Acer Chromebook 11.6 inches Laptop CB3-131 Intel Celeron N2840 2 GB 16GB EMMC Chrome White

I was greatly pleased with the service I got from this supplier. As I pre-Christmas order, I was very surprised to call the company and find myself talking to the Managing Director. He promised a speedy service (the Acer was a present for my 10-year-old boy) and it sure enough arrived very quickly. The Chromebook has proved to be excellent.

My only reservation is that currently, Google Play is not available for this model (as of 7 Jan 2018). I gather this is because the older the Chromebook moedel is, the longer it will take for the software to be developed to enable Google Play. I think the most recent Chromebooks are already enabled... So there's a bit of a wait involved. But the price made up for it - a great product at a great price!

this laptop is excellent, and the battery life is very good

Fine for kids. Chrome doesn’t offer brilliant parents control tools though. No time limiter etc.

its a good and fast laptop....and is excellent choice for daily work....have been using it for over a month and no issues so far....

The wife loves it, and I must admit, I like it too!

I'm an italian buyer. I was undecided between this pc and the ASUS flip 2, and after several researches in internet to understand if the Acer could fit my needs (allowing me to spend 300 euros less compairing to the ASUS), I decided to give it a try and so I purchased it. Today, after one month of usage, I can say I'm very happy with it: I spent only 400 euros for a pc that allows me to do everything I need, so that I don't use anymore my old I mac. I don't know how a mediatek processsor can make things run so smoothly, but it does. Sometimes I have a dozen windows opened and it runs very well. If you're not stupid and you don't need to run heavy programs simultaneously, you can buy this pc and do everything you want (except heavy music or multimedial work). The battery duration is huge, so that you relax and use your pc without worring to go out of fuel. This allows you to go out without the need of carring with you the charger.
The built is ok for me, keyboard also, trackpad not the best but ok, screen very good. It's a very well made product!

ps beta version is stable and allows you to run android apps, many with reseizebal windows. Waiting for the stable channel to run every app this way. Cmon google I trust in you.

It’s tempting to view Chromebooks as basic computers that allow little more than internet surfing, accessing emails, writing reports and helping with school work, but this isn’t the best way to approach them, as they’re a specific product designed around Google and its services. As such, unlike a traditional computer, you can’t load whatever you like onto them. Thus, software designed for Windows or Mac OS won’t run. However, this isn’t a weakness, but a strength. Let me explain….

For many years I’ve been using Windows-based PCs but after the release of Windows 10, of which I've never been entirely happy with, I've decided to look for an alternative, which basically left me with two choices: either I spend about £1000 on a Mac or a quarter of that on a Chromebook. Looking at what I really need a computer for it seemed that the latter would suffice. After glowing reports regarding a Chromebook from a colleague (who has had one for over two years and has used it consistently without any problems) I took the plunge and bought an Acer CB5-571, and I have to say it’s the most enjoyable and reliable computer I’ve ever owned. It’s an absolute pleasure to use and to say I’m delighted with it is quite an understatement.

I’ve never had an Acer before but based on my experiences to date will certainly buy another one. This model may only have a dual-core processor but it’s the 5th generation Intel Celeron 3205U and is fast enough and more than capable of handling everything well. I have an internet speed of around 16 MBps and this combined with the quicker connection speed due to the newer 802.11ac standard (up to 3 × faster Wi-Fi) allows for fast responsive internet surfing and seamless streaming of high-quality YouTube videos. Web pages in particular load quickly (sometimes almost in a flash). Even with numerous apps, extensions and add-ons installed (I have 16 browser extensions alone) it still doesn’t slow down the Chromebook, and if it does then it’s hardly noticeable.

This is one of the big advantages of Chrome OS. It’s a streamlined operating system designed specifically for fast web browsing and an efficient workflow so isn’t bloated as per other operating systems or hampered by trying to run too many processes at once. Because of this, more and more people are moving over to Chrome. Google state that on every school day in the US 30,000 Chromebooks are activated, and that large companies are also using them. I don’t know about here in the UK but Chromebooks are continually listed as being the best selling laptop computer on Amazon.com.

