Acer Chromebook 514 tested: This is how good the notebook with Chrome OS is
7.8.2019
Translation: machine translated
There is an unjustly little-noticed alternative to Windows and macOS. It is called Chrome OS and the Acer Chromebook 514 is said to be a very good notebook with Google's operating system.
What is Chrome OS?
If you are already familiar with Chrome OS, you can skip straight to the next subheading. Otherwise, you can now find out what Google's operating system is all about.
The basic idea behind Chrome OS is that nowadays you do everything in the browser anyway. And so Chrome OS mainly consists of the Chrome browser. With GMail, Google Docs and other services, Google itself already offers many applications directly in the browser. Thanks to an extensive offline function, you can also work on the Chromebook without the internet. If an application is not available as a web version in the browser, you can install its Android app.
This gives you access to quite a few applications - some of which are not available at all or only as a poor web version - and can reduce the number of open tabs in the browser. A small disadvantage: Android apps are mainly designed for smartphone displays - and perhaps also adapted for tablets. The view on a laptop is therefore not always optimal - especially if the app is designed for portrait view.
Chrome OS takes some getting used to at first. It has a completely different structure to Windows, macOS or Linux. But after two days at the latest, the structure should no longer be a problem. There's hardly anything you can't do with a Chromebook. The biggest limitations are games, specialised software and applications that require a lot of computing power. Big plus point: you open the Chromebook and it's ready to go straight away. There is no waiting time when waking up from sleep mode.
Touch screen in aluminium casing
With its aluminium casing, the Acer Chromebook 514 stands out from many other notebooks with Chrome OS, which are mostly made of plastic. The metal makes it look robust and elegant at the same time, but by no means cheap.
The 14-inch touchscreen also makes a good impression. It is matt, which means that the colours are not quite as vivid, but it is easy on the eyes. The full HD resolution guarantees a sharp, detailed image. The narrow bezel, at least on the sides, ensures that the Chromebook is not excessively large.
Nevertheless, there is not enough room for a numeric keypad on the keyboard. However, it is large enough to type comfortably on. I like the travel of the keys, but the pressure points could be even clearer for my taste. There are plus points for the backlighting, which is particularly helpful at dusk and not just in the dark.
The touchpad on the Chromebook 514, on the other hand, put me to the test. I'm one of those people who wants to switch off tapping as an input and press the touchpad properly for a click. It clicks wonderfully, but the system only recognises strong and clear clicks. This caused me some nerves at the beginning, as I'm used to being able to click faster and shorter on other laptops.
Sufficient performance and plenty of ports
My test device is equipped with a Pentium N4200 and eight gigabytes of RAM. This makes it the best-equipped version of the Acer Chromebook 514, which is completely sufficient for the browser as the main element of the operating system. The loading times for the apps are sometimes a little longer. But in principle, everything runs on the Chromebook - even games like PubG Mobile. Although this cannot be controlled on a notebook, the selected average graphics quality allows comparisons with smartphones in terms of performance.
The Chromebook 514's internal storage of 64 gigabytes isn't particularly generous, but it's sufficient for starters. But even in the long term, there should be no problems. Google assumes that you use its cloud services extensively. You can also expand the storage space with a microSD card.
Two USB ports are available for accessories. There is also a 3.5 mm audio connection and two USB-C sockets. These are not only useful for accessories such as an external monitor, but are also the charging ports for the Chromebook. The battery charges quickly and lasts comparatively long. Acer promises a battery life of at least twelve hours. I didn't time it exactly, but I was able to spend my working day with the Chromebook and watch two episodes of All or Nothing in the evening.
The sound, however, is not an argument with which the Chromebook 514 convinces. It sounds like a tin can and therefore worse than an average notebook, almost in keeping with the casing material. That's fine for a short video, but I wouldn't want to watch a whole film on it or listen to music all day at work. Only headphones or a Bluetooth speaker will do.
If you have an Android smartphone, there's a little bonus: You can use it to automatically unlock the Chromebook when both devices are nearby. You can also display notifications from your smartphone on your laptop and use the Messages app to type text messages directly from the keyboard.
Conclusion: A computer with potential
Chrome OS is a fast and lean alternative to Windows, Linux and macOS, with which you can only do a few things - and of course entrust your data to Google instead of Microsoft or Apple.
For me, the Acer Chromebook 514 is clearly one of the better Chromebooks. The high-quality casing and display are particularly impressive. The hardware is average and the many ports are very helpful. However, the touchpad takes some getting used to and the sound is subterranean. So there is room for improvement.
When I was but a young student, I'd sit in my friend's living room with all my classmates and play on his SuperNES. Since then I've had the opportunity to test out all the newest technology for you. I've done reviews at Curved, Computer Bild and Netzwelt, and have now arrived at Galaxus.de.
