After much speculation leading up to the event, today Acer has used the floor at BETT 2015 in London to announce the release dates and specifications for its upcoming line of education-focused Chromebooks.
Since their introduction several years ago Chromebooks have experienced a healthy adoption rate in the education sector thanks to their reliability, ease-of-use and, perhaps most importantly, low cost of entry.
The C740 and C910 are two new models that the company will offer up with the student’s lifestyle at the head of their design, sporting increased durability and long-lasting batteries at a price that won’t break a school’s or student’s budget.
The C910 will be one of the first of many Chromebooks we’re likely to see this year equipped with a 15.6-inch, 1080p display, the biggest screen the brand has stocked so far. The C740 won’t be quite as impressive, opting instead for the more standard Chromebook loadout of 11.6 inches across a resolution of 1366 x 768.
Related: Acer shows Chromebook with 15-inch, 1080p display at CES 2015
Processing power will be handled by a 5th-gen Intel Core i3-5005U CPU, or a slightly slower Broadwell-based Intel Celeron 3205U, depending on your preferred price point. Connectivity is identical on both devices, with a 2×2 MIMO Wi-Fi chip, Bluetooth 4.0, two USB ports (one 3.0, one 2.0), one HDMI out, and a 3-in-1 SD card reader for expandable storage options.
The C740 is the more portable of the two, weighing just 2.87 pounds, while the C910 comes in a little higher on the scale at 4.85 pounds. Battery life for the C910 is said to be eight hours, while the C740 bumps things up a bit to just over nine.
Related: Intel’s new 5th-generation processor line-up detailed
Acer has promised to continue its admirable dedication to the education sector for customers who purchase units in bulk orders of 100 or more with the company’s own Educare Warranty Program.
Members of this exclusive club will automatically have replacement batteries covered with free two-way shipping, as well as accidental damage protection in case a student spills their juice on the keyboard and needs a no-hassle cleanup.
The C910 will be available for purchase in February starting at $300 with 16GB of storage and 4GB of RAM (32GB of storage will be optional). The C740 undercuts that by a hair, starting at $260 for the 16GB model with 2GB of RAM. No word on how much upgraded displays and processors will cost just yet.
