Introduction The new Acer Spin 15.6 is a new laptop that Acer has designed with several “spins” to it such as laptop mode, tablet mode, presentation mode to name a few. Additionally, Acer has designed this unit with top-tier speed in so much that the unit comes packed with 4gb of ram along with 64 gb of SSD (solid state drive). The following is my overall assessment of this chromebook: ***Pros*** 1. Supreme craftsmanship and design. 2. Beautiful FULL HD screen with 1920 X1080 along with a full immersive screen 15.6. 3. Backlit keyboard and touch screen. Also, the keyboard is quiet, so you don’t have to worry about a “clicky-clack” experience. 4. Immense battery life-I’ve personally gotten 8-10 hours easily. 5. Versatile display as the unit offers laptop, presentation, and table top modes. 6. Fast bootup and shut down. 7. Virus free as chromebooks have a built-in virus protection that is updated frequently. 8. Google Play Store apps which are immense in number are supported. Also, some cell phone apps (Android) are supported. 9. Full Micro Soft Applications are supported (however a subscription is required for the entire suite). Some Micro Soft applications such as Word On-line is free. Also, you can get the free Google Docs that are comparable to Micro Soft Word, Google Sheets which are comparable to Excel and Google Slides which are comparable to PowerPoint. 10. Fast charging as the unit has USB-C charging ports along with USB-A type ports as well. 11. A Head phone jacket is on the unit too. 12. Great speakers as they are positioned on both the left and right of the unit. The audio from them is great. ***Cons*** 1. The Chrome environment greatly differs from the Windows and Mac environments as such, it can be a learning curve with adjusting to the environment. 2. An active Gmail account is required; however, you can login as a guest too. 3. I personally would like to have seen a keypad to the right of the unit as opposed to such a large trackpad. 4. I think Acer should have input 8 gb of ram as opposed to 4 gb. 5. No HDMI is included, but you can purchase an adapter if needed. 6. The weight of the laptop (4.63 lbs) may not be ideal for some with regards to portability. 7. At a weight of 4.63 lbs. employing tablet mode can feel a bit bulky which can tire the arms out rapidly. ***Tangibles worth Noting*** Screen The Acer Spin 15.6 is really a good chromebook with excellent build quality. The Full HD offers a gorgeous view. Viewing and streaming of videos, movies, and YouTube videos is a great experience as the resolution is clear and concise. Craftmanship/Design/Usability I am thoroughly familiar with chromebooks as this is my 3rd chromebook. I can say that they’ve come a long way since my first one which was the Acer C7, which only had a 2gb memory along with 320 gb of hard drive. The picture resolution and the battery life were awful. Additionally, I have the Acer R 11 2-in-1 which has been a great experience from every aspect such as web surfing, watching movies, videos, and YouTube videos as well as streaming. Everyday clerical tasks such as E-mailing, drafting of letters, basic speadsheets and the like have really been a seamless experience. Additionally, the build on this machine is rock solid!! Chromebooks may not be as user-friendly to some as the Mac and Windows environments are, but they can be equally as sufficient, it depends on your needs, wants and desires in a machine. Presently, I am training myself to fully acclimate to the Chrome OS environment and make it as user-friendly as the Windows environment is my staple eco-system. I am in the process of integrating and transferring all of my Word files into the chrome environment. I am using both Dropbox, Google Drive and internal storage to accomplish this. I am determined to not have to switch between computers to accomplish daily tasks. Performance The Acer Spin 15 is a solid performer as it boots up and shuts down swiftly. It can withstand multiple screens being in operation without lag, stall, or crashes. In the past few days, I transferred and edited some files, watched and streamed movies, played songs, opened multiple pages, etc., and this machine has fully withstood the tasks. The Spin 15 can contend with some of the higher end chromebooks in performance, because of factors such as resolution, performance, and long battery life to name a few. Also, you get these quality aspects at a much lower price point. Audio The audio is good on this machine as there are 2 speakers housed on both the left and right of the machine. When playing of music, I had a great immersive sound experience meaning I did not experience any skips, tinny sounds, or unclear audio. To the contrary, this machine offered great audio when listening to music as well as movies and videos. Conclusion/Recommendation I highly recommend this chromebook without any reservations. I think Acer has done a great job from the overall standpoint of build-quality, design and performance. I want to personally commend Acer for being a pioneer in the field of technology. They frequently revise, add on, and try new innovations for their customers. Seemingly, they aren’t afraid to venture into the unknown which keeps them in the forefront of technology. If you’ve thought about trying out a chromebook, I highly recommend this one as you will discover an “Ace” in the hole!!!

