Asus is on a roll as it is now set to release a new Chromebook device.
What makes this new Chromebook different from previous releases is it has way more storage. While the storage spaces of other Chromebooks range from 16 GB to 32 GB (largely because of the fact that the devices run on a browser-based operating system with little need for large storage), the Asus C301SA boasts 64 GB eMMc storage.
That might not be much compared to gadgets in other device classes but 64 GB is already massive for a Chromebook, and so if you are looking for a portable personal computer where you can store movies, you might not want to choose this one.
Coming up with a new Chromebook could be a smart move for the Taiwan-based computer manufacturer, especially after Google announced that it will soon be bringing support for Android applications and games to the Chrome operating system.
Specs Under The Hood
The CPU installed with this latest Chromebook will be the power-efficient Intel Celeron N3160 quad-core Braswell processor. It also touts 4 GB of RAM and it adheres to 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2 and USB 3.0 standards.
The Asus C301SA Chromebook will also have a 13.3-inch display with a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels. This is not a touch screen, however, so users should be aware that some Android apps may not work as they should.
Price And Availability
Looking at the historical trend of Chromebooks' introductory prices, Chromebooks are generally friendly to consumers' wallets because the specs are usually basic.
The larger storage space for more Android apps in the Asus C301SA makes it one of the more expensive Chromebook models as it is currently listed for preorder for $299 on B&H. However, compared to other high-capacity storage options in the market today, which normally start at about $500, the device is deemed affordable.
The Asus Chromebook C301SA was first announced in May under a different name, C301, reports Liliputing. Back then, it only had 16 GB of storage and had a $280 price tag. The original listing for the C301 is no longer in the official Asus website.
Asus is also the first manufacturer to release a Chromebook with Google Play and Android app support with last month's Asus Chromebook Flip, beating other computer makers like Acer and Dell in Australia, Lenovo in China and Samsung in South Korea.
The Asus Chromebook C301SA is expected to be available starting Aug. 21, which means buyers who preorder may still need to wait for more than a month for their device to be delivered.
Brent Sullivan initially shared the news via his Google Plus account, saying that "[t]his should be a really ground-breaking Chrome OS device."
"If this sells well, we could see more affordable Chromebooks with more onboard storage," he adds.
