It might seem like an antithesis to the way you should be using a Chromebook, but the decidedly ginormous Acer Chromebook 317 is best used while sitting at a desk. Weighing a little over five pounds and measuring at about 22.5mm thick, its not a portable computer in the traditional sense. So who is the Pixelbook Go for? If you need something that can run and run, you might need to look elsewhere. I used a 17inch Chromebook for 3 years Dell 17 inch laptop, 5200rpm hard drive, i5, 8gb ram with CloudReady on it. The trackpad is nearly as large as my hand. I was later the editor in chief of Home Office Computing, a magazine that promoted using tech to work from home two decades before a pandemic made it standard practice. There's no fingerprint sensor on the Acer Chromebook 317, which means no quick and simple biometric authentication, but you can use a PIN to gain access to your laptop rather than typing out your password every time. Its not exactly affordable, but this price is better than what you would usually pay for the OG Pixelbook. Other upgraded models will offer 128 GB of storage, a multi-touch display and/or an Intel Pentium Silver N6000 processor. It tested an average of 613 in single-core tests and 1114 in multi-core tests. 
It comes with a 10th-gen Intel processor, up to 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. Regardless of which you get, you get a lot of computer for what you pay. Since Chrome OS is essentially a browser in operating system form, most Chromebook benchmarks are web-based. Acer backs the 317 with a one-year warranty and sweetens it with the usual Chromebook perks, including one year of 100GB Google One cloud storage and three-month YouTube Premium, Canva Pro, and SoundCloud Go+ trials. Visit our corporate site, Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street New York, NY 10036, Reserve the new Samsung Galaxy devices and receive up to $200 credits, Get this Oral-B IO toothbrush for under 95, Epson EcoTank ET-3850 review: a reliable, versatile home printer, BenQ EX3210U Mobiuz review: a great 4K and gaming monitor, This brilliant free tool turns your ancient laptop into a Chromebook, BenQ EX3410R Mobiuz gaming monitor review: a superb ultrawide screen, Chromebooks are about to get the upgrade we've been craving, Chromebook owners are about to get this great free Chrome OS upgrade, Epson EcoTank ET-1810 printer review: impressive quality and cheap to run, Chromebook owners reportedly in line for cool Chrome OS productivity upgrade, Streaming news from Netflix, Disney and more, Discover the gadgets you never knew you needed, In-depth reviews and new tech explanations. Save 60% with this cheap electric toothbrush deal it is sure to put a smile on your face! Measuring 0.89 by 15.8 by 10.5 inches and weighing 5.18 pounds, the Acer is the heftiest Chromebook you can buy, though trimmer than some low-cost 17.3-inch Windows laptops like the Dell Inspiron 17 3000 (0.98 by 16.4 by 11 inches, 6.2 pounds). Samsung's got a sweet deal if you're dead set on the next line of Galaxy tech. If youre looking for one of the best touchscreen Chromebooks, this is definitely one of them. Published 27 June 22, The Epson EcoTank ET-1810 promises to make printing less expensive, If you own a Chromebook then keep up to date with Chrome OS, as a great new feature appears to be incoming, By Max Slater-Robins All displays are set to the default display scaling and around 75% brightness above. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Published 11 June 22, T3 is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Each has a USB Type-C and a USB-Type A. Using Android apps on a Chromebook without a touchscreen can also be challenging. Very, VERY excited about this. Chrome OS isnt a desktop operating system in the traditional sense. The BenQ EX3210U Mobiuz 4K monitor impresses in a number of areas. Sure, you can quickly move it around as you need, and it doesnt take up as much space as the whole computer and monitor situation. Outside of work, he enjoys long walks in the countryside, skiing down mountains, watching football matches (as long as his team is winning) and keeping up with the latest movies. The Chromebook 317 model that I reviewed does not have a touchscreen display, though there is one available at an additional cost. Big-ass display, comfortable full-size keyboard, ports galore, Battery life could be better, and so could the gigantic screen. The screen bezels are medium-thick, with a 720p webcam (no privacy shutter) centered in the top bezel. How good is the Acer screen?
