Chromebooks are amazing web surfing machines, offering great battery life, focused computing and affordable pricing. While they aren't for everyone, they are a smart choice for many. Do you know someone that spends all their time in the web browser? Chromebooks are designed for them.
Toshiba makes particularly great Chrome OS laptops, and its Chromebook 2 was quite a hit with fans of Google's web-focused operating system. Today, the company refreshes it with Broadwell processors and backlit keyboards.
"With an 8.5-hour battery life rating on both models, customers will be able to do more multitasking throughout the day, whether they are in the classroom, at the office or at home. These devices also come equipped with ultra-fast 802.11ac Wi-Fi and a range of ports, including one USB 3.0 port, one USB 2.0 port, HDMI output, SD Card slot and a security lock slot. Plus, customers can enjoy 100GB of Google Drive Storage, 90-days of free unlimited music streaming on Google Play, 12 in-air passes for Gogo Internet and more -- all included with the device", says Toshiba.
What makes the Chromebook 2 so great? Well, to start with the display is gorgeous. The full-HD (1080p) IPS screen is vibrant and pleasing, outdoing most similarly-priced competition. It is wonderful for both media and text.
While laptop size is a personal preference, I find 13.3 inch to be the sweet spot -- 15 inch is too big and bulky, while 11.6 inch screens are a bit cramped. Again, you might feel different, but Toshiba is smart to target this size. It is only 2.9 pounds too -- perfect for younger students.
Music and movie lovers will appreciate the front-facing speakers. Toshiba explains that headphone company Skullcandy has tuned the speakers; whether or not that is marketing speak doesn't matter, as they sound good either way.
The big news this time around, is the Broadwell processors. While not the newer Skylake processors, these Celeron and Core i3 chips should handle Chrome OS wonderfully. Toshiba promises "up to" 4GB of RAM, meaning 2GB will be an option. Take my advice and go for the larger amount -- performance will be much improved.
The keyboard is already fantastic, but it too is getting a little upgrade. It is now backlit, meaning you can get work done in the dark. Typing purists will say this is a crutch, and you should be able to type with your eyes closed. Well, I disagree -- with laptop keyboards in particular, it is nice to get visually oriented when needed. Plus, hey, not everyone is an expert typist.
Starting prices for the Celeron version is $329, while the Core i3 version starts at $429.99. This is quite reasonable given the specs. Best of all, you do not have to wait long -- they will be available in October.