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There are two main things that Chromebook Plus is supposed to achieve for devices that
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get this fresh new label on the lid. They need to be great devices to use overall and they need to keep the price in check
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In some ways, I'd argue that all of that falls under the same umbrella since price
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really has a lot of sway on how picky or not you get with any Chromebook, but you get the idea
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Chromebook Plus now represents a new standard that I've really come to enjoy while reviewing
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every new model and this final one of the initial bunch, the Acer Chromebook Plus 514
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once again shows that Google got this whole thing pretty right. So let's dive in
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With the 8th and final Chromebook Plus model, I feel like we're beating a dead horse at
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this point. I mean, with Chromebook Plus on the lid, you already know it's a great overall experience
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Using this device is just going to be pretty solid. It's not perfect, but it's really good and it's really affordable too
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I mean, most days the 514 can be had at Costco for just $399. It doesn't go on sale too often, but at this price, it just doesn't really need to
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For that money, you're getting some nice stuff here. It's a 14-inch Chromebook with a 16x10 full HD touchscreen to start with and though it's
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only 250 nits, the anti-glare coating does help mitigate some of that glare and makes
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it workable in most indoor environments. The upward firing speakers are loud and they do provide some nice stereo separation
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The trackpad is large too and it's glass-ish. It's Acer's Ocean Glass tech and it's super comfy to use
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It's all housed in a chassis that's pretty rigid and it meets mil-spec durability for
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stuff like drops too. Now, the keyboard is a spot where this one falls down a little bit, but it's not exactly
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a deal-breaker. I mean, it's backlit, which I do prefer and it's fine
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I just find the key frame to be a little bit mushy for my taste and I've typed on worse
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but this one just isn't great. Overall, it's just unremarkable basically and probably my least favorite part of this
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Chromebook as a whole. The I-O is solid though with a USB Type-C on either side, the USB Type-A, a full-size
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HDMI port, headphone microphone jack, and a Kensington lock. And the Chromebook Plus required 1080p webcam is pretty good too and it gets the expected
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tricks like lighting adjustments and background blur as well. I'd still say devices like the Lenovo Slim 3i is a better overall device in this 14-inch
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clamshell segment, but it used to also be $150 more expensive. But for the past six weeks, it's been on sale for $339, so it's undercutting the Acer
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514 by a solid $60. Additionally, you have devices like the Flex 5i and Asus CM34 to compete with in this price
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range as well, so the Acer 514 isn't exactly a buy-it-now sort of device
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I mean, if you like Acer Chromebooks and you like a really nice trackpad and that stuff's
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high on your list, then hey, the 514 is a great option. But let's face it, you won't be too mad with any Chromebook Plus purchase at this
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point, right? I mean, that's the point. I can't say the 514 does anything exceptionally better than the rest of them, so it really
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comes down to what's available at the time of purchase, what the prices are, and where
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you shop. I mean, with this one being available only at Costco, it makes it a little bit less popular
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But as I've said with all Chromebook Plus models at this point, if you pick it up, I
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really think you're going to like it. But guys, that's it for this one. If you enjoyed this video, give us a thumbs up, head down there, hit that subscribe button
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