It's clad in grayish plastic that Acer calls Sparkly Silver; there's a fair amount of flex if you grasp the screen corners or press the keyboard deck. Open or closed, the laptop comes across as sleek and professional, and you won't be embarrassed at all to use it in public. For starters, this convertible laptop can take on multiple form factors. For starters, the computer provides a display that can flip all the way around.
While Googles own Chromebooks have been known to sport high price points, the Pixelbook Go starts at $649.99.
And the system woke up quickly every time. As we've mentioned, this is the only 17-inch Chromebook on the market: if you're looking for something else as big, you can check out our best 17-inch laptop guide, but you won't find any other Chromebooks on it. As a result, there is a bit of softness to elements of the interface. Links on Android Authority may earn us a commission. Our expert industry analysis and practical solutions help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology. We'd say that the Acer Chromebook 317 is going to be suitable for someone who is committed to Chrome OS and wants it in the biggest form factor possible perhaps someone who is going to keep this large-ish laptop in the same place most of the time. Again, I need more horsepower than a Celeron CPU for what I do on my Chromebook. Performance was just ok for me, Im probably an equal usage user as Kevin, so yeah that machine struggled at times. Should the Acer Chromebook 317 be your next laptop purchase? If you didn't already know, Chrome OS runs Android apps now as well, giving you even more choice when it comes to software. This is the first Chromebook with a 17.3-inch display, making it ideal for working at a desk or table. It can also be had for a reasonable price if you dont mind missing out on powerful specs, though. Also: The best budget Chromebooks you can get. Samsung is offering credit to anyone who makes a free reservation.
Here: More Asus Chromebooks you should take a look at. If you haven't used Chrome OS lately, the latest upgrade offers impressive Android smartphone control, a smarter Clipboard (it saves the last five items), and enhanced screen-capture and multiple-desktop tools. You get a decent selection, with two USB-A ports, two USB-C ports (supporting DisplayPort), a headphone jack and the microSD card slot that we've already mentioned there's plenty of scope for plugging in peripherals, monitors and so on. On the plus side, it's speedy and lightweight, and requires very little in the way of maintenance. For younger kids schooling at home, combining a giant screen and an HD webcam with an 82-degree wide-angle lens could help make them feel more like a part of the virtual classroom than the usual gamut of tiny 11-inch Chromebooks. I would like to see Google add for options for display scaling inside Chrome OS. The Acer Chromebook 317 reminds me of the family computer back in the day. My suspicions were correct. More memory generally means more apps and browser tabs in use simultaneously. You dont want to carry this thing on your back. Ill try to get a production review unit if folks are interested in a full review. If you click an affiliate link and buy a product or service, we may be paid a fee by that merchant. It retains a great build quality, and powerful specs and can be upgraded substantially.
Acers family of 17-inch Chromebooks is meant for the budget buyer who wants a big screen built into the package. Samsung UnpackedAugust 10The next Samsung Unpacked event is happening on August 10 with new announcements across their Galaxy lineup of products. If youre after a convertible Chromebook with better performance, consider spending $100 more for a 64GB Asus Chromebook Flip C434. I dont need Apples retina quality but would prefer a screen that doesnt seem like its from 2005. Something else I wished for was a brighter screen backlight. I believe the first Chromebooks with this CPU arrived this year, so unofficially, I would say the 317 will have support through June of 2029.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Last week, Acer introduced four new Chromebooks including the massive Acer Chromebook 317. In WebXPRT, which tests standard HTML5- and JavaScript-based functions within the browser, the Chromebook 317 measured around 122, compared to the Spins whopping 704. Subscribe in print, digital, or a great-value bundle. It took a full second before the edit would show on screen, however, and even with an external mouse, the lack of touchscreen support makes touch-friendly apps a slog to use. AboutChromebooks.com is not affiliated with Google. There are two USB Type-C and USB Type-A ports, one on either side of the device, along with a headphone jack, a Kensington lock, and a microSD slot, which youll probably need to use because the Chromebook 317 starts with a measly 64GB of storage space. The best 17-inch laptops can combine a generous amount of screen real estate with portability you get a large display plus a computer you can pick up and take anywhere. Chromebase, Chromebook, Chromebox, Chrome OS, Pixel Slate and Pixelbook are all registered trademarks of Google. Here's our review. You get a larger and better display now, going from a 10.1-inch LCD to a 13.3-inch OLED. It has a dual-core, 1.1GHz Celeron N4500 processor, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of eMMC storage, along with four USB 3.2 ports, a microSD card slot, and Wi-Fi 6. The build quality feels very solid, and the design is elegant and practical. You will receive a verification email shortly. The Chromebook 317 (model CB317-1H-C994) lists for $369.99 on Acer.com, though I spotted it at Walmart for $329.
