The new Chromebooks have Full HD displays and up to 8th Gen Intel Core processors, and up to 12 hours of battery life from typical work operations.

“The addition of a premium durable chassis and integrated fingerprint reader onto the latest Acer Chromebooks enhances the security and reliability of these devices,” said James Lin, general manager for notebooks, IT Product Business, Acer Inc. “Employees of all types — whether in a corporate office, small business, or an educational setting — need reliable, powerful PCs that help protect their data, perform well, and look great. These new Acer Chromebooks fit that bill.”

Premium Protection

The Acer Chromebook 715 and 714 both feature a durable, all-aluminium, impact-resistant chassis that looks great on a front desk for customer-facing settings, as well as on the road with employees making client visits or sales calls. The reinforced design delivers military-grade protection (U.S. MIL-STD 810G compliant), so it can handle drops from up to 48 inches (122 cm) and can withstand up to 132 pounds (60 kg) of downward force. The anodised aluminium chassis stands up to daily wear and tear, resists dents and bending, and wards off dings, chips and corrosion to maintain the high-end look and feel.

The Corning Gorilla Glass touchpad features click-anywhere functionality and is also scratch- and moisture-resistant.

For further protection, the machines feature an integrated fingerprint reader conveniently placed next to the keyboard. Ideal for shared environments, the fingerprint reader gives employees a quick and secure way to unlock the device and share with co-workers.

Citrix Ready certified, the new Acer Chromebooks are fully compatible with Citrix solutions that enhance business mobility, networking, and cloud platforms.

First Acer Chromebook with a numeric keypad

The 715 is the first Acer Chromebook to include a dedicated numeric keypad. The large display provides ample room for the keypad, which gives cloud workers in retail, finance, and service fields — as well as in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) — an efficient way to input data. In addition, it has a backlit keyboard so productivity can continue in low-light conditions.

The 15.6-inch IPS display allows viewing of multiple apps and tabs in Full HD 1920×1080 resolution. It comes in both touch-screen and standard display options.

Narrow-Bezel Display 

Employees working remotely will appreciate the Acer Chromebook 714’s compact design and 14-inch Full HD display. The slim bezels measure as little as 6.18 mm (0.24 inches) to reduce the overall footprint and keep the focus on the visuals. Like the 715, the 714 has IPS3 technology and comes in touch-screen and standard non-touch options.

All-Day Battery Life and Enhanced Performance 

Both machines deliver industry-leading battery life of up to 12 hours, so they can be used for a full day of productivity on the road or in customer-facing environments. Both can be powered by a range of processors, including the 8th Gen Intel Core i5 and Core i3 processors as well as Intel Celeron and Intel Pentium Gold options.

Staying Connected

The laptops have a USB 3.1 Type-C port on each side so they can be connected to devices and charged from the side that’s most convenient. The ports can be used for quick data transfers, connecting to an external display, and for charging other devices. Both Chromebooks also have a USB 3.0 port and a MicroSD card reader.

The optional Acer USB-Type-C Dock can be connected via a single cable, transforming the machines into powerful workstations that can connect to external displays, printers, and more. This convenient and compact dock enables high-speed video, audio, and data transfers, and keeps the front desk or work area clutter-free.

Chrome OS Security 

The new units work well with Google’s Chrome Enterprise solution that helps businesses manage devices at scale. Ideal for a range of business environments, including those where employees share devices and are mobile, such as in health care and retail, Chrome Enterprise helps create a secure and productive environment for cloud-based workers.

Customers will have access to the latest Chrome apps and millions of Android apps for productivity, connectivity, and services, via Google Play.
Availability 

The Acer Chromebook 715 is available with 8GB or 16GB of DDR4 SDRAM and either 32GB, 64GB or 128GB of eMMC storage. 

The Acer Chromebook 714 is available with 8GB or 16GB of DDR4 SDRAM and either 32GB, 64GB or 128GB of eMMC storage.

While smartphones have advanced at a rapid rate, phone batteries can’t offer the same performance over time, simply because they are a consumable component. Like all rechargeable batteries, phone batteries hold less power and become less effective as they age, which usually starts happening after about 18 to 24 months. Most smartphone batteries offer about 300 to 500 charging cycles.

Here are a few signs that it might be time to replace your smartphone battery:

·         Is your phone losing its charge a lot quicker than it used to? If you used to still be at 60% around midday, even after extensive use, and you’re now at 40% while chewing on your lunchtime sarmie, then it might be time to say cheers to the battery you’re using.

·         Is your phone losing about 10% of charge within 20 minutes after unplugging it from the charger? A few percentage points of battery drop is okay, but a more significant drop might be signs of a bigger problem.

·         Is your phone refusing to charge completely, no matter how long you leave it in the charger? This might mean it’s time for out with the old (battery) and in with the new.

·         Does your phone feel hotter than usual while charging? This is because a deteriorating battery generates heat. If this is happening, then it’s definitely time to get a new battery.

Click here to read about how to replace a Huawei battery and where to go.