I got this notebook and retired my Chromebook to the guest room for them to use
588714
I was using a Chromebook before I got this laptop. They are quite similar in their intent mainly to be used as a cloud computer. I have had this notebook for a bit over a month now  The difference between the two that I found is that you can do so much more with the Stream 13. The ability to do work offline and use actual programs on a laptop that boots up quickly is very nice. I carried around my HP Chromebook 14 for about a year and a half because it also had 4G connectivity  and a majority of what I do like most people is usually done on the Web. I found it frustrating to not have regular programs that you could work with offline and spent a lot of time trying to figure out what the Web equivalent was for what I wanted to accomplish.

While their still are some limitations to the HP stream compared to a traditional notebook with a larger hard drive the benefits for this device over a Chromebook  are very apparent. If you need to do work offline as well as on line and you are currently using a Chromebook I definitely recommend you try out this little laptop.
4053545
I was really looking forward to getting this laptop. I've been waiting for a touchscreen chromebook and here it is! I didn't want to spend full price so i waited for the laptop to drop in price, then I see Acer has refurbished units for sale and at the right price so I pull the trigger.

I get the laptop and I'm very happy with the look and feel compared to my old Toshiba Satellite.

I see a pop up about the Google Goodies and my 100gb of free Google storage, click on the link, and then I get a message that says "Used, open-box, and refurbished devices aren't eligible for the offer" This is one of the great perks of owning a Chromebook, and because I bought a refurbished laptop from Acer I cannot indulge in this bonus. Bummer...

I took one star off because of the lack of Google Goodies.
515775
I wanted a cheap ChromeBook just to toy with and that's what it is. Works great -- love the Google experience. If you want to store files locally (who does that any more?) instead of in the cloud just pop in a USB flash drive. Not crazy about the color but it was a few bucks cheaper than the other colors at the time. Use it in the living room to browse while watching TV and for ChromeCasting.
4014248
As a chromebook it is probably OK. As a laptop computer it sucks. I'm a writer, I''m a writer, not a computer geek. When I researched chromebooks I got the impression that they were like a laptop except everything was on the cloud. I quickly discovered  that this is really a tablet that looks like a computer.  I hate it. I don't have time to learn a new operating system. Just a few gripes, 1. there is no delete key, 2. there is no caps lock key, 3 there is no right click button on the touch pad., 4. The touch pad  has different commands than what I"m used to. I could go on but. I won't. I really don't like this thing at all.
2463875
I decided to try a Chromebook given my interest in everything computing. Having used everything from Linux distro's to Windows (3.1 to Win7) and several years using Mac's. I thought it was time to try Chromebook. I bought a refurbished model to save money. But it looked as though it had not been used. My only problem was that when I first booted up the Chromebook was that the whole menu was in Chinese. After figuring out how to select English I went quickly though setup having a Google account already. I was impressed that it synced so much with my account right away. Including my browser history, bookmarks, Google's services like Play, Google Drive and even passwords and sign in information for other apps.
As for its performance I am satisfied with its performance even though it only has a 1.7Ghz duel core ARM like CPU. I was able to play Netflix,and other video content with no problem. But the downside to a Chromebook is that its a Google thing. If your not into Google's ecosystem then Chromebook is not for you. Basically you can try a Chromebook just by installing a Chrome browser on your PC or Mac. Because that's all Chromebooks are is a OS for the hardware and Chrome browser running the web applications. Which I might as well say it. If you do not have a decent WiFi connection to the internet forget a Chromebook.
Also the really big negative for me is the cloud print setup. Whoever thought this was a easier way then just letting a user install a driver through the OS to detect a network printer must be a cloud lover. I found it that it works OK but requires a series of different setup options depending on make of printer and the printer has to be capable of eprint. Unless you want to hook your printer to a always PC with Chrome browser open in order to set it up that way. In either case I think some not so geeky users will be turned off by this. The other negative to almost anything Google is support. It truly is about self support with Google. They give you trouble shooting help but its mostly at guide and of course it requires internet to work. My last gripe is that Chromebooks are not going to replace a PC or Mac for most users. Its a good second choice and travel device for those knowing they only need to access basics like web mail, browse the web and do basic business or entertainment. Again. the only requirement is internet access. For the price the Chromebook is a functional device that many with minimal requirements and a willingness to adopt to Google's ecosystem will enjoy. For me its just not going to ever become a primary device. Its just too limiting.
2276667
The chromebook has replaced the laptop for most uses.  Insighfully designed to take advantage of modern technology, the internet and wireless LANs: which are ubiquitous these days.  Sort of a cross between a tablet and a laptop.  It is becoming my device of choice.  I really appreciate the simplicity and bug-free operation of the Chrome browser.  Miss my CD drive, but am learning to do without it by substituting thumb drives.  (Now if you could only write a title on the outside of a thumb drive)
1011413
I purchased this to test my android apps on it but found it extremely useful just for the chromebook features!  I can run my android apps just fine on it and I enjoy using the chromebook applications as well.  I like it so much it is my goto computer for all of my non-programmer needs.  In fact, I am filling out this review using it.
1018180
Hello. Please take the time to read this and don't even think about purchasing this laptop.

