acer Gateway Chromebook 311 CBO311-1H-C1MX Laptop | Intel Celeron N4500 | 11.6″ HD (1366 x 768) Display | 4GB LPDDR4X | 64GB eMMC | Wi-Fi 5 802.11ac | Chrome OS | Star Black

Excellent buy!
Works as expected and up to date OS.

Wonderful Chromebook, but Manage Expectations Where Apps are Concerned
I purchased the Acer Chromebook Spin 311 to use as a bedside entertainment center, so I wanted something that could stream and have quality screen resolution. I liked the idea of a device that I could position with the screen set back (open like a laptop) or set forward (flip it and go triangular, baby!); I also needed a reliable blue tooth as I wear comfy headphones that I can sleep in. I have an extensive music collection that I keep on an external SSD and I absolutely love MediaMonkey because of it’s customizable interface on it’s Window’s app (I assumed the ChromeOS version would be very similar – my first major stumble).First, the positive: The device itself is fantastic. Everything about it feels sturdy, the touchscreen is responsive (though, I will say there are times when I feel I have to hit an app 2 or 3 times to activate). The screen resolution and sound quality are lovely for a device of this size and price – don’t go expecting studio quality here, but the streaming was beautiful. The visuals are not pixelated; it’s as good as watching on a television (only smaller). Oh, and I will say I love the fact that the USB-C port is on both sides, which makes it easier to plug in on any side (it’s the little things).Performance is great, I get no lag and I’ve had no issues streaming Netflix, Hulu or Disney+. I just realized I haven’t tried watching Twitch or Youtube on this. I’ll download those apps and if I have any problems with them, I’ll update this review and let you know.I have one grouse, and it’s kind of a biggie: The apps are terrible. It was so dismaying at first, I did actually contemplate sending the device back. I slept on it and decided I was going to stick it out. In truth, part of my disappointment is that the ChromeOS version of MediaMonkey is disappointing. When it came down to it, I tried a whole slew of music apps and I wound up settling on the music app that annoyed me the least (VLC). Most of the apps have ads that are intrusive, and even the ones I thought about paying for just don’t seem worth the value.Even simple apps like an alarm clock or a blue tooth manager: I downloaded several different ones, and I’m continually settling on the app that annoys me the least or seems to be able to handle some of what I would like. I even tried to find a power button app because I just wanted to turn off the computer with a single, on screen button push – despite over a dozen apps that claimed to do this, all of them performed poorly and one you had to close out an ad before it would turn off (really?!?).In choosing whether or not to keep it, I had to weigh the solid build and reliable performance against an operating system that was under par for Windows or Mac.That said, I’m very glad I kept this little guy. In the end, it’s a reliable little entertainment unit and it’s wonderful where it counts: It’s a great streamer (with a beautiful picture) and it plays music that I love and I can leave it in place and listen on my blue tooth headphones while I wander all over the house. The apps are a shame, but honestly, given the price point here, it’s a good deal and I can live with it.

Excellent Chromebook
I’m very happy with it, it’s fast, light and has excellent battery life. I recommend it.

Will not stay connected to the internet.
In 2020, I purchased a Samsung Chromebook. After three years, it stopped updating, and its functionality slowly deteriorated. Some websites won’t load, and making purchases is limited to certain sites. During this summer’s Prime, I searched for a replacement. The Acer seemed like a reasonable replacement.Within a day of receipt, I had trouble staying connected to my internet. I work from home for a creative agency using a Mac and my partner is a video editor who uses a PC. We have never had issues staying connected on the other three laptops. I searched reviews and Reddit and made some recommended adjustments but nothing worked. I reached out to Acer hoping they would be able to troubleshoot but they needed me to FedEx it to TX. At least they provided a shipping label and the kind folks at FedEx gave me a free box. I arrived overnight and was shipped back to me the same day. Suspiciously fast! The notes on the paper left in the box were a little condescending. It appears they replaced a few parts. I know they didn’t have time to really test it! Sure enough about a day into using it and I wouldn’t stay connected to the internet. Frustrating! I called Acer again and their solution was to have me ship it back. At that point, I was pretty annoyed. What were they going to do that they didn’t do the first time? Shipping it 5X is not cost-effective. Why not just send me a new one??????? Also, I’ve been without a personal laptop for a few weeks now. So the guy said a supervisor would call me. It took 10 days of phone tag (a different very frustrating story) We spoke on a Tuesday. He said I had to ship it but he’d expedite and make sure I’d get it back by the weekend. It was back in TX for 12 days. So 2 weeks later I got the laptop with an even more condescending note that says they replaced the motherboard. At this point, with parts, shipping, and labor we’re way beyond the cost of a new machine! AND I’m well past the window to just return it through Amazon. So now I’m stuck with this laptop that WILL NOT stay connected to the internet. I will be in the middle of something and have to reboot. And BTW Acer didn’t follow up once to see how it’s going. Horrible service, garbage laptop. My next personal computer will be something else!My Samsung has never had this issue. If I didn’t stop updating I’d still be using it regularly.

Better than some I have seen.

Very good