And on this particular unit, the IPS display has decent color saturation. The unit also features 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. There's no doubt that the Acer Chromebook 317 has a lot going for it, and for some people it's going to be the perfect choice. Very usable but not the best Ive used.
And man, while itd be kind of unwieldy, if they made a 17 2-in-1 or detachable, how amazing would that be? Was it as good as the Pixelbooks Ive played around with? You get an Intel Core i3, though, which is definitely really good. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. 1996-2022 Ziff Davis. We haven't mentioned the ports on this laptop yet.
https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/acer-chromebook-317, Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions. More Asus Chromebooks you should take a look at.
As a recent Chomebook convert (use an HP 14 x360 with 8 GB of RAM and 128 memory + 512 SD card) Ive pined for a larger screen, not that the current one isnt sufficient, Im in love with this Chromebook coming off a company-supplied 14 HP Spectre running Windoze. on Early look at the 17.3-inch Acer Chromebook 317, Early look at the 17.3-inch Acer Chromebook 317. You can use it either as a laptop or a tablet; you can even turn off the Chromebooks touchscreen if you want to. The Chromebook 317's 3-cell battery is no better than the battery youd pay for in a higher-performing Acer Chromebook. If the Chromebook's internal storage isn't big enough to hold the video, we play it from an external SSD plugged into a USB-C port. Acer didnt skimp on specs either.
As I noted, the Acer Chromebook 317 is targeted at the entry-level market. For our benchmark-test comparison charts, I stacked up the 317 against four other Chromebooks, including a 15.6-inch convertible (the AMD Ryzen 5-powered Asus Chromebook Flip CM5), and two 15.6-inch clamshells (the Intel Core i3-based HP Chromebook 15, and the Celeron N4000-powered Samsung Chromebook 4+). The webcam is a generic laptop component that captures relatively well-lit and colorful images with rather a lot of static or noise. The Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 keeps an awesome aluminum body, quality keyboard, and gorgeous screen, all while making some cutbacks on specs, and therefore reducing the price to something much more reasonable.
Ready to upgrade?
It runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 SoC.
Chrome OS is best when theres access to its touch mechanism, as the trackpads bundled with Chromebooks are usually too hard to use. JetStream 2 is another performance test we use; it combines 64 JavaScript and WebAssembly benchmarks to measure a browser's (in this case, the default Chrome's) suitability for advanced web applications. I use an Intel Core i5 device with 16 GB of memory for my computer science classes, which rely heavily on Linux apps. Does anyone know how to get this sorted?.. It's also robust enough for the kids to have a go on (for simple web games or video calls for example). The keyboard has a shallow, tappy typing feel. So there wont be any benchmark tests or expectations of performance and battery life. Its also not very comfortable to use on your lap. Additionally, this site participates in various affiliate programs and may earn a small commmission on sales through any product links. Heres why you can trust us. In a typing test, I managed about 93 words per minute. At its starting price of $380, this laptop is more than substantial for browsing the web, getting work done (including writing this blog) on its full-size keyboard, and bringing its big screen into a pillow fort to watch a movie. For starters, Acer sent me an upgraded model. Thank you for signing up to T3. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Now I have a Lenovo Flex 5 13inch Chromebook. The keyboard is one of the best parts of choosing a giant Chromebook. They are tiny but still more convenient than teaming the menu and Alt keys with the cursor arrows as required on most Chromebooks. Not this time, since 8 GB of RAM is an available option. Some of the best touchscreen Chromebooks can cost a good penny, and the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 is one of those. Here it is with an Apple AirPods case (similar to a dental floss container) for reference. Its definitely limited with what it can do with its 1.1Ghz Intel Celeron N4500 processor and 4GB of RAM. If youre looking for a well-rounded clamshell with plenty of power, this is a great option. I suggest an external mouse either by way of a USB dongle or Bluetooth, especially if youre doing data entry or you like to move fast.