I originally bought it to have something to take with me on vacation, and I treated it with great care. The damn laptop only lasted four days. It suddenly lost the ability to charge and turn on.

After I got home, I replaced the laptop via Amazon thinking mine was a dud. The second one lasted over four days so I had hope for this new one, and three days later, guess what? The same thing happened to the original. Upset, I returned it to Amazon and I will never touch an HP Chromebook 11 again.
908879
I'm not much for writing reviews, however I'm very happy with my chromebook!!
3221614
We own and have grown to love our Chromebox.  I say "grown to love" because when we first got it the dual monitor support was a little misleading - it could only mirror two displays which was pretty limited and pissed me off.  After a few months, one of the auto-updates did the trick and now we have an extended display across two monitors - a key function and reason why we bought the ChromeBOX over a ChromeBOOK.  Now all is good. Great.

My family has a knack for jamming up computers, getting viruses, and messing up settings.  For years I would have to set aside a weekend to clean, update, and maintain our family PCs.  Every other year, I found myself wiping a hard drive and re-installing the OS, software, and drivers.  I now refuse to buy a PC for any of my family members until they learn how to do this on their own.  Enter the Chromebox and Chromebook.

Boots up in seconds and you never have to update it, clean it, virus scan it - zero maintenance.  It just works and it's fast.  The specs look a little underwhelming, but we've never had a problem working online, streaming HD videos and movies, or playing online games.  Further, the more you do on Google (Gmail, docs, photos, etc) the better and useful it is.  This is practically the only computer my wife and daughter use now.

I digress.  About the Acer Chromebook C7.

So last Christmas when my mom asked me for the umpteenth time to fix her crash-prone laptop, I decided to buy her an Acer Chromebook C7.  By then we had grown to love our Chromebox, and all my mom really needs a computer for is to get on the Internet.  The Acer C7 is $199.  Can't beat that with a stick.

My mom's only complaint was the small display.  11.5 inches is no secret, but I've never used a laptop that size before.  It's compact and light.  But for older folks with tired eyes, a high resolution 11.5 inch screen is very difficult to read.

So there it is.  All I really wanted to say is be sure you know what an 11 inch screen looks like.  Aside from that Chromebooks and Chromeboxes are great.  The Acer Chromebook C7 is great but small.

Why 4 stars and not 5 stars you ask?  Well, there are other trade-offs but they are minor and reflect personal preferences.  We debated hard drive space vs. SSD.  We chose more storage but you get a slightly bigger and heavier computer with a louder fan and heat.  At $199 those details are minor.  But the Chromebox has a SSD so its very small, very fast and totally silent (no fans).  As a Chromebox owner, that difference, while of my own choosing, was noticeable.  Anyone else coming from a normal laptop wouldn't notice.
13979
Love my new chromebook especially the touch scree. It's the most user friendly computer I've ever had. Nice size. I'd highly recommend one.
618013
It took a little getting used to, but I really like my chromebook. I mostly use if for online shopping, checking emails, and watching netflix.  I can't say I've really had many issues with it other than connecting to the wifi at work (just ordered a USB Ethernet adapter to see if I can at least get connected that way).  Doesn't have issues anywhere else with wifi, just in the office. It's super light weight so I carry it almost everywhere I go and the battery lasts a long time.  Google docs and spreadsheet work well for most of my daily needs, although i do hope google continues to improve on them because some features I use often are missing.  App store is easy to use.  Wish there were more apps but hopefully all in good time.  Only thing I can say about apps that I do not like is with game apps in particular (i don't play games all that often so it's not a huge deal).  I have found that a lot of them don't allow you to turn the sound on the game off and I can't just mute the sound all together on the chromebook because I only play games while watching a movie or tv show so I need the sound on.  So most of my games I still play on my phone.

For extra storage so I don't have to save everything to a cloud I have a 64GB tiny flash drive I keep plugged in almost all the time.  Has also been useful when I work on something on a different computer and don't want to save it to google drive but want access to it on my chromebook.
63105
I agree with pretty much everything the other five star reviewers have said. There's more than meets the eye and, the Chromebook, in spite of not giving you access to Windows applications, more than makes up for it with a great selection of Chrome Apps, the wide accessibility of consumable content on the web and portability. Plus, for the first time, I'm using I'm using a trackpad that is so well tuned, that I'm not missing my mouse at all.

The Chromebook redefines portability and takes the "laptop" into the realm of what users iPads and tablets experience every time they lie down with their toys on the sofa to browse a website or read a book. Only, with Chromebook, it's not just a toy. You get the advantage actually being able to do email and get real work done. Having a real keyboard makes a huge difference and, as one reviewer put it, makes the Chrome both a device for content creation and content consumption -- that you can actually prop up sitting cross-legged without fear of blocking an air vent and causing a blue screen due to overheating.

