[NEW] Acer C720P

ARE touchscreens a bonus on Chromebooks? That’s the question posed  by Acer’s new C720P, a notebook with Google’s Chrome OS that conjointly encompasses a touchscreen.

The C720P encompasses a 10-point bit show that we tend to found adequate instead of fantastic. typically it absolutely wasn’t therefore responsive and you had to prod and poke carefully; at alternative times it was OK.

The problem in the main is that Google’s Chrome OS isn’t designed for bit. i attempted encouragement the tabs at the highest of the Chrome browser to pick a distinct browser window. You had to be terribly correct for it to figure. choosing Google apps from the Chrome app menu at the bottom-left worked far better, because the app icons square measure an even bigger target. And scrolling through the Chrome app store worked a treat. Indeed, i might be scrolling instead of poke if I were to use this touchscreen often.

The bit interface, however, will work at intervals apps. In Pixlr, Google’s image writing program, I might crop photos victimization my finger, though there wasn’t a lot of advantage in doing this. Over time, touchscreens on Chromebooks can add up once there square measure additional apps to support it. Rudimentary play is one space wherever it would work.

Overall the C720P may be a lightweight, durable Chromebook with a “moonstone” white plastic casing. it's associate degree Intel Celeron 2955U processor that delivers cheap battery life and, for a cheapie notebook, has some helpful ports: USB3.0, a full HDMI port, USB2.0 and a card reader. It’s conjointly light; you'll well decide it up in one hand. it's basic 802.11a/b/g/n WLAN and a VGA digital camera for video conferencing. It’s Bluetooth four.0 compatible.

It conjointly encompasses a sixteen GB solid state drive. Start-up time from pressing the on button to viewing the login screen was a formidable six seconds.

Chromebooks usually have restricted storage as {they square measure|they're} designed preponderantly for once you are connected on-line — like once accessing Gmail and Google Drive. you'll draft replies to emails however they won’t be sent till you’re once more connected.

Nevertheless, if you would like additional storage don’t despair. dicot genus and Google square measure providing 100GB of free Google Drive storage for 2 years.

Display-wise, the C720P has associate degree eleven.6-inch HD light-emitting diode backlit show with 1366x768 constituent resolution. It’s adequate for an inexpensive notebook, however we’re seeing additional 1080p HD displays currently. Indeed, newer notebooks offer to 2K resolution.

The C720P permits for multiple user accounts, which implies you may share the one Chromebook with members of the family or use it as an inexpensive moveable device at workplaces and faculties. you'll add additional users at the login screen. That’s a and.

You also will browse as a guest, therefore you don’t ought to enter Google credentials if you’re an off-the-cuff user on another person’s Chromebook.

You’re restricted to simply browsing the online and skimming Google’s Chrome store. you've got access to files on the native drive; they're hold on one by one from alternative accounts.

In Australia the dicot genus C720P can price $499, that is sweet worth once you take into account options like the touchscreen, USB3.0 and full HDMI ports and multi-user support.

But regionally it’s up against the HP Chromebook eleven, that is associate degree equally engaging white notebook cost accounting $100 less. however the HP doesn’t have a touchscreen, USB3.0 or HDMI support.

It’s a case of saving the cash or having additional options.

Rating: 7/10

Price: $499

PROS:

10-point touchscreen.

Supports multiple user accounts.

USB3.0, HDMI and Bluetooth four.0 support.

CONS:

Limited software package support for touchscreen.

Display and VGA camera undramatic.

More expensive than the competition.