Acer today debuted its first 12-inch Chromebooks, the Acer Chromebook Spin 512 and Acer Chromebook 512, for students and education customers. The new Chromebooks feature a 3:2 aspect ratio display that offers more screen real estate for document and website browsing.
The convertible Acer Chromebook Spin 512’s (R851TN) 360-degree hinge allows students to use the Antimicrobial Corning Gorilla Glass display in four modes: clamshell, tablet, display, and tent. An included dockable Wacom electromagnetic resonance (EMR) stylus makes note-taking and sketching natural and can be conveniently stored in the device slot. On the other hand, the Acer Chromebook 512 (C851/C851T) features a traditional clamshell notebook design with touch and non-touch options.
Productivity-Boosting Performance, a Taller Display and More
The new Acer Chromebooks’ have a 3:2 aspect ratio display for 18 percent more vertical space compared to an equally wide 16:9 display. As a result, students can view more text, maps, photos and schoolwork in a single viewing. The 12-inch HD+ displays feature 1366 x 912 resolution and IPS technology. Plus, the taller display makes it easier to see more content and read top-down from web pages.
The Chromebooks are powered by up to a quad-core Intel Pentium Silver N5000 Processor or a quad-core Intel Celeron N4100 Processor. The fast chips are power efficient while and meet the demand even for graphical classroom projects. In addition, there is also a dual-core Intel Celeron N4000 processor available for Acer Chromebook 512.
The Acer Chromebook 512 can be opened a full 180 degrees to lay flat on a desk for sharing with other students during classes or for school projects. Plus, the Acer Chromebook 512 has mechanically anchored keys that are both difficult to remove and easy to replace, making them ideal for shared classroom environments.
The Acer Chromebook Spin 512 features an 8MP world-facing webcam on the cover, while the clamshell 512 has an optional 5MP.
Military Grade Durability; Meets Toy Safety Standards
The new Acer Chromebook Spin 512 and Acer Chromebook 512 are compliant with the stringent U.S. MIL-STD 810G military standards. They can take handle drops from heights of up to 122 cm (48 inches) and handle up to 60 kg (132 pounds) of downward force thanks to a reinforced design and shock-absorbing bumper. In addition, the new Acer Chromebooks are designed for use by younger children; they have been certified to meet two leading toy safety standards: the ASTM F963-16 and UL/IED 60950-1.
The keyboard is spill-resistant with a gutter system that routes water away from internal components and drains out the bottom of the chassis, providing protection against spills of up to 330 ml (11 fluid ounces) of water. Plus, the touchpads are moisture-resistant, and the Acer Chromebook 512’s keyboard is easily serviceable by local IT departments.
The Acer Chromebook Spin 512’s touch display is covered with Antimicrobial Corning Gorilla Glass, a cleaner, tougher cover glass made possible by an antimicrobial compound that resists the growth of odor and stain-causing microorganisms on touch displays. It’s scratch-resistant and ideal for students who may share it or use it in different environments throughout the day.
Connectivity and Portability
Students can connect to the Internet with Intel Wireless-AC 2×2 802.11ac MU-MIMO (Multi-User Multiple-Input and Multiple-Output) connectivity for a fast and reliable Gigabit Wi-Fi connection. MU-MIMO is a standard that offers faster wireless speeds and can handle more wireless devices at once.
Peripherals can be connected via Bluetooth 5.0 or by the two USB 3.1 Type-C Gen 1 ports, which can be used to charge the device as well as other products, transfer data quickly up to 5Gbps, and connect to an HD display. The Acer Chromebooks also includes two USB 3.0 ports.
Long Battery Life up to 12 Hours
The Acer Chromebook Spin 512 and Chromebook 512 provide long battery life of up to 12 hours, enough for several days of classroom use or day-to-night support for students in 1:1 program.
Easy to Deploy, Manage, and Keep Safe; Google Play Support
IT administrators will find it easy to make updates, configure apps, utilize extensions and policies and more with the web-based management that makes the new Chromebooks easy to deploy and manage. The Kensington lock slot allows them to be secured to wireless carts or labs.
Students stay safer since Chrome OS is automatically updated and guards against ever-changing online threats of viruses and malware. Parents can install the Family Link app on Chromebooks, making it is easy to set digital ground rules as their kids are exploring the internet. Parents can set daily screen time limits, customize the list of websites and apps their children can use, and even manage their child’s Google account and remotely lock supervised accounts on the Chromebook if necessary.
The Acer Chrome OS devices support multiple user sign-in, so each student can simply log onto their unique account to ensure their project, Gmail and other information is kept safe, even if the Chromebook is lost or stolen. Storage on Google Drive protects files, documents, and photos safely in the cloud, and ensures that the most current version is always available.
Accessibility settings sync across any Chrome OS device, so as students switch between shared devices or log in at home with their G Suite for Education account, their accessibility settings automatically update. The new Acer Chromebooks will fully support Google Playâ„¢ at launch, so students will have access to Android and Chrome web apps for learning, research, fun and more.
Acer will be at the BETT show in London from January 23 to 26 at booth B100 Hall N1-19, where units of the new Acer Chromebook 512 and Spin 512 will be on display.
Price and Availability
The new Acer Chromebooks will be available with either 32 or 64 eMMC storage and 4 or 8GB of RAM to education and commercial customers in Q2, in EMEA and North America.