I own two Ultrabooks. When I acquired them a year ago, I had imagined that I could use my laptop in every room of my house in any kind of sitting position. No way has that been the case. I can't even put it on the bed because it'll overheat. I had imagined that when I opened their covers they would boot up in 7 seconds. Yeah...at first it did. But now Windows has reverted to the mean and made this "souped up" hardware with  their SD drives feel like it's 1999 again...without the party. I'm not kidding, it takes at least one to three minutes for one of my Ultrabooks to boot up. I had imagined that I could toss it on the sofa without damaging it. Maybe I can, but I'm not going to risk it.

Now, I get this satisfaction finally, with my Chromebook at a fraction of the price of a Macbook Air. At $249 it feels disposable and I mean that in a good way. It takes the edge off the paranoia about dropping it or losing it at Starbucks (make sure you set up password protection to awaken from sleep).

If there's a drawback, it's a minor one. The keyboard, while spacious, slightly stiffer than I'd like. But other than that--this truly probably the best bit of technology to come out since the iPad.

UPDATE AFTER USING IT FOR TWO WEEKS:

It turns out that this this Chromebook is the only one out several other versions made by Samsung and HP which does not have a fan or vents. To me that makes a big difference in that it essentially un-tethers me from having sit in front of a desk. Plus, if you research Google's high-end Chrome Pixel, you'll find that even though there are no vents on the bottom, it does have a fan that blasts out the rear "piano hinge." The fact that I'm sitting here cross-legged on my couch writing this confirms, I've made the right decision.
4307235
I just got my Acer Chromebook last week, and even though now I'm pretty satisfied with it, it's not getting a 5-star because I had to do some work to get to where I am now. The machine looked pretty solid, everything was working fine, except, this Chromebook didn't recognize my phone to do file transfers at first. I searched the web and tried a few things, but finally I contacted Chrome Support (NOT Acer support). They were really helpful. I got help via online chat. Turned out, my Chrome OS wasn't the latest version even though on Chrome page, it said my Chrome OS was up to date. Powerwash didn't do the work, so we finally did an OS reinstall using a 4GB SD card (that I happened to have!). After that, it recognized my phone, and now everything is working perfectly! For the money I paid for this Chromebook, I am willing to conclude that this extra step was acceptable. Now I hope this Chromebook will last for at least a few years.... Considering that phones usually have a short life, I'm not surprised Chromebooks are kind of the same way.
797452
I got this great package yesterday, and it replaced my old wired keyboard and mouse on my old HP computer. It works great.

 I had problems with the built in mouse pad on the Chromebook 15, and my RN wife was afraid that I might end up with carpal tunnel syndrome and to suggested I try this cordless set with my Acer Chromebook.  So, I tried it on my new Acer Chromebook 15, and it worked very well.

It works great, and may be faster with the mouse on the Chrome book versus the HP.

I had been considering buying the Acer Chrome Desk Top.

 If I can use a system to transfer the Image to my HP VGA 22 monitor, I will use my Chromebook 15 for what I now use my HP for on my office desk.

The only mild complaint, is I can't find a sleep key for my HP monitor.  So, I just push the off button.
16620
thought I could convert it into a windows machine... after much work I realized Chrome so screws up the BIOS that you can't get in to change anything... The x131e is a great little portable computer built strong, this review is being typed on one, see how nice the letters are, hi hi...Will try putting Ubuntu on it at least it will have some use then... Chrome... Blaa..
1081758
I was extremely hesitant to buy a Chromebook because I wasn't familiar with the Chrome operating system.  I researched diligently and then decided I would take a risk and purchase one.  I have a laptop but it is big and bulky.  I only use it at home while I use a desktop at my office.  I am an attorney and I go to court on a daily basis.  I needed something that I could type in the judge's orders quickly.  I travel from one courtroom to another constantly all day.  I also needed something that was lightweight and quick to boot up.  I had tried using my Samsung Galaxy tablet but it really didn't work for me.  I didn't like having to connect a keyboard and I don't type quick enough with the virtual keyboard.  I guess I am old school and need a regular keyboard.  My laptop was too big and heavy.  I work for a nonprofit agency and couldn't afford a new laptop.  So, I purchased the Samsung Chromebook 2.  I absolutely love it.

First, it is so lightweight and sleek.  I can carry it in my briefcase or my handbag with ease.  It is also so quiet.  With no fan necessary, it makes no sound other than when I am typing.  The keyboard is fantastic.  Just like a regular laptop keyboard.  It has a good feel and is extremely easy for me to type on.  I work on a floor in the courthouse that has WiFi access so I connect it when I arrive.  Very easy.  I type my notes on Google Documents and don't even have to push a button to save what I am typing.  It saves everything automatically.  I can just close chromebook and move quickly to my next case, open it back up and begin typing again either in a new document or the same one.  I can check my emails and open any attachments.  I had worried about not having a Microsoft system but I haven't missed it at all.  You can download compatible apps that easily open up all of your attachments.  When I need to quickly look up something on the internet, this thing is way faster than my laptop or my desktop.

I use it at home constantly also.  I keep it on the coffee table and can look up anything I need to in a flash.  My kids adore using it too and have downloaded some games but mainly they use it to access Netflix and Youtube.  This is a great alternative if you have limited funds and need something lightweight and fast.  I love it.