Sleek Acer Chromebook 13 Among First to Use Tegra K1 Processor

Acer announced today the Chromebook 13, a family of laptops designed to attract the budget and performance-minded consumers. The Chromebook 13 is among the first to use a Tegra K1 processor for its hardware and Acer's first in the 13.3-inch segment. The Chromebook 13 will be available in 3 options at various price points.

Acer will be offering the Chromebook 13 with 2 different screen resolutions. While the base model's display will be 1366 x 768 pixels, the top-end model's display will have 1920 x 1080 full HD resolution. Both include Acer's ComfyView anti-glare coatings, and each option provides great contrast and many colors. The lower-resolution model will have 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of onboard storage. The high-resolution model will come in two options: 2 GB of RAM with 16 GB of storage, or 4 GB of RAM and 32 GB of storage.

Compared to the Tegra K1 processor, Acer's previous Chromebook, the C720, used an Intel processor,Android and Me reported.

According to Information Week, "The Chromebook 13 uses a fanless design, which keeps noise down and allows Acer to keep the dimensions in check. It measures just 0.71 inches thick and weighs 3.31 pounds. It's not the lightest device on the market, but it's no heavyweight, either. The larger display means the Chromebook 13 has a full-sized keyboard for more comfortable typing. The Chromebook 13 features an array of ports and connectivity options. It relies on 802.11ac WiFi for Internet and includes two USB 3.0 ports, a full HDMI port for screen sharing, an SD card slot for additional storage, and stereo speakers. The device includes a 720p HD video camera for Web chats and video capture, as well as a microphone. Last, it includes Bluetooth 4.0, and the lithium ion battery stores 3220 mAh."

Chrome's OS syncs with Google's online apps and services, including Gmail, Docs, Drive, Google Play and over 30,000 others.

The Acer Chromebook 13 models are priced at $280 for the entry-level, $300 for midrange and $380 for top-end.