Chromebook Plus ASUS CM3401 (JB Hi-Fi)
Excellent content consumption…
13/03/2024 22:02
I received this product at a discount in exchange for my honest opinion. As a full time Windows user I'm pleasantly surprised by how well put together this model is.
This unit has many high end specs for a Chromebook, such as powerful AMD processor, 8GB RAM, 128GB fast SSD storage, back-lit keyboard and many ports for connectivity.
The unit itself is very well designed. It is in a boxy shape and zinc in colour, looks very clean and industrial. The body is made of plastic but it feels very solid and well made. There is no flex or creaks whatsoever while in use.
The setup process is very easy and straight forward. Simply connect the unit to Wifi and login using my existing Google account. Once setup is completed the unit will boot into ChromeOS which looks just like the Chrome browser with some Desktop experience elements.
ChromeOS may feel very basic to new users but it is very capable when it comes to everyday tasks such as email, social media, simple document processing and media consumption. You can also install Android apps to further enhance its capability. For someone who has already been using services and apps from Google, the experience is very familiar and no learning is required. I'm finding I've been reaching out to the Asus Chromebook more as it is simply a faster experience compared to Windows.
This Chromebook has a 14 inch screen in Full HD resolution. The display colour is vivid and provides sufficient brightness under most conditions. The screen can be flipped 360 degrees and is also touch enabled, an optional stylus can be purchased to use it as a tablet. The keyboard on this unit is a joy to type on due to its very generous key travel distance, allowing for a satisfying click with every press.
Battery life on the Asus CM34 Chromebook is simply amazing. I was able to get around 13 hours of usage out of a single charge. This means I no longer have to worry about running out of power in a typical day. There is no need to carry the charger around so I can save space in my bag.
This Chromebook has plenty to offer to most users, however one key shortcoming of the Asus CM34 is that it is very heavy, at 1.85kg it is the heaviest 14 inch sized laptop I've ever used. Chromebook is supposed to be lighter and portable than most Windows laptops, so I'm not sure why Asus made such a decision, especially on a model that can be used in tablet mode. Overall this Chromebook has a lot to like, as long as you can put up with the heavy weight.
playbargain
Mount Ommaney , Austrálie
Age: 41
Gender: Female