Google just cancelled their next Pixelbook, and dissolved the team behind it, but don’t worry – the Chromebook lives on!
Google Kills Pixelbook + Dissolves Team
Google just cancelled the next-generation Pixelbook laptop that was supposed to debut next year. They also dissolved the team developing it, and transferred its members to other teams.
This sudden decision came after Google said in May 2022 that it planned to continue its Pixelbook laptop business.
Then in July, Google CEO Sundar Pichai said that he wanted to slow down hiring and cut some projects :
In some cases, that means consolidating where investments overlap and streamlining processes. In other cases, that means pausing development and re-deploying resources to higher priority areas.
It looks like Google decided that their next Pixelbook would be a waste of resources, and killed it to shift their resources elsewhere.
Google Pixelbook Is Dead, But Chromebook Lives On!
While there will no longer be a new Pixelbook laptop in 2023, that does not mean Google has given up on ChromeOS or Chromebook laptops.
In fact, Google likely canned their Pixelbook project because their OEM partners are doing a great job of producing a plethora of good or even great Chromebook laptops.
As Google hardware chief Rick Osterloh pointed out at Google I/O 2022 in May, the Chromebook market had matured and would last a long time.
Google have always developed hardware as a way to push the envelope, and to show its partners what can be achieved. It doesn’t benefit Google to directly compete with its partners.
Now that OEM partners like Acer, Lenovo and HP are offering Chromebook laptops in a wide range of price points and configurations, it just doesn’t make sense for Google to muddle the market with a new Pixelbook.
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Parents are looking for great but affordable laptops for their kids, and the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 may just hit the sweet spot!
Take a look at my review of this MIL-STD-rated convertible laptop, and find out why it’s great for students!
Acer Chromebook Spin 713 : Fast + Tough
The 2021 Acer Chromebook Spin 713 (CP713-3W) is the world’s first Intel Evo platform-verified Chromebook, guaranteeing snappy performance out-of-the-box.
As an Intel Evo-verified laptop, it comes with an 11th Gen Intel Core processor with Intel Iris Xe Graphics, built-in Wi-Fi 6 and Thunderbolt 4 connectivity, and is designed to wake up in less than a second!
Even though it is a convertible laptop, it is MIL-STD-810H rated for drops of up to 122 cm, and MIL-STD-810F rated against ingress of sand and dust!
So you now have a basic idea of why we think it’s great for students!
Acer Chromebook Spin 713 : Price + Availability
The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 is available in Malaysia with a retail price of RM3,799.
Here are some online purchase options in Malaysia :
The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 is a convertible laptop, with a 13.5-inch display with a resolution of 2256 x 1504 pixels.
The display can flip completely around, letting you use it in the laptop mode, tent mode or the tablet mode – very useful for presentations and collaboration in school.
As this is a Chromebook, it runs on Google Chrome OS, but otherwise, appears and works like any other laptop.
It is quite thin at just under 17 mm at its thickest point, and weighs only 1.37 kg. It will have no problem fitting into schoolbags.
13.5-inch Touchscreen Display
The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 comes with a 13.5-inch IPS display with a resolution of 2256 x 1504 pixels – much higher than most Chromebook laptops.
This is a touchscreen display, which is the main input method in tent and tablet modes. Even so, you will find it very useful in the laptop mode as well.
You will be glad to know that the display is protected by a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass, so it is resistant to scratches.
720p Webcam
The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 comes with a 720p webcam at the top of its display, with two microphones to pick up your voice.
It would be be nice if Acer included a 1080p webcam, but hey, even the Dell XPS 13 (9300) came with a 720p webcam!
Available Ports
The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 comes with a range of useful ports. On the left side, you will find :
two of the latest USB Type C / Thunderbolt 4 ports!
a full-size HDMI port
a 3.5 mm audio port
On the right side, you will find a physical Volume control button, with a microSD card reader, a USB 3.0 Type A port and the Power button.
Speakers
The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 has two downward-firing speakers on the underside (in laptop mode).
They are pretty loud and bright, and seem optimised for voice – which may appear to be what they are targeting.
But they will sound hollow and lack dynamism and bass, so music and movies are less enjoyable.
Keyboard + Touchpad
The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 comes with a full-size keyboard, with a large touchpad.
The keys are backlit, which is fantastic in low-light conditions, and have decent key travel.
Our Acer Chromebook Spin 713 laptop was powered by the Intel Core i5-1135G7, which is a 4-core, 8-thread processor that runs at up to 4.2 GHz.
