Acer announced the availability of its Acer Chromebook 11 N7 (C731) at CES, Las Vegas. Acer has specifically designed the device for students with a 12-hour battery life and a fan-less design to reduce noise. The Acer C731T has an 11.6-inch IPS touchscreen display, while the C731 has a standard non-touch display. The display has a 1366×768 resolution and a hinge design that open up to 180 degrees. The device is powered by Intel Celeron dual-core processors and measures 0.87 inches (22mm) thin and weighs 2.98 pounds (1.35kg). “Chromebooks have become the de facto standard for education technology in many districts around the country,” said Chris Chiang, Vice President of Product Management at Acer America. “The new Acer Chromebook 11 N7 (C731) will set the bar even higher for what schools utilize for their classrooms and labs – a durable design, quiet fan-less operation and a portable form factor that makes them easy to transport for 1:1 programs, around the classroom, outside and in the lab.” The Acer Chromebook 11 N7 (C731) can handle up to 132 pounds (60kg) of downward force on the top cover. The device also comes with a corner-shield structure and rubber bumper keyboard surround to further protect the Chromebook, so it can tolerate drops from heights up to 48 inches (122cm).
The Acer Chromebook 11 N7 (C731) has a spill-resistant keyboard that provides protection against spills of up to 11 fluid ounces (330ml) of water. The gutter system under the keyboard and touchpad drains water so that it’s routed away from internal components and out the bottom of the chassis.
A new feature to the Chromebook 11 N7 (C731) is the keyboard design with recessed keys that prevent the key caps from being easily removed by students.
Acer says the Chromebook provides up to 12 hours of battery life.
The Chromebook 11 N7 (C731) will provide support for Android apps via the Google Play Store in the coming months.
Connectivity features include dual-band 2×2 MIMO 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, two USB 3.0 ports, one HDMI port, 3.5mm headphone port and an SD card reader.