Regarding the hardware, you’ll find that the Acer CB5-571 has a bright, sharp, 15.6” display with a decent viewing angle. I don't think it's HD but I could be wrong. However, there's still plenty of resolution and higher resolution videos look great with plenty of detail. It isn't touchscreen, but nevertheless you can still replicate most (if not all) functions via the touchpad (see below) and by keyboard shortcuts. Combined with two large upwards-facing speakers on the top at either side of the keyboard producing very acceptable sound (in fact, the best I’ve ever had from a computer’s internal speakers) you’ll find that media looks and sounds great on this device (and there's plenty of volume too). As good as the speakers are, there’s also a headphone socket for private listening; however, as per many sockets of this ilk, I don't rely solely upon it and instead use a USB headphone adapter, such as the USB Sound Card,TechRise USB External Stereo Sound Adapter Splitter Converter with Volume Control for Windows and Mac,Plug & Play No Drivers Needed, which I use for a sturdier connection (there are two USB sockets on the Chromebook). The audio drivers are excellent and through a quality pair of headphones with a decent bass response the sound is exquisite.

Mentioning sound, one of the noticeable qualities of this device is that there is no running noise, which is a real boon as it can be used where other people are present without disturbing them. Not that running computers are discernible in a busy office environment but they can be appreciable in a quieter home.

Build quality seems reasonable and the CB5-571 should be able to handle a fair amount of daily use. The design is clean and fresh, with the white complementing it. The bottom is a non-slip surface so it will comfortably sit on a table or your knee without it moving around or sliding off.

The keyboard allows for fast typing, but because of its central positioning takes a bit of getting used to. On other computers with a numeric keypad (which Chromebooks don’t have) the keyboard is slightly to the left. At first, I kept hitting adjacent keys, but after a short while got in the way of it and can now type with a fair degree of accuracy and at a reasonable speed. One thing it doesn’t have (and apparently it’s the same with other Chromebooks) is a delete key, so you’ll have to get in the way of using the backspace key instead. To compensate, the keyboard is designed for convenient web navigation and hardware operation by a row of keys along the top, which allows direct access to a number of important functions, such as web page navigation, full-screen view, brightness and volume, etc.

The power button is located here as well, and one of the great things about this device is that even when closed down all you need do to restart it is to open the lid and the login screen instantly appears. Type in your details and off you go. [The power switch is used to power-off the computer, and to switch it back on if the lid is already open.] The other key of importance is the search key (located below the tab key) which allows for direct internet searching. Tap the magnifier symbol and you’ll be taken to a search box and the app launcher. All rather handy. Both the keyboard and language settings can be configured for the UK, and the keyboard has a ‘£’ key.

The touchpad is responsive, but doesn’t have left and right mouse-click buttons (i.e. it’s a solid pad). It doesn’t matter because these actions can still be performed by either a tapping with one finger for a left-click action or by tapping with two for a right-click action. Zooming, scrolling and panning are controlled by finger gestures. You can also use the touchpad to select specific segments of text in a document or from web page content.

Apart from the ports and sockets mentioned above (i.e headphone socket and 2 × USB sockets [USB 2.0 and 3.0 compatible]), there’s also an HDMI port (so you can hook up your Chromebook to a TV or monitor) and an SD card reader slot. You can use Bluetooth devices too (but you'll need to enable this facility from the settings). As you will expect, there’s a DC-in jack for the AC adapter (power cable). Battery life is estimated about 9 hours (realistically, about 7 hours or so, depending on what you're doing), but you can use the Chromebook permanently on the mains without overcharging the battery. I haven't run the battery right down so can't comment on how long a full charge will take, but from the times I have used it on the battery it seems to charge-up quickly enough. I can't give you a time but it doesn't take long. There’s also a Kensington-compatible security lock if you need the extra security. Additionally, you’ll find a webcam and a microphone. I don’t think it’s possible to disable the microphone, but it won’t be activated unless you specifically activate it via an app (i.e. it doesn’t run all the time).

As stated, Chromebooks are based on Google and its services. Because of this, they don’t require the same specifications as per other computers, so get by with a lighter specified system. Storage is primarily cloud-based (but you can still store locally if you want to). Presently, you’ll get 15 GB of free cloud storage and unlimited storage for your photos, but if you need more then this model comes with a two-year 100 GB free plan (of which you’ll need to activate). After that, you’ll need to pay for it, but pricing seems reasonable. Personally, I manage fine without the extra, as mostly I copy whatever I need off the Chromebook onto an SD card. Thus, the free 15 GB is only used for what I essentially need in the way of current workflow documents.