Your subscription has been confirmed. Theres even a number pad off to the left for meticulous data entry. 8gb, i5 is baseline these days, 4gb, i3 below is just not enough unless you are a 4 8 tab no linux no play store person. It's hard to be critical of a laptop that has no competitionif you'd like a 17-inch Chromebook, your options begin and end here. The Acer Chromebook 317 doesnt have the most powerful innards. The key disadvantage of a Chromebook, on the other hand, is that you can't run any desktop applications (like Microsoft Word or Adobe Photoshop) and you can't play any games that don't run in a web browser. Up to $200 Samsung CreditReserve the Next Galaxy Smartphone, Watch, and Buds for Free, You can go to the next slide after 1 second, The Absolute Worst Apocalypse Bunkers in Science Fiction. I will forewarn you that there could be a bit of chassis flex, particularly above the keyboard. Whatever you watch on video will look fine but dull. Finally, to test a laptop's battery life, we loop a 720p video file with screen brightness set at 50%, audio volume at 100%, and Wi-Fi disabled until the system quits. Google's free ChromeOS Flex brings old hardware right up to date and it's completely free, By Carrie Marshall The Page Up button is too close to the Power button. Exporting a video from InShot to Instagram, for instance, didnt always work, with the latter often crashing on me. Given this is a pre-production model, I can only share general impressions. I had no problem browsing and downloading files with the worlds largest Chromebook. Also: The best Chromebooks currently available. Specs don't matter a huge amount when it comes to Chromebooks because all you're running is a web browser but they're still worth noting.
Ive now spent two full days looking over the Acer Chromebook 317 and its an intriguing device. There is no HDMI port, so if you want to connect an external monitor you'll need a USB-C DisplayPort adapter. The Epson EcoTank ET-3850 prints, scans and copies well here's our review. The Acer Chromebook 317 brings with it a quad-core Intel Pentium Silver N6000 processor running at 1.10Ghz, plus 4GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage (remember that most of your apps will run online and won't need local storage). Lets dig in. The Chrome OS software you get on the Acer Chromebook 317 (and every Chromebook) is one of its best features too, though as we've said it's not for everyone you're basically just running a web browser, so it's really simple to use, and you don't have to worry about updating software, or backing up your files, or installing an antivirus tool. More: What is a Chromebook, and what can it do? At the same time, it's not for everyone in particular, you need to make sure that you're comfortable with the dimensions of the Chromebook, and you need to be aware of both the strengths and limitations of Chrome OS. Does the Acer at least do that or higher? But in Gizmodos standard battery rundown test, it petered out at just under six and a half hours. You'll look sharp in a small Camera window but extremely fuzzy if you maximize the Camera or Duo app. Those who still want the higher-end specs can also get the original Samsung Galaxy Chromebook. Pay up, and you can get up to an Intel Core i5, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and built-in quad speakers powered by Harman Kardon. The left side also houses the microSD card slot and headphone microphone jack. There was a problem. More: What is Chrome OS, and who is it for?
T3 is supported by its audience. Both the left and right edges hold two USB 3.2 ports, one Type-A and one Type-C, with the latter accommodating the AC adapter. The Asus Chromebook Flip C436 touts the simple design Asus is known for, featuring a magnesium alloy body and great construction. And even with 275 nits maximum brightness, images on webpages looked dimmer than when Id glance at my external monitor. If Acer can come in at a grand or under for the 17 Acer for 8 GB RAM and whatever memory (SD cards are cheap) Ill seriously pull the trigger on one this fall.