It comes with integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics, and is paired with 8 GB of RAM and 256 of PCIe NVMe SSD storage.
Battery Life
The Chromebook Spin 713 comes with a 3-cell 56 Whr lithium-ion battery, that Acer says all last up to 10 hours.
To test its battery life, we set its display to 50% and ran the PCMark Work 3.0 battery life test, until its battery capacity dropped to 20%, repeating several times.
Unfortunately, we could not get 10 hours – the best we could do was just under 7.5 hours. But please note that this is a stress test that involves non-stop running work applications.
In real life, you will likely see longer usage times. And it is certainly more than long enough for a full day at school!
Battery Recharging Speed
The Chromebook Spin 713 comes with a 45 watt fast charger, that Acer says will give you 4 hours of battery life in just under 30 minutes.
Look at that! It only took 1 hour 31.5 minutes to fully recharge the Chromebook Spin 713 from 20% to 100%!
That gives it a battery life : recharging ratio of almost 5:1. A general rule of thumb – for one hour of battery life, you will need to charge it for 12 minutes.
Work Performance : PCMark Work 3.0
As this laptop runs on Chrome OS, we can only compare it to mobile SoCs.
Its PCMark Work 3.0 score puts it firmly in between the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ and the Samsung Exynos 990.
As the Chromebook Spin 713 runs on Chrome OS, you can Android apps on it. Yes, that includes games that your kids are already playing on your Android phone. 😉
Its graphics performance is really good, coming in more than TWICE AS FAST as Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ and the Samsung Exynos 990.
In other words, you won’t have to worry about running any mobile games on this laptop. It will have no problem handling them.
Acer Chromebook Spin 713 : Verdict + Award
People often think of Chromebook laptops as cheap throwaway devices that you only resort to when you have “no other choice”.
The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 puts paid to that perception, offering a sleek convertible design with high-end features like :
Intel Evo and MIL-STD-810 certifications
2K touch display with Gorilla Glass protection
Powerful Intel Core i5 processor with Intel Xe Graphics
Two USB Type C / Thunderbolt 4 ports
What you get is a truly versatile laptop with snappy work and gaming performance, with an excellent high-resolution display.
If you are a parent looking for a good and sturdy laptop that your child will have a hard time breaking, you really can’t go wrong with the Acer Chromebook Spin 713.
That’s why we have no qualms giving it our Reviewer’s Choice Award! Great job, Acer!
Acer Chromebook Spin 713 : Where To Buy?
The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 is available in Malaysia with a retail price of RM3,799.
Here are some online purchase options in Malaysia :
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Dell just introduced the world’s first Chromebook Enterprise laptops, in partnership with Google… TWO of them, to be precise.
Let’s take a look at the Latitude 5400 Chromebook Enterprise, and the Latitude 5300 2-in-1 Chromebook Enterprise!
Dell Latitude Chromebook Enterprise
With more organisations moving to the cloud, they can now offer their employees more choices in the devices and operating systems they use.
The new Latitude Chromebook Enterprise devices offer powerful and configurable options that employees need, that large organisations can deploy and manage easily using Unified Workspace.
Like other Latitude laptops, they will feature enterprise-grade security, performance and connectivity features.
Both the Latitude 5400 Chromebook Enterprise and Latitude 5300 2-in-1 Chromebook Enterprise will feature narrow-bezel displays, and tough carbon fiber chassis that will have undergone 17 MIL-STD tests.
Dell will be offering them with 8th Gen Intel Core i5 and Core i7 processor options, configurable with up to 32 GB of RAM, and a choice of 10 localised language keyboards, as well as mobile broadband capability.
They will also come with high-density batteries for a longer battery life in a smaller form factor. These batteries will support ExpressCharge, allowing you to recharge up to 80% in an hour!
