Acer has launched its new Chromebook series laptop, the Chromebook 15 at CES 2015. Additionally, the company announced that it will expand its Chromebook 13 range of laptops with new touchscreen models.
The company says the new Acer Chromebook 15 is the “industry’s first Chromebook with a 15.6-inch display.”
The Acer Chromebook 15 range (CB5-571) will be available in variants offering either a 16GB or 32GB SSD drive and either 2GB or 4GB or RAM. The company notes that the “exact specifications, prices and availability will vary by region”. The Chromebook 15 will be available at a starting price of $249.99 (Rs. 15,810 approximately) in the US.
The company adds that the new Chromebook 15 featuring a 15.6-inch display offers “27 percent larger than 13.3-inch Chromebooks available in the market.”
The new Acer Chromebook 15 will be available in two display versions – one offering a full-HD (1920×1080 pixels) screen resolution and another offering a HD (1366×768 pixels) resolution.
“Both options are Acer ComfyView displays, so they have anti-glare properties to minimise the amount of reflecting light for less eye strain,” notes the company in a statement. The Acer Chromebook 15 packs two upward facing speakers and also sports a HD webcam.
The Chromebook 15 will be available in two processor variants – fifth generation Intel Core i3 or next generation Intel Celeron processor. Notably, the company claims that the Chromebook 15 can handle bumps and drops. It notes, “The case can withstand up to 60kg of force, while the corners can tolerate up to 45cm drops without damage. Also, the new Chromebook can endure more twisting and stress on the case and hinges.” The Acer Chromebook 15 is also said to sport the largest touchpad of any Chromebook today.
The Chromebook 15 weighs around 2.2 kilograms and measures 393mm (width), 256mm (diameter), and 24.2mm (height).
On the connectivity front, the laptop includes MIMO 2x2Wi-Fi 802.11 ac, Bluetooth 4.0, USB 3.0 port, USB 2.0 port and HDMI port alongside a SD card reader. Much like other Chromebooks, it also features a suite of Google apps and services.
Additionally, Acer expanded its Chromebook 13 range that is powered by an Nvidia Tegra K1 SoC. The company has introduced new touchscreen models of the Chromebook 13. It will be available in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) starting January at EUR 329 (Rs. 24,938 approximately)