For the occasional PDF I download (which the Chromebook is equipped to display) I’ll store it on the internal 32 GB SSD drive (which is more than sufficient for most purposes). You’ll struggle with rafts of music, photos and videos, but other than that 32 GB is fine. Unlike a traditional hard drive, an SSD drive shouldn’t be damaged by moving the Chromebook around or by the occasional knock. As for speed, it stores content much faster than a conventional drive. RAM is a respectable 4 GB, which is again sufficient for the majority of work or viewing you’ll likely be doing. You can also use a flash drive with a Chromebook (which I’ve tried, and like an SD card, works fine -- just plug them in and they should be recognised). You can use a mouse too, if you so wish. I've only tried with a wired mouse but I've read that a wireless mouse can also be used. The Chromebook is so versatile that in the majority of cases the touchpad is more than adequate for most purposes. Please note that this model doesn't have a CD / DVD drive as apparently Chrome OS doesn't support the software for DVD video playback, but it does have support for the direct playback of saved compatible movie and music files from a flash drive, an SD card, online or stored internally.

Setting up the Chromebook is super easy. A basic paper-based setup guide is included in the box and a more comprehensive guide is (from what I can remember) included on the device.

Setup comprises of opening the lid and typing in your Google account details (or setting up a Google account). Alternatively, you can sign-in without an account as a ‘Browse as a guest’, but you’ll be denying yourself many of the great services a free Google account allows you to do.

If you’re concerned about setting up an account, all you need to supply is a name and a password (and nothing else if you don’t want to as additional details and a picture of yourself are optional). At this juncture, I’m unsure if you have to use your legal name or an alias. However, if you want to change it later on then you can, but Google reckons that not many people change their name so this function is limited. How many times you can change it isn’t explained so I would think carefully first and use something that you’re happy with. As I've said, Google may insist on your full name, in either full or part.

Once you’ve signed in for the first time there might be a quick update to bring Chrome OS up to the most recent version. After that, you’re on your way. Subsequently, all you’ll need to do is open the lid, type in your account details and you’re there. Nothing more than that. As soon as the Chromebook is switched on it automatically checks for updates and if one is found it’s displayed in the status area on the bottom right of the screen, whereby you’ll be asked to restart Chrome to install it, but that’s it. There’s certainly no waiting for apps to load, for processes to run or anything like that. Basically, open the lid and you can work away immediately (full boot-up is only seven seconds). As for closing down the device then it's super quick too. You can also manually check for updates if you wish.

You may have heard that Google collects and stores a lot of your data (i.e. browsing habits, etc). This it most certainly does, but at least it’s all controllable. By logging into your account and going to the privacy dashboard you can control what Google collects and stores. If you don’t want personalised adverts or want your browsing history and YouTube watch and search history stored online then you can stop it dead and can delete any former activity (from any to all). You can also control local browsing history (i.e that which is stored on the Chromebook itself as opposed to Google’s servers). You can even browse by ‘incognito’ mode, which doesn’t store any browsing history; a bit like Microsoft’s ‘In private’ browsing feature). Please be aware that although you can stop the collection of your data Google still collects your IP address, etc. (along with everybody else).

All the usual Google services are included on a Chromebook, such as the Chrome browser, Gmail, Calendar, Keep, Maps, Drive, YouTube, Photos, Plus, Files, Forms, Movies, Books, Music, Drawings, Calculator, Camera, Remote, Hangouts, and three productivity apps: Slides for presentations, Sheets for spreadsheets, and Docs for writing, and you can add many others from the Chrome Web Store (as far as I can ascertain, all free, but a handful are trial versions which will require a subscription if you wish to continue). You can use a Chromebook for instant messaging to friends on Skype, etc, and for making phone calls and video chatting (up to nine people at a time). Also, you don't have to use Google as your search engine if you don't want to (although I don't know why as, as far as I'm concerned, it has no equal) and can set another one as default if you so wish.

