SlashGear points out that Acer has "quietly" upgraded its C7 Chromebook to a $299.99 premium model, boosting the notebook's list of specs as well as its pricetag. New to this second installment is a larger hard drive, a larger battery, and double the RAM while still keeping the cost relatively low.
According to the new list of specs, the Acer Chromebook still sports an Intel Celeron 847 dual-core CPU clocked at 1.10 Ghz, 2 MB of cache, and the Intel NM70 Express chipset. The size of the notebook's CineCrystal LED-backlit screen is also still the same, measuring 11.6-inches and packing a 1366 x 768 resolution – Intel HD Graphics is the GPU of choice.
As previously stated, the big jump on the spec list is the Chromebook's local storage capacity, increased from 320 GB to 500 GB (5400 RPM HDD). Given that this notebook is heavily reliant on the cloud, both Google and Acer are pushing users to store their data online despite the HDD upgrade, offering an additional 100 GB free for the first two years of the Chromebook's ownership.
As for the other improvements, the 2 GB of DDR3 SDRAM has been increased to 4 GB. The Chromebook's battery has also doubled in capacity, moving up from a 2,500 mAh li-ion pack promising 3.5 hours of runtime to a 6-cell 5,000 mAh li-ion pack with an estimated 6 hours runtime.
In addition to the upgrades, Acer's revamped C7 Chromebook features a 2-in-1 card reader, 802.11 a/b/g/n and 10/100 Ethernet network connectivity, three USB ports, an HDMI port and a VGA port. There's also an HD webcam, a multi-gesture touchpad and Google's Chrome OS keyboard, but there is no optical drive installed for reading and writing to CDs and DVDs.
"Start in seconds and have that new computer feeling -- every time. Chromebook's cloud-based Chrome OS and built-in virus protection refresh on reboot," Acer states. "No updates to track, no discs to insert, and backups are automatic, too. Unlike other computers, Chromebooks get better with age. Plus, Chrome OS's intuitive interface makes it all so simple."
