14 DAY TRIAL // Today Google announced the two Chromebook models, one manufactured by HP and one by Acer, launched officially in some markets. So if you are interested in purchasing an 11-inch Chrome notebook, you might already be faced with a dilemma. Which one should you choose?
Let’s take things one step at a time and start off with the screen size, both notebooks offering the same IPS 11.6-inch option. Acer brings something extra in this category by adding the ComfyView LED-backlit Display technology to its model. That translates into users being able to use the device in environments with bright lights, without experiencing reflection effects. A first plus.
In the design compartment, if you are looking for something more cheerful to look at, you should probably go for the HP Chromebook, which comes with different color accents like red, blue, green and yellow. Acer on the other hand, offers the same drab traditional look we have seen in most laptops.
Moving on, the HP model packs an Exynos 5250 GAIA processor, coupled with 2GB of RAM. Acer, on the other hand, has slipped Intel’s Celeron Processor 2955U with 4GB of RAM. If you fancy getting the latest Haswell architecture in your device, then the Acer option is the one you should go for. Storage-wise, both models offer the 16GB SSD.
When it comes to the battery, the Haswell processor does its job and offers a better battery life (8.5 hours) than the HP notebook does (6 hours). There’s a tweak here, however, since the HP one can be brought back to life using a phone charger.
When it comes to connectivity, both models offer the standards: Bluetooth, Wireless, USB 2.0. Yet, the Acer packs USB 3.0 and HDMI ports as well.
Last but not least, we have to compare price tags here. Acer has priced its offering very attractively as we have been accustomed, the C720 being available for £199 / $317 / €140, while the HP ChromeBook 11 will be on sale for £229 / $365 /€270.