You can add all sorts of apps, extensions and add-ons, such as the Kindle reading application, Amazon Music and Spotify, etc. In fact, most of what you’ll likely need will be covered. For example, I have browser extensions for a thesaurus, the Google dictionary, an app to check that a citation source is credible, an app to save information to Google Keep (for online notes and lists), a grammar checker, an app to save to Pocket (for online storage of web content I want to keep while browsing), a Quora extension (and a one to save Quora content to Pocket), a zooming app to zoom in on web pages, a tab manager, a super-effective ad blocker that kills all ads on web pages and on YouTube (called AdRemover if you’re looking for it), a screenshot saver, a highlighting app for again saving selected website content (particularly text), a Google image search app (for searching for information connected with an image you might find on the web), an app designed to mask noisy environments to allow writers to better concentrate, and Google Translate.

As you can see, there’s a lot that you can do. Please note that the Chrome Web Store isn't the same as the Google Play Store, and is only for content designed to work with Chromebooks (but it's still fairly extensive). To add apps or extensions all you need do is review what you want, agree to any permissions it requires, and then download it. Installation is automatic and quick. Also, you don’t have to provide any payment details unless you specifically want to purchase a subscription or paid-for upgrade.

Most of the work done on a Chromebook is tab-based, although some applications open as a separate window. I haven’t used the presentation or spreadsheet apps as I don’t have a need for them (not at the moment anyway), but have used Google Docs extensively. Although configured initially as tab-based, it doesn’t distract from writing (it’s just like writing on a blank web page). Saving is automatic. Every character you type (that’s right, every character) and every change you make is saved to the cloud (Google Drive). This doesn’t slow you down in any way and you can type normally and at speed. Your documents are also available offline (providing you select this facility), but you’ll lose certain cloud-based functions (which will be greyed-out when offline). Please be assured that writing in tab-based web pages isn’t awkward, and has one supremely useful advantage: as you are writing in a tab, other tabs that you’re using to browse the internet are still open, which makes switching between them conveniently easy. As such, this is much better than a windows-based arrangement, as per Windows or Mac OS, as you don’t have to collapse, expand, split or constantly switch between open screens. When you get used to this method of working you’ll see how incredibly versatile it is.

Another thing I really like about Google Docs is that if you select a word or phrase you can either see it defined in Google dictionary as a sidebar or perform an internet search based around it from within that same sidebar. What’s more, the sidebar remains open as long as you want so you can type in additional searches (definition or web). If you’ve defined a word then not only do you have the dictionary definition on hand but it also gives a comprehensive set of synonyms. This allows you to swap words around in a document until you get just the sense you want, which is very useful.

As far as Google Docs is concerned, it might not be as feature-packed as Microsoft’s Word but it’s still powerful enough and packs a reasonable punch, and can be used for many different writing projects. Most word-processing and formatting functions are present. Thus, you’ll find the familiar find and replace, insertion of special characters, paragraph styles, spell checker (but not a grammar checker, of which will need to be added via a third-party add-on [but not Grammarly, which as yet isn't compatible with Google Docs]), tables, voice typing, font attributes (bold, strikethrough, superscript, etc), page numbering, chart, equation and image insertion, headers and footers, table-of-contents generator, fully-customisable replace-as-you type functionality (i.e. type a '1' followed by a slash, followed by a '2' to get a ‘½’)---all that sort of thing, so it’s more than capable for the majority of purposes. What I think is especially notable is that when you type a misspelt word, Google Docs’ idea as to what it thinks you mean is quite accurate, which saves time and frustration.

At first, I lamented that I wouldn’t be able to use Scrivener (a purpose-built specialist writing program) on a Google system, but after a while of using Google Docs I find that I can get by without it.

You may be wondering about compatibility with Microsoft Office products and printing. There's a free online Office application that you can use if you want to (of which the extension to access it can be downloaded from the Chrome Web Store [but please be aware that you'll need a Microsoft account to use it]), and printing is by either a standard printer plugged into a USB port or by Google Cloud Print. However, in both cases, not every printer is compatible. As you can't load software onto a Chromebook from outside sources you'll need to rely on apps. To find out if one is available all you need do is connect your printer and when you get a message stating that it has been detected you'll be prompted to try and find an app from the Web Store. If there's one available you'll be taken immediately to it whereby you'll have the option to install it. A click or two later and you're there. You won't have access to all the features and settings of a dedicated driver but it will allow you to get the job done and print out your document or whatever. I've successfully connected an HP Envy 4507 printer, but rather surprisingly, since it's fairly common, there wasn't an app available for my Canon MG4250.

