This is my experience using a Chromebook for the past month

Last year, it was noted that Google’s alliances with other partners were underway, so some of the best laptop manufacturers are starting to launch their ChromeOS-based offerings. One of the important moments is the laptop. Acer Chromebook Plus (CB514-3H) that we performed the analysis.

In fact, and to understand the importance of the Acer Chromebook Plus CB514-3H that we tested in EL ESPAÑOL – El Androide Libre, Google made it clear in a publication made in the fall of last year that laptops with ChromeOS will maintain a series of premises to generate a unified experience.

Before listing them —to better understand what it means to have a laptop with this operating system— The Acer Chromebook Plus (CB514-3H) In its version with 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of SSD, it can be purchased in Europe for 449 dollars; Although on these important dates with Amazon Prime Day very close, you can access an important offer.

And high-performance laptop, fast, efficient in battery life and that it has the exceptional quality of finish that is attributed to a brand like Acer. There are details that we really liked and one of them is the soft touch of its keyboard with a deep sound that encourages you to use it again and again.

But on a laptop with the latest ChromeOS, What matters is the current moment that this operating system is experiencing. with a series of key factors to offer magical object removal functions in Google Photos, Photoshop in its web version and video calls ideal for work meetings or between colleagues. Here are the premises:

• Double the performance.
• Built-in Google apps and powerful AI features.
• Features like Google Photos Magic Eraser.
• LumaFusion for video editing with professional results (includes 25% off a one-time LumaFusion payment for $34.99).
• Adobe Photoshop on the web (three months free included)
• AI-enhanced video calls with 1080p camera to improve clarity and lighting, cancel background noise, and blur backgrounds. App-agnostic technology, whether Meet, Zoom, Teams, or others.

Technical capabilities

The Acer Chromebook Plus (model CB514-3H) is characterized by its AMD Ryzen 7250C chip clocked at 4.3 GHz which allows exquisite performance when opening applications, multitasking or processing certain games that demand its resources. It is complemented by an LPDDR5X RAM memory with options of 8 or 16 GB, just as in Europe you can access the internal SSD variant of 128 or 256 GB.

In the graphics section, it has four high-performance “Zen 2” CPU cores with AMD RDNA 2 Graphics (Radeon 610M) and in terms of sound, the DTS Audio support with two stereo speakers stands out to offer an exquisite sound experience as we have seen. It is accompanied by two microphones to provide clear and crisp video calls in terms of sound.

The webcam offers 1080p HD video at 60 FPS. Other details include Wi-Fi 6E (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax wireless LAN), Bluetooth 5.1, a weight of 1.68 kg and a three-cell battery totaling 53 Wh. And important: supports fast charging. It has all these ports: USB 3.1 Gen 1, Display Port over USB Type C, USB 3.2 Type A, HDMI 1.4 with HDCP support and 3.5mm mini jack.

With Photoshop, a web

Before diving into ChromeOS, one of the surprises is the presence of Photoshop with Generative Artificial Intelligence in its web version to fill one of the biggest gaps of this operating system compared to Windows 11 or MacOS.

Adobe Offers awesome features like generative fill or the ability to automatically erase the background, as well as other very interesting tools like the removal tool. The system’s own application is missing, although Adobe is working on improving the web version.

If you are used to the desktop version for Windows or Mac It will take some time to do the daily actionsbut it will take time to take advantage of an editing program that opens up many possibilities for ChromeOS.

ChromeOS as operating system

It is noted that ChromeOS is already a more “finished” system and some of the new options offer better workflows such as Quick Switch, to easily switch between different desktops; another of its Windows-like features to differentiate work or study environments from leisure ones. You can even save your desktop to return to it later.

Chrome OS offers a very basic minimalist design in a few keys on Windows 11, and otherwise, as in the toolbar: on the right the quick accesses (WiFi, Bluetooth, Quick Share and others), in the center the applications that are configured to access them quickly, now on the left all those installed on the ChromeBook. Here it offers very productive experiences to activate the sleep mode, send content or switch to the dark theme.

Chrome OS Settings They mimic those that can be found on any Android mobile, unlike the device menu, or the ability to configure key combinations such as search.

Storage offer in the cloud via Google Drivethe internal one with 128 or 256 GB SSD, and access to the local network if configured appropriately; By the way, this allows you to disable the cloud option if you wish.

Allows you to log in as a guest and what What’s missing is more information about which apps are consuming battery.since it only reports the percentage remaining and the hours remaining. With 89% battery remaining, there would be 6 hours and 12 minutes of use until the battery is depleted.

Another detail to highlight is the clipboard which can be accessed with control + V and thus see a preview even of the screenshots; They appear as several small thumbnails on the right side of the toolbar for quick access and viewing. And we liked the miniature floating window for playing Twitch while doing something else on the laptop.

What about the applications?

On a system like ChromeOS, which is the bridge between a more complex system like Windows or a “mobile” system like Android, one may have some doubts about the existing application directory. Not all applications are optimized, although there are more and more of them and the best known are designed in a practical way for this operating system.

Meet, for example, lacks the direct calling feature like on Android and is more focused on meetings. If you’re looking for one more for personal video calls, WhatsApp is ideal for audio or video calls with a great experience which mimics desktop, web, and mobile. Telegram has a tablet mode which is another alternative as a chat app.

The curious thing is that TikTok is perfectly optimized as an app. Facebook starts in mobile mode, although you can switch to tablet mode so the experience isn’t as frustrating as Instagram.

On streaming platforms, Netflix is ​​a perfect fit. Max, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video are optimized, and the only one that left us a little weird is Filmin, which opens in phone mode to switch to tablet mode, but it’s not ideal. Spotify opens in tablet mode, and YouTube Music is an app that’s ideally designed for ChromeOS. For gamers: Twitch is optimized to leave tablet mode alone.

I buy it?

What leaves the feeling is that everything chromebook offers works great and it’s very well conceptualized. It boots up within seconds of power-on and provides a great user experience across the board.

It will always depend on the performance offered by the laptop, but Chrome OS It is not a system that puts so much pressure on system resources. and in the case of the Acer Chromebooks Plus, it just flies. If Google focuses its efforts on ChromeOS well in the coming years, it will be an ideal operating system for certain types of needs or experiences; and Copilot+ PCs are already on the table.

Acer’s Chromebook Plus works devilishly well and we were also able to play various high-caliber games. Those who love Minecraft or PUBG Mobile will surely enjoy it. It doesn’t have face unlock technology, although it allows you to use your cell phone to unlock it.

A laptop that at this price and with a specific need It is a very wise purchase to function at its best. and enjoy this experience halfway between a Windows-like system and what Android is. And the best part: with a huge margin for improvement in the coming years.