Acer has decided to surprise us with a rather nice upgrade to its current $200 Acer C7. The new Acer C710-2055 comes with some significant improvements, as well as a higher $279.99 price tag, but is it worth it?
One of the main complaints about the Acer C7 was its lack of battery life. The original C7 Chromebook only lasts 3.5-4.0 hours, while the improved version can stay alive for an average of 6 hours. This is still not as good a the older Chromebooks (which were known for their long battery life), but it almost matches the Samsung Chromebook and that is a huge improvement. Furthermore, Acer C710-2055 owners will be able to enjoy from 4 GB of RAM memory, which is at least twice more than all other Chromebooks (except the almighty Chromebook Pixel).
At this price, though, the new Acer Chromebook is competing against the Samsung Chromebook, which is actually cheaper at $250. So why would any user choose the Acer C710-2055 over the Samsung Chroembook? Well, the Acer counterpart does offer a 320 GB HDD. It also sports a plethora of ports the other Chromebooks mostly lack; like 3 USB ports, an HDMI port, a VGA port, a headphone/mic jack and a card reader.
The Acer C710-2055 is available now, according to the manufacturer’s press release, but we are not seeing any retailers offering it at the moment. You can pre-order it from Amazon.com as of now, though. Are you signing up for one?
Acer C7 Chromebook Boosts e-Learning, Collaboration
Editor’s Summary:
* Expanded line of C7 Chromebooks available for education customers
* New model for U.S. provides up to six hours of battery life
* Security for students; easy manageability for administrators
* Ideal for schools with multiple users logging on as well as 1-to-1 initiatives
* Mobility and multimedia for greater learningSAN JOSE, Calif., (March 12, 2013) – Acer America today debuts new Acer C7 Chromebook models for its commercial customers, especially schools looking for a way to enhance student learning with technology that is affordable and impactful.
“Chromebooks are an ideal option for schools and districts that want to quickly implement a technology program that will significantly enhance student learning,” said Gregg Prendergast, vice president, U.S. Commercial Sales, Acer America. “The Acer C7 Chromebook delivers the advanced capabilities that will help students excel in all areas of their education. In addition, the Acer C7 Chromebook is incredibly affordable as a stand-alone product, and even more affordable when schools consider the reduced total cost of ownership thanks to its manageability and security features.”
Students Kept Secure, IT Administrators Can Manage with Ease
Teachers and parents will appreciate that the Acer C7 Chromebook is automatically updated, so their students have the latest software version and protection against online threats. The Chrome OS has security features built in to defend against malware and viruses to further ensure students’ online safety. Also, the available web-based management console lets administrators set up and manage users, apps and policies across all Chromebooks in the network, reducing the need to travel to separate classrooms.
In addition, the Acer C7 Chromebook is an excellent choice for schools considering a 1-to-1 computing initiative. IT administrators will be pleased with both the affordable price of the Chromebook as well as the reduced cost of maintenance and support. The robust features and capabilities in Google Apps for Education mean there is no additional required investment in expensive software. Students can also use Chrome Web Store Apps to find additional educational apps for enhanced learning.
Collaborate and Safely Store Projects
The Acer C7 line is ideal for schools planning to give multiple students access to the Chromebooks, either in their classrooms or on a mobile cart. Each student can log on with their unique account to access email, documents, website bookmarks and other projects. Chromebooks come with Google Drive, an online file storage service, so students and teachers can save and access their files safely online and won’t need to back up manually. Teachers and students can also access files as well as create and edit Google Docs and use Gmail offline for greater flexibility.
With Google Docs, it’s easy to share and collaborate on school projects such as presentations and reports that incorporate input from several students. Students in middle school and high school can also see calendars set up by the teacher to track homework, assignments, and projects in various classes. The Acer C7 Chromebooks quickly connect to campus wireless networks with integrated 802.11b/g/n WiFi, so they can be used in a dedicated classroom or on a mobile cart.
Education Starts Quickly; Delivers Battery Life and Performance for All-Day Learning
Students can take advantage of the many educational websites and Chrome apps available online for enhanced learning. Students will also be able to get right to work with the Acer C7; it boasts a less-than 18-second boot time and can almost instantly resume from sleep mode. Plus, using Chrome is easy and intuitive for students and teachers alike.
The new Acer C710-2055 Chromebook for customers in the U.S. is powered by a 6-cell battery that delivers up to six hours of life for all-day student learning without having to recharge during school hours.(1) It is powered by an Intel Celeron 847 processor (2MB L3 cache, 1.10GHz, DDR3 1333 MHz) and 4GB of RAM to provide exceptional speed and responsiveness when running multiple apps and programs.
Mobility and Multimedia Enhance Learning
The Acer C7 weighs only 3.05 pounds, so it’s portable enough to move between classrooms and even outside for projects in classes such as science and art. It measures only one inch thin, so it can easily be stored in a classroom, on a mobile cart, or can fit into a backpack for schools that allow a check-out program. The slim size incorporates a full-sized keyboard that is comfortable to use for web browsing, creating presentations and running educational apps.
Multimedia can be incorporated into student learning with the Acer C7’s integrated HD 1.3MP webcam. Video and photos can be captured and incorporated into presentations, websites and slideshows. Plus, the Acer C7 has three USB 2.0 ports, so it can be connected to a digital camera and other devices. It also has an HDMI port for sharing video and content to external displays for a presentation. Students can easily view websites, apps, video and more on the C7’s 11.6-inch HD Widescreen CineCrystalTM LED-backlit LCD.
Pricing, Availability and Warranty
The new Acer C710-2055 is available now in the U.S. at retailers and from authorized Acer resellers for $279.99. Additional configurations are available in the Acer C7 Chromebook line.
The new Acer C7 comes with a standard one-year parts and labor warranty, which can be extended to three years with the Acer Advantage service. All Acer Chromebooks are backed by toll-free service and support.(2)
1.) Actual battery life varies depending on product specifications, computer settings and applications or features launched. All batteries’ maximum capacity diminishes with time and use.
2.) Limited warranties and service agreements apply. May not be available in all locations. Availability varies. Other conditions apply. For a copy, write to AcerCustomer Service, P.O. Box 6137, Temple, TX 76503.
