Technology & IT | Saturday 1 February, 2020 4:42 am |

Acer has announced a new line-up of products, targeting the education sector. Acer debuted its new 12-inch Chromebook, the Acer Chromebook 712, features a premium and durable design, a 12-inch display with 3:2 aspect ratio for better vertical viewing and productivity, and the latest 10th Gen Intel® Core™ processors for first-rate performance.

Acer has also expanded its line of TravelMate notebooks with the convertible TravelMate Spin B3 and clamshell TravelMate B3, devices intended for the K-12 education market. The portable 11.6-inch notebooks come with enhanced performance and sport a sturdy design to protect them from the knocks of school life, ideal for use both in-school and out-of-school.

Chromebook 712: Performance Combined with Durable Design

Powered by up to 10th Gen Intel® Core™ i3 processors, the Chromebook 712 provides the performance capabilities needed to handle more complex and challenging classes such as coding or video editing. This power also lets students collaborate on school projects, run multiple apps and stream educational videos with ease. With up to 12 hours[ii] of battery life, students can expect a full day of usage on one charge. 

The Acer Chromebook 712 is not only durable enough to meet the stringent U.S. MIL-STD 810G military standards, it’s also tough enough to handle even the most energetic students. It has a reinforced hinge that remains intact even when students pick it up by the display, which was intentionally designed to provide extra flexibility. It can also withstand up to 60 kg (132 pounds) of downward force, so it’s protected if a student steps on it or smashes it in a backpack. Its reinforced design and shock-absorbing bumper even lets it handle drops from heights of up to 122 cm (48 inches). Also suitable for younger students, the new Acer Chromebook 712 is certified to meet two leading toy safety standards: the ASTM F963-16[iii] and UL/IEC 60950-1[iv]. 

The keyboard has mechanically anchored keys that are difficult to remove but easy to replace, making them ideal for classroom environments. The keyboard also protects against spills of up to 330 ml (11 fluid ounces) of water thanks to a gutter system that routes water out the bottom of the chassis. Even the touchpad is moisture-resistant.

The new Acer Chromebooks 712 will boost learning with a 3:2 aspect ratio that gives students 18 percent more vertical space compared to an equally wide 16:9 display. It is available with either a touch- (C871T) or non-touch (C871) display option. It can be opened a full 180 degrees, letting it lay flat on a desk for sharing with other students during classes or for school projects 

The new Acer Chromebook 712 is great for classrooms where multiple students will share a device. Chrome OS devices support multiple user sign-in, so each student can log into their unique account while ensuring their projects, Gmail and other information are kept safe. Storage on Google Drive[v] protects files, documents, and photos safely in the cloud, and ensures that the most current version is always available.

Chrome OS is automatically updated and guards against ever-changing online threats of viruses and malware to help keep students safe. While at home, parents can install the Family Link app to set daily screen time limits, set parental controls and manage their child’s Google account. Accessibility settings sync across all Chrome OS devices, so as students switch between shared devices or log in at home with their G Suite for Education account, their accessibility settings automatically update.

TravelMate Series: A Flexible Device for Better Learning and Collaboration

The TravelMate Spin B3 and TravelMate B3 are reliable devices designed around the needs of K-12 schoolchildren. They feature the latest Intel® Pentium® and Celeron® processors, giving students all the power they need for classroom work, and comply with the MIL-STD 810G military standard, meaning that they’re strong enough to survive the bumps and spills[vi] that are part of daily student life. A pressure-resistant[vii] top cover, shock-absorbent rubber bumper and reinforced corners all add to the durability of the devices. The notebooks can also get students through the entire school day (up to 12 hours2 of battery life) on a single charge.

The TravelMate Spin B3[viii] is a flexible device that adapts to the demands of a school day via four usage modes: students can write essays in clamshell mode, watch videos or lectures in display mode, make space on a desk in tent mode when they need to work by hand, and make use of tablet mode when they need to write by hand in math or art class. An optional world-facing camera above the keyboard allows students to capture photos and videos in tablet mode. The TravelMate B3 Spin employs Wacom AES technology to provide a natural writing experience and comes with a dockable stylus. 

The school ecosystem is made up of more than just students, and the TravelMate Spin B3 and TravelMate B3 include a variety of features that will make the lives of educators and school IT technicians easier: an optional battery indicator light on the front cover which enables teachers to see which students’ laptops are low on battery, anchored keys that are difficult to remove and an easy-fix keyboard, making it convenient for the school’s IT technician to repair.

Pricing & Availability

The new Acer Chromebook 712, TravelMate B3 and TravelMate Spin B3 will be available to education and commercial customers in Middle East starting from April.