Dell Latitude Chromebook Enterprise Specifications
We created this table to summarise the key specifications and configuration options for the two new Dell Latitude Chromebook Enterprise devices :
Specifications
Latitude 5400
Chromebook Enterprise
Latitude 5300 2-in-1
Chromebook Enterprise
Operating System
Google Chrome
Processor Options
8th Gen Intel Core Processor (4 cores)
Memory Options
DDR4-2666 (set to 2400 MHz)
– 2 slots, supporting up to 32 GB
H1 Secure Processor
Verified Boot
Google Chrome Enterprise with Console
VMware Workspace ONE
Dell Data Guardian Cloud
Optional Dell Data Security + Management
Ports + Slots
1 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type C
3 x USB 3.1 Gen 1
1 x HDMI 1.4
1 x RJ-451 x optional micro SIM card tray
1 x microSD 4.0 memory card reader
1 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type C
3 x USB 3.1 Gen 1
1 x HDMI 1.4
1 x optional micro SIM card tray
1 x microSD 4.0 memory card reader
Battery Options
4-cell 68 WHr Long Life
4-cell 68 WHr ExpressCharge
3-cell 51 WHr ExpressCharge
3-cell 42 WHr ExpressCharge
4-cell 60 WHr Long Life
4-cell 60 WHr ExpressCharge
3-cell 42 WHr ExpressCharge
Power Options
90 W, Type C or 7.4 mm barrel
65 W, Type C or 7.4 mm barrel
90 W, 7.4 mm barrel only
65 W, Type C or 7.4 mm barrel
Dimensions
323.05 mm wide
216.0 mm deep20.85 mm thick
305.7 mm wide
207.5 mm deep
19.3 mm thick
Starting Weight
1.47 kg
1.36 kg
Easy Deployment + Management With Dell Unified Workspace
The new Dell Latitude Chromebook Enterprise devices offer more than just more affordable Latitude options.
Using Dell Unified Workspace, they can be easily configured, deployed and managed by IT teams, offering a better work space experience for IT, business managers and employees.
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
Acer just revealed the Acer Chromebook Spin 11, Chromebook 11 and Chromebook Tab 10 devices, as well as the Chromebook CXI3! Get the full details below!
The 2018 Acer Chromebook + Chromebox Computers
Acer Malaysia General Manager of Product, Sales and Marketing, Mr. Chan Weng Hong, gave the briefing on the 2018 Acer Chromebook and Chromebox range of computers.
“As a leader in Chromebooks, Acer will continue to excite the market with new devices as we play our pivotal role in accelerating their adoption in business, education and at home. With more features available with Chrome OS, we are responding with form factors that offer more meaningful benefits to our customers.”
The Acer Chromebook Spin 11
The Acer Chromebook Spin 11 is a convertible device with a 11.6-inch HD IPS display with 1366 x 768 resolution. Its patented 360° dual-torque hinge design offers four wobble-free modes – tablet, tent, laptop and display.
The Chromebook Spin 11 is bundled with a Wacom EMR stylus, and comes with two cameras – the Acer HD webcam located above the keyboard with 88° wide angle for video conferences, and a second webcam on the cover to capture images or videos in tablet mode.
Powered by the quad-core Intel Celeron N3450 processor, the Chromebook Spin 11 comes with 4 GB or 8 GB of LPDDR4 memory and up to 64 GB eMMC storage. It boasts a battery life of up to 10 hours on a single charge.
The Acer Chromebook 11
The Acer Chromebook 11 is a MIL-STD 810F-certified device that is sand- and dust-resistant, and can tolerate drops from up to 48 inches. Its internal honeycomb reinforced body can also handle up to 60 kg of force on the top cover.
Its 11.6-inch IPS display can swing by 180-degrees for sharing. It also comes with two USB 3.1 Type C Gen 1 ports, which can be used for charging or fast data transfers. Powered by the quad-core Intel Celeron N3450 processor, it can last 12 hours on a single battery charge.
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
The Acer Chromebook Tab 10
The Acer Chromebook Tab 10 is the first education tablet running on Chrome OS. Equipped with an OP1 processor with two ARM Cortex-A72 cores, 4 GB of RAM and 32 GB of storage, it’s powerful enough to run multiple apps at once.
Its 9.7″ IPS display has a QXGA resolution of 2048 x 1536 pixels. It can last up to 9 hours on a single charge, and in case you run out of power, you can even recharge it using a power bank via its USB 3.1 Type C port! It comes standard with a Wacom EMR stylus that can be embedded in the chassis dock for secure storage.
The Acer Chromebox CXI3
The Acer Chromebox CXI3 runs on Chrome OS, and is powered by the 8th Gen Intel Core processor with up to 16 GB of DDR4 memory. It is extremely compact and can even fit into a monitor’s VESA mount.
It boots up within seconds, and comes with USB 3.1 Type C Gen 1 ports for faster charging and fast data transfers. It even supports dual monitors through HDMI and Type C ports.
