Acer presents a pair of rugged 12-inch Chromebooks aimed at the education segment-- the Chromebook 512 and Chromebook Spin 512, both featuring a 3:2 aspect ratio falling somewhere between that of books and mobile devices.
The two Chromebooks have a 1366 x 912 resolution IPS panels, with the taller (by 18%, Acer says) making it easier to see more content from text, photos and websites. Inside is a choice of either quad-core Intel Pentium Silver N5000, quad-core Celeron N4100 or dual-core Celeron processor, together with 4/8GB RAM and 32/64GB eMMC storage. Connectivity includes Intel Wireless-AC 2x2 802.11ac MU-MIMO wifi, Bluetooth 5.0, x2 USB-C and x2 USB 3.1 ports.
As mentioned earlier, the Chromebooks are ruggedised-- both are compliant with US MIL-STD 810G standards, with a reinforced design and shock-absorbing bumper allowing for drops of up to 122cm and up to 60kg of downward force. The keyboard is spill-resistant against up to 330ml of water, while the touchpad is moisture-resistant. As for the display, an antimicrobial Gorilla Glass cover helps protect against both scratces and microorganisms.
The Chromebook 512 is a regular clamshell notebook, if with a hinge users can open to a full 180-degree angle to lay flat on a desk. It also has mechanically anchored keys for use in shared classroom environments. Meanwhile the Spin 512 opens to a full 360-degrees to enable 4 use modes, namely tablet, notebook, display and tent, and includes a dockable Wacom EMR stylus for easy touch input.
Both Acer Chromebooks should ship in EMEA from Q2 2019.
Go Acer Debuts Two Durable 12-Inch Chromebooks for Classroom Use