Google Cloud Print printers are quite plentiful nowadays, but don't assume that every model is because some still aren't (such as some of the cheaper models [for instance, my HP and Canon aren't]). To check compatible models you can go into the Chromebook's settings and scroll down to Show Advanced Settings. From here you can click on the link, Google Cloud Print > Learn More, whereby you'll be taken to a dedicated support page for cloud printing on support.google.com. From there another link, Setup Information For Cloud-ready Printers, displays a list of makes and models that currently support this function. I get the impression from reading Google’s guidance that a compatible printer should be fairly easy to set up.

If your printer isn't cloud-ready then Google provides what seems to be a runaround, whereby you can apparently link an ordinary wireless printer to your Google account. I've tried this method but it didn't work, so will require further investigation.

As it happens, you can import and export to and from Microsoft Office and Google Docs so there shouldn’t be a problem saving to another computer and printing from there if you don’t have cloud printing facilities or can't find a printing app. The way I do it is to write-up a document in Google Docs (which is automatically stored on Google Drive) and because my account is synchronised across devices, I use a PC that has the Chrome browser installed (which also allows access to Google Docs and Drive) and then copy the document from Drive into Libre Office (the free Office alternative) on the PC and print from there via a conventional printer. It sounds slightly complicated, but it’s quite easy and there’s no messing around with flash drives or SD cards. All you need is a Chromebook and another PC with the Chrome browser installed, and your Google account active on both of them.

You might be wondering that if used to using either Windows or Mac OS will it be easy to adapt to Google OS? Please be assured that there is sufficient similarity to allow for a relatively painless transition and that Google has its own equivalent apps to ensure as much compatibility as possible. Apart from the odd thing (within the realms of normal computing) you shouldn’t be denied what you’re already familiar with. In fact, you’ll quickly get used to how Google works. It’s certainly a logical system and easy to get used to. Apart from that, everything seems to work flawlessly and is well thought-out.

Lastly, I should point out that this Chromebook has a comprehensive range of accessibility features, such as you can show the accessibility options in a menu, can use a large cursor, can enable high contrast mode, can enable 'sticky keys' (to allow performing keyboard shortcuts by typing them sequentially), can enable spoken feedback, can enable a screen magnifier, can enable tap dragging, can enable automatic click when a mouse pointer stops (including setting the delay), can enable an onscreen keyboard, can enable playing the same audio through both speakers (mono), can enable highlighting of the text caret when it appears or moves, can enable the highlighting of a mouse cursor when it moves, and can highlight an object with keyboard focus when it changes (not quite sure what that one does). It's even equipped with a built-in screen reader (which might have something to do with the spoken feedback feature mentioned above), and if all of the preceding isn't sufficient, you can even add additional accessibility extensions from the Chrome Web Store.

All-in-all, I think that the Acer CB5-571 is a superb device. I’ve had mine for about a month or so (of which I’ve used it extensively) and can’t in any way fault it. It has never crashed, it runs super smoothly, files load quickly, and doesn’t need virus protection as Google secure everything from its end. In fact, they state that their devices are not only super fast but also super secure (security auto updates, anti-malware, anti-phishing, sandboxing [to help prevent malicious software from installing itself on your computer] and safe browsing [i.e. warning of malicious websites] all come as standard), I still have to use PCs, but now only when I really have to. For everything else, I use my Chromebook and definitely much prefer it. This model is clearly a device to be enjoyed and I hope that if you buy one you have as much pleasure using it as I do.

UPDATE: 14 April 2017.

If you've read this far you'll see that I've hardly had a negative word to say about my Chromebook, and I have indeed enjoyed using it immensely. However, it had to be too good to be true and unfortunately, it has thrown up one major flaw. After countless hours of error-free operation the unthinkable has finally happened: for whatever reason, the screen went black and I lost Chrome OS. Upon trying to restart the device I got a screen stating that Chrome OS either isn't present or has been damaged, along with instructions for recovering it. Unfortunately, a repeated restarting failed to rectify the situation.

