Google’s Chrome working system is formally on the AI bandwagon, and Chromebook producers marked the event with a new batch of laptops. One of many newest is the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714, which goals for a premium laptop computer expertise with no premium (by laptop computer requirements) value. However at $699, it’s nonetheless properly above the funds area of interest that Chromebooks have historically occupied.
The Chromebook Plus Spin 714 is an replace to Acer’s earlier non-Plus Spin 714 (which remains to be obtainable) and inherits so much from its predecessor. The general feel and look of the laptop computer are the identical, which is an efficient factor. The largest distinction with the Chromebook Plus Spin 714 (CP714-1H-54UB) mannequin Acer supplied for this evaluation is the improve to the newer Intel Core Extremely 5 115U processor, which is simply as zippy because the Core i5-1335U chip discovered within the earlier era.
You get 8 GB of RAM to deal with your duties, and storage is backed by a 256-GB NVMe solid-state drive, which is quick sufficient that you just’ll by no means have to fret in regards to the laptop computer slowing down when shuttling recordsdata round. Altogether, this makes for a mixture of {hardware} that simply handles the light-weight ChromeOS working system—although it’s possible you’ll discover the storage a bit of claustrophobic when you work with loads of pictures and movies.
The place this {hardware} shines is with the new synthetic intelligence instruments constructed into ChromeOS. The Chromebook Plus Spin 714 simply dealt with Google Images’ Magic Editor, permitting me to erase, resize, and transfer objects in pictures inside seconds. The identical goes for the brand new generative AI options for wallpaper and video name backgrounds. Simply enter a immediate with some prebaked parameters and ChromeOS creates a high-resolution picture so that you can use in both state of affairs. I do not understand how helpful the video backgrounds are past the preliminary novelty, however I can see myself steadily utilizing the wallpaper generator.
None of those options function tremendous rapidly on this Spin 714, however you solely have to attend a handful of seconds; it isn’t painful. We’re nonetheless a methods off from on the spot gratification with AI processing, particularly in a $699 laptop computer, however I by no means felt just like the Chromebook Plus Spin 714 was struggling to maintain up.
{Photograph}: Daniel Thorp-Lancaster
By way of styling, this Acer appears nicer than its value suggests, with the glossy aluminum exterior and gold accents including an air of luxurious to the general presentation. It is well-built, and the show’s hinges are notably stiff (in a great way). Acer’s consideration to element with the keyboard deck stands out too. The keys sit in a slight recess to place them on the identical peak as the encompassing chassis, stopping them from touching the show and leaving prints when the lid is closed. It’s a pleasant contact that eliminates one of many greatest downsides of a shiny contact show.
As for the keyboard itself, it’s nice to kind on for hours and hours. The keys have a pleasant little bit of journey and really feel snappy with every press. They’re additionally backlit, so that you gained’t end up struggling to touch-type in the dead of night. The trackpad is a bit of smaller than I would really like, nevertheless it’s responsive.
