Acer's Chromebook 15 is the biggest Chromebook yet
While most potential Chromebook buyers are probably looking something small and cheap, Acer's targeting a slightly different customer with its latest entry. Its new Chromebook 15 is the first laptop running Google's browser-focused OS with a 15.6-inch screen. It's still relatively inexpensive, starting at $250, but it weighs in at a hefty 4.85 pounds. The Chromebook 15 isn't meant for people who've grown used to svelte ultraportables -- instead, it seems ideal for schools (where Chromebooks are already doing well) and older users who might appreciate a larger display. It's more a primary computer than a secondary portable PC, which is pretty much the opposite of how most Chromebooks have been positioned so far.
Though this laptop looks like an over-sized version of last year's Chromebook 13, it's an entirely different story under the hood. Acer's offering it with Intel's fifth-generation Core i3 or Celeron processor, while its smaller sibling rocks an NVIDIA Tegra K1 chip. And even though Acer's finally debuting a new touchscreen version of the Chromebook 13 for $330 this month, you won't be swiping the Chromebook 15's screen. You'll be able to choose from a 1080p or 1366 x 768 display resolution, at least. Given the step up in screen size and hardware, don't expect to see the same 13-hour battery life as we did with the Chromebook 13 (Acer calls the larger model's battery performance "impressive"). It also packs in a USB 3.0, USB 2.0 and HDMI ports. And of course, there's an SD card reader thrown in for good measure.
We're still waiting for more details on pricing and availability, which Acer says will vary by region. You'll be able to choose from 16GB and 32GB solid state drives, as well as 2GB and 4GB RAM options. We'd be interested in seeing what a fully-specced out Chromebook 15 would run you. After a point, it might make more sense to go for a traditional cheap PC rather than an expensive Chromebook.