So... how do you recover a damaged OS? Well, from the above-mentioned screen Google advises that you go to another computer (PC, Mac or, presumably, another Chromebook) that has the Chrome browser already installed on it (and if not you'll need to install one and log into your account) and by following the link they provide install a recovery app from the Chrome Web Store. [When you do this you're asked to identify your computer by typing in the identifying key that is displayed on the Chromebook screen (where the recovery information is).] Once this is done you insert either an SD card or flash drive (that is over 4 GB in size and that you're happy to erase) into the PC or whatever and run the app that downloads the recovery software and operating system image. With my internet connection speed (see above for details) and a USB 3 port on my Windows 10 PC it took about 15 minutes to download, verify, unpack, write to a flash drive, and then verify again.

Once done, you're instructed to remove the flash drive from the PC and insert it into the Chromebook, whereby recovery automatically starts.. [Please note, that there's no incompatibility between the PC and the Chromebook at this stage; i.e. the flash drive doesn't have to reconfigure itself from one system to another as per usual, and even if you haven't used that drive before it'll still install and work.] Restoration is very quick (only a matter of minutes in my case) and then you're back to the factory condition. Of course, I lost a handful of files I had stored locally (i.e on the Chromebook's internal hard drive), had to re-establish my internet connection, enter my Google account details, reset my homepage in the browser (which I might not have had to do so as I may have been just a little too presumptuous here), and reselect my desktop wallpaper, but that was it as everything else is synced from the cloud where all my settings, documents and saved files are stored (even the software associated with Acer). Hence, all my browser extensions and installed apps were still there. Naturally, I was logged out of everything and had to log back in, but there was nothing more to it than that.

Actually, the entire process was quick, easy and painless (and more-or-less foolproof). I believe that anybody can do it. Although I was disappointed that for seemingly no reason I lost Chrome OS I have to commend Google for making its recovery so effortless. I can only presume that I lost Chrome to a rare glitch, possibly caused by so many extensions and apps running, and web pages open. Either that or it had been an electrical fault with the computer: perhaps a power surge or a slight corruption with the router. I don't know for sure and am only hazarding a guess, of which I could be completely off the mark. Ideally, I should knock points off my rating for this happening (as I've never had it happen on Windows before) and it is rather severe, but it's only happened once and recovery was straightforward. Apart from that the more I use this Chromebook the more I like it so am willing to overlook the discretion this time around, and even if it did happen again then I would still prefer to use it rather than going back to my Windows 10 PC.

If you don't have another computer then you'll likely have to take your Chromebook in for repair somewhere or find a friend who can help out. Luckily I did have another computer and everything ran smoothly. I believe, reading the reviews for the recovery app, that it hasn't been so for some people and that they're had problems with it (mainly with SD cards from the looks of it) so you might want to keep this in mind. Will it ever happen again? Probably unlikely, but one can never tell with computers. However, if it does I intend to keep a copy of the system image on hand just in case so that at least recovery will be super quick and easy.

UPDATE: 16 November 2017

Thankfully, up until this date, after the crash and the loss of the operating system mentioned above, my Chromebook has continued to work nearly flawlessly. I've had the very occasional crash, but have never again lost Chrome OS. Again, it's had sustained and continued usage--at least three to four hours per evening, most evenings, and more if a day off work. Saying that, if perchance Chrome OS is lost again there seems to be an easier way of restoring it than the above-mentioned. I've found a video on YouTube published by Acer Support entitled Chromebook - Reinstall the Chrome OS, which goes through a fairly easy set of key presses (somehow the OS is restored from the device itself rather than having to copy it over as I had to do). I haven't tried it yet (and hopefully I won't have to) but Acer has obviously pre-empted that problems might occur so have put in place a simple recovery solution to rectify it. As such, I would bookmark the page on another computer or tablet, or write down the recovery steps (they're also on the Acer website under Product Support [Reinstall (Powerwash) The Chromebook]) and keep them safe, just in case. The Chromebook in the video looks very much like the CB5-571 so there shouldn't be any incompatibility issues. Please be aware that even with this easier option it will still restore the Chromebook to its factory defaults and you'll lose any locally stored data (so backup on another computer or via the cloud if you think it's important to retain).

Can I just say that even though I have lost the operating system once it hasn't in any way made me think any less of this Chromebook, and in fact, I will go as far as saying that the more I use it the more I like it. The way I like to think of Google and its products is this: Google just works - brilliantly!