Acer Chromebook Spins 311 Review – A Brief Overview of the ChromeBook Spin
Acer Chromebook Spins 311 isn’t a cheap laptop. It’s more than just an average laptop with average features. In fact, it doesn’t have many features at all, which makes it cheap in the eyes of some. If you’re looking for a solid, affordable laptop with a wide range of applications and a solid set of specs, this isn’t it. The Acer Chromebook Spins 311 isn’t a bad laptop by any means, but it is not the best option for buyers looking for an inexpensive option with high performance.
As a low-budget laptop, the Chromebook Spin311 has a few positives compared to the other models in its class. For one, the screen is quite good. The display is crisp and colorful, with noticeable brightness even in bright light situations. The touchpad is responsive, smooth, and pretty good, despite lacking any extra options like a USB port or headphone jack.
Like many low-budget chromebooks, the keyboard on the Chromebook Spin311 isn’t particularly impressive. Even so, it’s still a fast keyboard and a great overall keyboard replacement. The touchpad also works quite well, despite its limited functionality. The keys are all responsive and firm, despite being on a tiny platform. On the plus side, the keys are all spaced just right, which helps make hitting them easier. The physical keys are quite small, though, so getting used to them may take a bit of time.
One of the biggest differences between the Chromebook Spin311 and many other affordable chromebooks is the lack of RAM. You can’t really expect to get a powerful computer for under two hundred dollars if you’re buying a laptop. Fortunately, the chromebook has enough power to run most of your basic programs. You’ll be able to upload videos, images, and music to the device, as well as do just about everything else that an average laptop can do. There’s no need to invest in additional RAM just yet, but it’s always nice to have some on hand in case you might run into some problems.
Like many of the android phones and tablets out today, the Acer Chromebook Spins 311 offers no wireless connectivity. The lack of mobile connectivity shouldn’t be a huge concern for most consumers, since wireless access will likely be available in future revisions of this device. It’s a shame that this version does not offer any USB connectivity, either. This is quite unfortunate, as the lack of portability can make this device a poor choice for anyone looking for a solid smartphone replacement. For most people, it’s best to stick with other android central devices when it comes to mobile computing.
Another shortcoming of the Chromebook Spin311 is the small touchpad. Although this isn’t a big deal for most people, it can make using the device more difficult in some cases. Even though the touchpad is small, it can still be very sensitive to touch. Some users may also find the small size to be inconvenient, especially when trying to type on a full-sized keyboard. Overall, these issues are fairly minor and do not significantly affect the usability of the device, but they’re worth mentioning.
One of the most impressive features of this little chromebook is the keyboard, which is actually larger than you’d expect. Even though you’re typing on a 10.5-inch screen, the keys are still responsive and offer a satisfying feel. Like many of the competition, the built in trackpad offers limited control when you want to scroll or pinch. This works well in practice, since most people will learn to use the buttons in such a way that they aren’t necessary to touch the screen. Regardless, the Chromebook Spin311 has one of the best keyboards of any convertible laptop.
While the physical keys might be a little on the smaller side, the keys are also situated at the right spots on the keyboard. This means that you can press them without feeling a pressing sensation, which is often critical when working on a laptop. In addition, the Chromebook Spin311 offers standard sized ports on all sides, including USB, headphone jack, and even an HDMI port for connecting your television to the laptop. It’s important to know that the screen size on some models of chromebooks is different than others. The Spin 311 offers the same screen as some of the higher end models, so if this is something that interests you, it should be easy to find a model with the right size and feel.