It's been since 2009 when I last used a Chromebook - back then I wasn't impressed! Wow, Chrome OS has come a LONG WAY since then and is definitely a contender in the OS market! I'm giving this Chromebook 5 stars based on the following points. I couldn't find any negatives, other than wondering why I waited so long to try one again! 1) Full HD screen - nice and bright, very crisp text! 2) Great backlit keyboard. Comfortable to type on with minimal key travel. 3) It runs buttery-smooth on every task I throw at it, as well as while multitasking. 4) It runs all Android apps from the Google Play store - talk about opening a whole new world of possibilities! 5) The sound from the upward-firing speakers is great for a laptop! 6) USB A and USB C connections - new devices as well as legacy devices will run on this Chromebook without issue! 7) The battery life is rated for 13 hours - I didn't go 13 hours without plugging it in, but I don't see 13 hours being a problem to reach! 8) I feel like I can do literally everything on this Chromebook that I could on my PC that doesn't have to do with system administration - if it's for personal use, it literally could replace my PC! 9) Outstanding build quality! Definitely worth checking out if you're looking at Chromebooks! Pay the extra, it's worth every extra penny!

If you are looking for a little larger Galaxy tab or maybe an I-Pad with a keyboard attached - Not for you. This thing is huge and heavy. If 4.5 lbs bothers you - stay away. That being said, if you want a really large and capable computer hybrid/tablet running Chrome/Android - then this is it. Over these past few years I've been waiting on a solution from Samsung or similar for a less then Windows machine that would actually run basic apps and allow me to do some "work." The last Galaxy iteration has been tempting, but I'm not going to go with Windows 10 on a tablet device for what I need to do and the non-windows iterations were not large enough. This is where the Spin 15 fits me perfectly. And let me give a history of my PC/Tablet experience and needs... Power User, period. I have 2 dedicated portable workstations, i.e., maxed out laptops that I use for business. One stays by my side in a backpack and one is in the office, permanently docked. Over the years I’ve learned to work off of the server or the cloud and use images for business; electrical engineering and programming. The last thing I want to do at home is break one of these out with all the periphery and do small tasks that need to be done in between office and client sites. Battery life on these types of machines is bad. I have to have the latest graphics cards and highest CPU I can get into them and am lucky to get over an hour; New Dell G7's, maxed out. They have their place, don't get me wrong, but I need something between my phone and a full-on Laptop/PC. In the past I've tried to fill this niche with a Sony Vaio and a Surface Tablet. Again, both with i5/7's and trying to get horsepower and it really is a matter of the technical lottery with buying the latest and greatest at the time - they both suffer short battery life and the whole tiresome Windows experience when you want something light, like a tablet. Neither fit the experience I'd been wanting; something in-between the Laptop/PC and my Smartphone. (They are both in a box in the basement.) With the the Spin 15, it's configured 64GB memory, 4GB RAM, Pentium processor, gracious battery / power management and paired with the Chrome OS; running version 67.0.3396.99 at time of review. I feel complete. A part of my life’s need to be immersed and connected with technology is complete. “I’m a geek.” What I absolutely love is the multi user, quick login/logout and overall experience. For me, I don’t have to strain with the phone and can grab the Spin 15, flip the lid and if I was logged on before - my work is all right there with fresh battery. The battery doesn’t bleed out like Windows or suspend mode. And there is no lag when opening the lid to getting back to work - it’s just popping. Granted it’s not running the gazillion windows services and all the bells and whistles that comes with a full on PC; I DO NOT NEED THEM for what I’m doing on the Spin. I use this for dropbox, emails, Google Docs, Office 365, Youtube, Netflix, pictures; BASICS and low overhead applications. So this tablet does them all with absolute ease. I have really missed the touch screen since I don’t have the options on the Laptops I need to buy. The Chrome/Android is a Godsend for me in regards to having a break from the PC experience that dominates my work days. I don’t want to go there.. So, yes, Chrome is a lot of it and this machine serves it up well at a size that I LIKE. That being said, I am a bigger guy and my older eyes appreciate the large, soft screen. I have played with the various tablets and just not where I needed them to be with size and performance. ..I didn’t want to buy the smaller-than-I-wanted tablet, keyboard, case, etc.; just to settle for mediocrity. For me, this is MY fit. On the plus side I digress about the multi user capabilities of Chrome. My family has access anytime they do use this. Logging in and out is seamless and my work/experience is never bothered. Everyone likes it in my house and we all have Google accounts anyhow. The keyboard is adequate and feels good for me. Though I am sure there will be some who are missing the delete key or number pad or this or that. “It’s a Chrome Keyboard!” lol. So with a little getting used to I actually find the keys responses and tactile feel very comfortable for a few hours at a go, updating quotes, emails, etc…. I can work on this and there is no stress from lack of function and the ergonomics are not an issue. Speakers are pretty amazing for a laptop, hence the weight. I am sure they