While I have used Google Chrome extensively, I have never used a Chromebook until I got this. Have to say I absolutely love it, and it may replace my Macbook 12" as my preferred traveling computing device. 99% of what I use any computer for would be internet surfing & shopping, organizing photos, email, spreadsheets and word docs, videos, and media like Netflix or Amazon Prime, or managing home apps like Nest. You can easily do all of that on this device.
I bought the base configuration with the m3 processor and 8 GB RAM.
Pros:
1. Outstanding build quality - extremely solid, lightweight (maybe 2.3 lbs), NO body flex at all, and I really like the ribbed backside which seems less slippery than, say, my Macbooks. Very thin, and will easily fit into a laptop bag as a secondary computer if you travel (I travel for work).
2. Base m3/8 GB memory configuration seems very snappy and responsive. I cannot imagine needing an i5 or i7, which seem like overkill to me for this device. The m3 version should be more than adequate for the vast majority of users.
3. Boot-up is extremely quick, just a few seconds. After initial setup, which was very easy and quick and entirely guided, your Google password (same one you use for your gmail) will be your log-on password.
4. Screen is very clear and bright, and setting the slider several notches below highest brightness should be very satisfying for most people. The 1080p screen is very clear and sharp. I don't think you'll need the high-res screen, but if you do, you can only get it with the expensive i7 version.
5. Apps are easy to install, and things like Microsoft office apps, including Excel and Word, are available in the Google Play store, In fact, upon launching Excel and signing in with my Microsoft ID, all of my MS Office docs were immediately available even without installing One Drive.
6. Keyboard, speakers, and track pad are all top-notch and very comparable to what you'd find in any Apple offering. Key travel and softness are outstanding, one of the best keyboards I have used anywhere with accurate keystrokes.
7. Terrific integration - all of your Google Chrome bookmarks, apps, passwords, etc will immediately be ported over to this unit. If you've installed apps via Google Play on other devices, such as I did on my Samsung tablet, I was prompted to automatically install all of them here, including a bunch of games. Real time saver.
8. Learning curve on how to operate this device was very quick. Most functions are intuitive and a couple searches on the internet taught me how to perform functions I wasn't familiar with.
Cons:
1. During setup or some forms of heavy use, you can feel a lot of heat on the bottom center of the unit towards the hinge with the keyboard. The heat issue seems to dissipate in normal use.
2. No SD card slot, so any external storage will have to be via a USB-C connection. The MS Surface laptops and even the Samsung laptops have nicely concealed micro-SD card slots for easily adding permanently-attached and hidden storage, which you cannot do with this. This device does have two USB-C connectors, one on each side.
3. The base 64 GB storage seems lacking, and would be nice if Google had made its base configuration 128 GB, or at least if they'd offered a 128 GB option for a reasonable price without being forced to move to an i5 processor, which to me seems unnecessary in this device, at least for my use.
I have not experienced flickering, WiFi connectivity issues, etc as have been mentioned in some of the reviews. The device has been rock solid in terms of usability and connectivity.
All in all, a great device that feels a lot more like a "real laptop" and a viable competitor to an Apple or MS device than I thought it would. You are not roped into using Google apps, and in fact can us MS Office apps just as you would on a Mac or Surface. I really like this little machine, and it's thin, lightweight, yet strong design with solid battery life make it a great travel companion.
| Standing screen display size | 13.3 Inches |
|---|---|
| Screen Resolution | 3840 x 2160 |
| Max Screen Resolution | 1920 x 1080 Pixels |
| Processor | core_i7_8500y |
| RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| Hard Drive | 256 GB SSD |
| Graphics Coprocessor | Intel UHD Graphics |
| Chipset Brand | Intel |
| Card Description | Integrated |
| Wireless Type | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac |
| Average Battery Life (in hours) | 12 Hours |
