor
• 320 GB Hard Drive – 5400 RPM (with an add’l 100GB Google Drive Space)
• WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n 2×2
• Estimated 4-hour battery life

The dual-core processor is fast and reliable, but the 320GB hard drive is the main talking point here, providing ample space for substantially-sized video, photo, and music files. This especially rings true when comparing the C7 to its Samsung counterpart, which oddly comes with just 16GB SSD (and a $50 higher price point). Where Acer falls short in its beaucoup affordable C7 is its battery life. It’s purported to last four hours, but by our accounts, we’re seeing it to be more like three to three and a half. This, compared to Samsung Chromebook’s six hours, could be a deal-breaker for some.

The Bottom Line

The bottom line is, well, the bottom line. Acer has developed a fully functional machine that performs almost exactly as expected for a rather unexpected price tag. The $200 sticker price is extremely attractive, and while the C7 laptop is not exactly the Ferrari of computers, it makes for an excellent utility vehicle.

Where to Find the Acer C7 Chromebook

The Acer C7 Chromebook starts at $200 retail, however, there may be other options for finding the C7 Chromebook for less than retail costs. One such option is through online shopping sites like HappyBidDay.com. Auction shopping networks like HappyBidDay allow users to buy bids and bid on high-demand items like the Nexus in an auction setting, often selling well below retail prices.