could have saved a few ounces and did something smaller, but it is one of the advertised points and I do appreciate the audio capabilities when watching Youtube or similar for what they are. Are they going to rock the house? “No.” I do plug in to the line out jack for external speakers or use bluetooth speakers when appropriate. These are better than any tablet speakers and they are not external box powered speakers - “That happy medium.” The Flip - I’ve read where a few people found the flip stiff or this or that. I don’t know what to compare this to in that regard or what someone may be expecting from a hinge for the display and keyboard. My 8 year old daughter hasn’t complained and I haven’t given any thought. It stays in what position I set it to and is not overly stiff by any means. It is cool to flip the keyboard and have a giant tablet in tablet mode. Maybe people are used to somethign a lot lighter and this could be a matter of getting used to? Again, not an issue for me. On the sides you’ll find a power button, volume rocker, micro SD slot, two USB ports, two USB C ports, security lock connection and a headphone jack. What is cool is you can charge from either side with the provided high power USB C adapter. I have also charged on slow with a standard USB C that I use for my phone, (Takes a while longer and a message pops up.) What’s not to like? Don’t get this if you like bigger or heavier than an IPad type device. There are a few glitches with Chrome integrations on any hardware platform; artifacts, specific apps, etc. None of these have been a show stopper for what I do. If you want to install a non-secure app, then there is a method on the internet on how to boot up the machine/wipe all your stuff out and put it in some sort of admin mode. I don’t need to. Again, for my apps and what I use - these are non - issues; everything is from the Play Store and integrates with no real issues for me. And the artifacting or occasional resizing issues are not show stoppers for me, its something you understand from the Chrome/Android limitations and working in a larger environment. “These are ongoing development software issues with Chrome and hardware integrators and everyone has them.” I am sure there are going to be somethings someone just does not like or not a fit for them. Overall, for the price and bang for buck, I would absolutely go check one out. Get a feel for it and see if it’s for you. It has to be about a size and power thing. I wouldn’t do a Celeron and if you can afford to go with the 64GB memory, there is good reason to, (Many apps do not like to run from memory cards, etc.) Again, it is really a preference of size and capability. For the price and what it can do - it is a solid recommendation for that mid-point of suffering on the phone vs. getting the laptop out or PC fired up. The Spin 15 has my vote for this category and so far I am enjoying a well built machine with great features and surprisingly good battery life. “Go to the store and see for yourself.”

This is my first Chromebook I've ever had and I will say it is quite easy to work with and use! The main point of this review is to say - this is a $450 Chromebook that's meant to utilize it's large screen for web/app based entertainment or light work purposes. It hits all those points very well and for those of you wanting a large Chromebook, you would be pleased with this for the price. Pros: - It's ease of use is it's main selling point to me. Setup was a breeze and overall the device is very quick and responsive to commands. - The Hinges on the Chromebook to allow it to go from laptop to tablet mode are fantastic. They are firm enough to not have the screen fall over in laptop mode, but still allow for smooth transitions. - The Battery life is pretty good for the size. I have been using it on the brightest screen option and have been impressed with how long it runs - The Google App store integration is really nice to have. Some Apps are easier than the web platform but not all apps are optimized for tablets. - The keyboard is really easy to use. I like how they didn't put a number pad on it making the keyboard more centralized so it's more natural to use. The addition of the back-light keyboard is a really plus. - Battery life is - Having the 15.6 inch screen is really great! I tried out Netflix, Playstation Vue, and Movies Anywhere and all of the videos looked solid. - The speakers do sound very good for the price but they are not overly loud - The Ports are a huge selling point. It's just very nice to be a USB C ports as that is where many electronics are moving towards but still has two USB A ports as well with a headphone jack. Cons: - My biggest issue with this is the bezels. It's 2018 and everything is going to smaller bezels and packing more into less. Since this is a 15.6 inch screen it's already large but the over sized bezels make it seem clunky at times. It's fine in laptop mode but carrying it around and using like a tablet is just not very convenient. I just think overall they could have made this device smaller but still give it that nice large screen size. - I am not overly impressed with the screen resolution. Sometimes, certain apps/websites look too pixelated or have a hard time scaling to the large screen size. - Maybe it's just my model, but my space bar isn't super responsive. I have to make a point that I click it firmly. - Although the ChromeOS is nice and easy to use, my opinion is it still can't replace a Windows OS laptop or maybe even an iPad at times. Still, I think Acer did a nice job putting together a functional Chromebook, with a lot of features, and all for a great price! Would recommend if you are in the market for one.

The tablet mode makes this laptop even more convenient for using it in certain places, absolutely love it.