The 2018 Acer Chromebook + Chromebox Specifications + Price List
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
TAIPEI, TAIWAN (March 26, 2018) – Acer today unveiled the first education tablet running Chrome OS, the Acer Chromebook Tab 10 (D651N). The new Acer Chromebook Tab 10 is designed for Acer’s education customers and will be used in K-12 classrooms to expand and enhance student learning by bringing the speed, simplicity and security of Chrome OS into the tablet form factor.
Acer Chromebook Tab 10 – First Chrome OS Edu Tablet!
Students Can Do More with QXGA Display, Portable Design
Students can see their classwork and apps in stunning clarity and bright color on the 9.7-inch QXGA IPS touch display. Providing 2048 x 1536 resolution at 264 pixels per inch, the display offers students incredibly clear perspectives on the topics they are studying.
he slim size and portable design enables the Acer Chromebook Tab 10 to be moved around the classroom and taken to even more places for continuous learning. This means a wider range of students, including younger ones with smaller hands, can handle the device and engage with the intuitive touch display as they navigate, zoom and spin through their lessons.
In addition, the Acer Chromebook Tab 10 fully supports Google Play, which gives teachers and students access to educational Android apps that have been approved and curated by administrators to let them collaborate, discover, engage and learn.
The compact size ensures that the Acer Chromebook Tab 10 easily fits in a backpack or desk, and the unique cobalt blue color makes it stand out so it’s easy to find. The Acer Chromebook Tab 10 weighs only 1.21 pounds (550g) and measures just 6.78 (W) x 9.38 (D) x 0.39 (H) inches [172.2 (W) x 238.2 (D) x 9.98 (H) mm].
Features Make the Most of Chrome OS
Students can use the front 2MP HD webcam and dual accompanying speakers and microphone for chats over Google Hangouts. The rear 5MP camera enables students to capture video and images.
To give students additional ways to interact with the Acer Chromebook Tab 10, the device comes standard with a Wacom EMR stylus. Students can work precisely with interactive apps, sketch, take notes and capture ideas that can be shared with classmates and teachers. The Wacom EMR stylus can be embedded in the chassis dock for secure storage. Plus, it doesn’t require a battery and is resistant to accidental drops.
The Acer Chromebook Tab 10 provides long battery life of up to 9 hours – enough for 1:1 programs where students use them throughout their school day, as well as at home for projects. Schools with dedicated labs and wireless carts can use the Acer Chromebook Tab 10 over several days of classroom time.
Easy to Manage and Keep Secure
IT administrators can manage the new Acer Chromebook Tab 10 as easily as any of the other Chrome OS-based devices on their campus. They can make updates, configure apps, as well as manage extensions and policies with the Chrome Education license.
The Acer Chromebook Tab 10 can be shared throughout the school site and in labs since Chrome OS supports multiple user sign-in, giving students quick access to their information, apps, projects, Gmail and more when they log onto their unique account. Even if a device is lost, stolen or damaged, students won’t lose their information. Storage on Google Drive protects files, documents and photos safely in the cloud, and ensures that the most current version is always available. Plus, Chrome OS is automatically updated and guards students against ever-changing online threats, such as viruses and malware.
Solid Performance and Ports
[adrotate group=”2″]
The Acer Chromebook Tab 10 responds quickly and can run multiple apps at once, as it’s powered by an OP1 Processor that integrates dual-core Cortex-A72 and quad-core Cortex-A53 processors. Also, it includes 4GB of RAM and 32GB of on-board storage. Students will stay connected to their school’s network with fast and reliable 2×2 MIMO 802.11ac Wi-Fi connectivity and can connect to displays and other devices via Bluetooth 4.1.
The new Acer Chromebook Tab 10 includes a USB 3.1 Type-C Gen 1 port, which can be used to charge the device as well as other products, transfer data quickly up to 5Gbps, and connect to an HD display. It also features combo headphone/speaker jack and a MicroSD card reader.
Planned Support for Augmented Reality
The Acer Chromebook Tab 10 will support augmented reality in the future to allow students to experience new ways of learning with Expeditions AR. Expeditions AR is Google’s AR technology that maps the classroom and places 3D objects in it for students to study, making subjects such as biology, geography and astronomy easier to comprehend.
Acer Chromebook Tab 10 Price and Availability
The new Acer Chromebook Tab 10 (D651N) will be available to education and commercial customers in North America in April with prices starting at US$329 and in EMEA in May with prices starting at €329 (including VAT).
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
