Acer's new kid on the block - the Chromebook 15 - has been creating quite a stir since its release largely due to its 15.6-inch screen and pricing.
With reviewers lauding the Chromebook 15 for its all-round performance, budget-friendly price, good battery life and 1080p IPS screen, the latest laptop seems set to change the way how Chromebooks are perceived.
Here's a look at what the reviewers are saying:
"Acer's Chromebook 15 has mid-range PC specs and a very lightweight operating system in Chrome OS. The performance we see is expected, really. A real story would be poor performance. Chromebook 15 is not going to let you down," opines Nate Swanner of Slashgear.
"Having the Acer Chromebook 15's larger screen certainly helps when you're trying to get work done and it's nicer for kicking back to watch a movie, and it might make for a more appealing candidate for a straight Linux install, too," feels Joshua Goldman of CNET.
"With its spacious 1080p IPS display, capable performance and commendable battery life, Acer's latest offering is an attractive midrange package for anyone who wants to use Chrome OS in a plus-sized form. As long as you're okay with the heft that inherently accompanies a 15.6-in. display, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it," per Computerworld's JR Raphael.
"It's the laptop for the average person that values price over design or portability, but also doesn't want to put up with the lousy, frustrating experience so often associated with cheap computers," notes Dan Seifert of The Verge.
"If you're looking for a simple laptop that works well, and don't need to carry it everywhere, the Acer Chromebook 15 is a solid investment. Its large display is good for Web surfing and working on spreadsheets, and its speedy performance makes it a dependable device for productivity," per Laptopmag's Cherlynn Low.
"Aside from the design, which may appear gaudy to some, there's a lot to like and little to complain about. The display is excellent, battery life is respectable, and performance is excellent. Keyboard and touchpad quality measure up to the competition. Even the speakers are strong, for the price," notes Matt Smith of Digital Trends.
"The Acer Chromebook 15 is an excellent Chrome OS laptop, but it asks you whether you need a machine this big just to run a Chrome browser? For most people, that answer would be no, but I would easily pick this machine over any budget 15.6-inch Windows laptop. It's simply better built and comes at a better price to boot," per Techradar's Kevin Lee.
However, not everyone is waxing eloquent and Engadget's Dana Wollman is of the opinion that the Chromebook 15 creates lofty expectations.
"I think Acer has created some big expectations here. When you agree to buy a heavier machine, you expect stronger performance, better audio, a bigger battery and the comfiest of keyboards. After spending some time with the Chromebook 15 in person, I'm not sure these are promises Acer can keep," per Wollman.
Going by what the reviewers are saying, the Chromebook 15 seems poised to change the perception set by its predecessors and as to the question if it is better than the previous iterations? Yes. Definitely Yes.
