Asus Chromebook Flip C214 assessment: Window of chance for students

After years of playing second fiddle to Windows laptops, Chromebooks are lastly obtaining their moment in the sun. As per information released by Canalys, Chromebooks recorded the highest development in shipments in the Computer market place globally in the course of Q1 2021. For a item like this, that is normally lost in translation, a 275 % year-on-year (YoY) development is, just phenomenal. The identical investigation firm pegs Chromebooks continued to outperform the rest of the Computer item categories, also, in the second quarter.

So, why is the Chromebook flying off the shelves in the course of a pandemic? The cause is quite very simple. As it turns out, it was reduce out for it.

It is not surprising then, that Asus desires a piece of the pie. Gauging client interest and pent-up demand, the Taiwanese brand has launched not one, not two, not 3, but six Chromebook models in India. All at the identical time. These Chromebooks – Chromebook Flip C214, Chromebook C223, Chromebook C423 (touch and non-touch variants) and Chromebook C523 (touch and non-touch variants) – could cater to diverse use-case scenarios but they have one factor in typical. They are quite, quite aggressively priced beginning as low as Rs 17,999.

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The Flip C214 which is the priciest of the lot fees Rs 23,999. It does a couple of more points that are one of a kind to this model to justify the price tag jump of course, but the actual star of the show is Chrome OS, an operating program constructed by Google. Same as the other 5 models. It is significant to bring this up front and centre due to the fact this operating program is what’s going to be essential in deciding whether or not or not you’d want to get any of these laptops. The hardware, the look and the really feel, they are all secondary.

So, let’s just speak a tiny bit about Chrome OS initial.

Chrome OS is a net-initial OS created mainly to run net applications. A considerable portion of tasks you’d want to realize on it, can be performed inside the Chrome browser itself. By extension, most of your information will reside in the cloud which will also make it accessible across many devices such as smartphones and tablets with a Google account.

It is also achievable to download and set up Android apps on it from the Play Store. It goes without having saying, it performs very best with Google’s personal apps and services. Think Gmail, Meet, Docs, Drive, Photos and YouTube. But that is not to say that third-party apps like Word and Photoshop do not work properly on it. Because they do.

Can you use a Chromebook without having world wide web? Yes, you can, but the encounter is not going to be excellent. You’ll want world wide web at least at some point of time to be capable to make it all work seamlessly. Offline access is not advisable. Which brings us to the most significant query. Who is this for?

Chromebooks are created mainly for students and the cause why they’re having so a great deal traction today, is due to the fact they allow a hassle-absolutely free encounter in the course of on-line classes, relative to say a Windows machine. Almost absolutely everyone has a Google account. Most Google apps and services are absolutely free to use. Even much better if you are familiar with an Android phone due to the fact then you will be correct at home with a Chromebook. They’re like a one-quit-shop for all your requires – correct from video calling to document sharing and editing, to calendar, to mail, it is all there beneath one roof.

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But even more importantly, working on a Chromebook is uncomplicated. There could be a bit of a understanding curve if you have made use of Windows, but it is no rocket science like say operating macOS. The setup is straight-forward. Boot-up instances are almost non-existent. And the factor updates automatically in the background providing you space and time to do what you intend to do with it – study and collaborate. An entry-level pricing, like the one that Asus is charging for a Chromebook like the Flip C214, tends to make it more accessible. Do maintain in thoughts that there are more highly effective and more high-priced Chromebooks as well, although for some cause, brands – such as Asus – stay shy of bringing them to India.

With that out of the way, let’s speak about the Flip C214. The initial factor to know about it, is the construct excellent. It is constructed and stylised like a tank. With its round rubber bumpers and reinforced hinges, this laptop meets the US military-grade durability or MIL-STD-810G requirements. It has a spill and tamper resistant keyboard that Asus claims is rated for 10 million keystroke lifespan. Despite all this, it is quite light and compact and uncomplicated to carry about.

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Asus has made this factor for the extended haul which is impressive in particular contemplating the price tag. Design and durability are normally left as an afterthought in several ultra-price range laptops. It’s good to see Asus generating a conscious work to bring alter to this market place. Visually as well, the Flip C214 stands out as one-of-its-type. The cherry on the cake is that, it is also a convertible laptop which indicates it can be propped at many angles so it can quickly transform into say, a tablet when required. This tends to make it an even more appealing proposition, more bang for your buck if you will.

Moving on, the Flip C214 has an 11.6-inch 16:9 touch-screen show with an HD resolution – a staple for this type of laptop. I do want the bezels had been smaller sized and resolution a tad larger, but all in all, it is a likable package with ample brightness and satisfactory viewing angles. Mostly, you will be working with this laptop indoors so it is protected to say, it need to get the job performed.

The identical is correct about the core hardware. Under the hood, this laptop has a dual core Intel Celeron N4020 processor paired with 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM and 64GB eMMC 5.1 storage which is additional expandable by up to 2TB through a micro-SD card slot. That’s lots for the type of workload this laptop is created for and it performs properly inside that realm. The 50Wh battery inside this laptop is rated to provide up to 11 hours of usage on a single charge. Battery life is quickly one of its largest highlights. The laptop charges more than USB Type-C.

Connectivity selections on the Flip C214 involve 2 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C (up to 5Gbps, DisplayPort, and energy delivery assistance), 1 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A (up to 5Gbps), and an audio combo jack. It supports dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5. This laptop comes with a 720p webcam and a further 5MP “world-facing” camera with autofocus for clicking images in tablet mode. Rounding off the package are dual speakers that give decent sound.

Asus Chromebook Flip C214 final thoughts

The Flip C214 is quickly the very best entry-level Chromebook in the Indian market place today. It provides terrific worth generating it a compelling solution for Windows customers as properly. Let’s face it, most Windows machines at this price tag are ordinarily sluggish and have a boring design and style. Then there’s the versatility aspect. No Windows machine at this price tag is as versatile either.

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But what I like most about a Chromebook like the Flip C214 is that it has a quite clear target audience. It is not attempting to be a jack of all trades. Rather than the hardware itself, it is more about what it stands for. It’s a window of chance for students. It’s a excellent enabler. It’s about time, more folks start out speaking about it.

Pros: Solid construct excellent, Compact kind element, 360-degree hinge, Chrome OS simplicity, Good battery life

Cons: None

Originally appeared on: TheSpuzz