Acer Chromebook 314 CB314-1H – (Intel Celeron N4020, 4GB
Acer Chromebook 314 CB314-1H – (Intel Celeron N4020, 4GB, 64GB eMMC, 14 Inch Full HD Display, Google Chrome OS, Silver)
The Power of Wireless
A strong, consistent wireless signal is provided by Intel Gigabit Wi-Fi and the strategically placed Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) wireless antenna with 2×2 MU-MIMO. MUMIMO (Multi-User Multiple-Input and Multiple-Output) is a standard that offers faster wireless speeds and can handle more wireless devices at once
Extra Functions
Two USB Type-C ports for ultra-quick data transfer, video streaming, and battery charging. The reversible USB 3.1 Type-C connector is the same at both ends and on both sides, so it’s easy to attach. USB 3.1 is 10 times faster than USB 2.0. In addition to the two USB 3.1 Type-C ports, there are also two USB 3.0 Type A ports and a microSD slot.
Stay Productive
Fast boot times, ease of use, tough security and a long battery life are some of the advantages of Chrome OS. With a boot time of about 8 seconds you’ll start working quicker; the simplified interface makes it easy to learn; integrated malware protection stops viruses in their tracks; and finally an efficient use of power means you can work all day without your power adapter
| Weight: | 2.29 kg |
| Dimensions: | 48.2 x 31.1 x 6.7 cm; 2.29 Kilograms |
| Brand: | Acer |
| Model: | NX.AUDEK.003 |
| Colour: | Silver |
| Batteries Included: | Yes |
| Manufacture: | Acer |
| Dimensions: | 48.2 x 31.1 x 6.7 cm; 2.29 Kilograms |
This is the best chromebook out of them all for the price. Try to pay about 150-190 for it and you’re quids in. Black Friday and the other sales should give you this price range.
I admit to being one of Google’s biggest fans. It took me a few years before I got my first Chromebook as I was unsure of doing everything online. My first one was a second-hand Lenovo and I still have it. My second was an Acer 314 (predecessor to this one), also second-hand.
Both of them are still as fast as when they were new, but they don’t get updates anymore; that’s why I got this one.
One of the things I particularly like is that I can have several accounts on this one machine. That’s important to me because I run 2 small businesses and I have a separate Google account for each one in addition to my personal one. I can have 2 of them running in the background and one active, so I can get an email on one account and know about it automatically and then just swap accounts to deal with it immediately. Swapping accounts on a PC is very time-consuming and frustrating.
Google products (Docs/Sheets/Calendar etc) are perfect for running a small business and for running your life. You don’t have the immense power of the Microsoft suite, but I don’t need it. I find I can do absolutely everything I need to do with Google suite. It includes things like To Do lists (which synch with your Android phone), reminders etc and the calendar is VERY powerful.
Many of the apps available for your phone are also available for Chromebook. This is incredibly useful for me. I use many of them for my maths tutoring and can share them over Google Meet when I’m tutoring. (Google Meet is a bit clunky compared to Zoom, but it does all the same things and it runs perfectly on a Chromebook.)
As I indicated above, Chromebooks don’t slow down with age. They are completely immune to viruses so you can be sure of your security. I’ve given my old Acer 314 to Mrs Sunshine and she can’t believe how fast it is compared to her ageing Windows 10 laptop … and the Acer is about 7 years old! (My original Chromebook is about 12 years old and works perfectly, but won’t install some modern apps.)
That’s the software taken care of.
The screen (which folds down flat) is quite good enough and displays everything you need with great colour. The keypad is firm and responsive. You can use an extension screen/projector if you need to. (I use an extension screen and it’s incredibly useful, especially when tutoring or using Zoom for meetings.)
It’s maybe a bit lacking in ports having 2 standard USBs and 2 USB-Cs. One thing I’d like that it doesn’t have is space for an SD card. In one of the USB ports I use a 4-port extension which has 2 USB drives, a mouse and an extension camera and everything works perfectly. There is no HDMI port, but you can use one of the USB-C ports instead (with an adaptor).
You can’t hook up a printer directly to any Chromebook, but you can use cloud print.
All-in-all, I would strongly recommend this as a perfectly good workhorse. If you need something for superfast gaming, you might want to look elsewhere, but as an everyday laptop replacement machine for using the Internet, I don’t think you could find better at this modest price.