There’s no question that students of all ages are often hard on their computers – shoving them into backpacks as they rush between classes, throwing their bags down once they arrive home, and so on. To help their laptops stand up to the wear and tear inflicted on them, Acer will be introducing two new Chromebooks in February that have been designed with such punishments in mind.
Known as the Chromebook C740 and the C910, the laptops have a number of special hardware features that will help them to withstand demanding student use. Both Chromebooks have reinforced covers (allowing them to withstand up to 60 kilograms of force), the corners can withstand drops of around a foot and a half high, and the clamshell hinges are reinforced against twisting and stress.
But what’s the big deal?
As Chromebooks are already such a big hit in the education market, Acer is trying to improve its share of that market by promising long-lasting devices. The fact that they have improved their laptop designs specifically to meet the demands of this market shows just how important the Chromebook has become for students from all walks of life.
And what are the specifications?
Of course, the area that everyone cares about most – the specs. The smaller of the laptops (the C740) is actually quite similar to the Acer C720 – it features an 11.6 inch display and weighs a little over a kilo. It comes with 16GB of onboard storage and a choice of 2GB or 4GB RAM. It also features extended metal hinges, which are said to make it more rigid.
The larger of the laptops (the C910), on the other hand, seems to be a more durable version of the Acer Chromebook 15. It features a 15.6 inch display (with options for a 1920×1080 IPS screen or a 1366×768 one), a choice of 16GB or 32GB of onboard storage, and 4GB RAM. It weighs just over 2 kilograms, which makes it incredibly portable for its size.
Both laptops feature 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, USB 3.0, USB 2.0, an SD card reader, and an HDMI outlet. You also have a choice of the dual-core 1.5GHz Intel Celeron 3205U or the dual-core 2GHz Intel Core i3-5005U processors.
If you are interested in purchasing one of Acer’s new Chromebooks for your kids, you will be able to find them at authorised Aver retailers from February. They will hopefully provide you with the peace of mind that their laptops won’t be easily broken or otherwise damaged. The C740 will start at $260, whereas the C910 base model will set you back $300.
