Acer Gateway Chromebook 311 CBO311-1H-C1MX Laptop | Intel Celeron N4500 | 11.6″ HD (1366 x 768) Display | 4GB LPDDR4X | 64GB eMMC | Wi-Fi 5 802.11ac | Chrome OS | Star Black by acer

I purchased the Acer Chromebook Spin 311 to use as a bedside entertainment center, so I wanted something that could stream and have quality screen resolution. I liked the idea of a device that I could position with the screen set back (open like a laptop) or set forward (flip it and go triangular, baby!); I also needed a reliable blue tooth as I wear comfy headphones that I can sleep in. I have an extensive music collection that I keep on an external SSD and I absolutely love MediaMonkey because of it’s customizable interface on it’s Window’s app (I assumed the ChromeOS version would be very similar – my first major stumble).

First, the positive: The device itself is fantastic. Everything about it feels sturdy, the touchscreen is responsive (though, I will say there are times when I feel I have to hit an app 2 or 3 times to activate). The screen resolution and sound quality are lovely for a device of this size and price – don’t go expecting studio quality here, but the streaming was beautiful. The visuals are not pixelated; it’s as good as watching on a television (only smaller). Oh, and I will say I love the fact that the USB-C port is on both sides, which makes it easier to plug in on any side (it’s the little things).

Performance is great, I get no lag and I’ve had no issues streaming Netflix, Hulu or Disney+. I just realized I haven’t tried watching Twitch or Youtube on this. I’ll download those apps and if I have any problems with them, I’ll update this review and let you know.

I have one grouse, and it’s kind of a biggie: The apps are terrible. It was so dismaying at first, I did actually contemplate sending the device back. I slept on it and decided I was going to stick it out. In truth, part of my disappointment is that the ChromeOS version of MediaMonkey is disappointing. When it came down to it, I tried a whole slew of music apps and I wound up settling on the music app that annoyed me the least (VLC). Most of the apps have ads that are intrusive, and even the ones I thought about paying for just don’t seem worth the value.

Even simple apps like an alarm clock or a blue tooth manager: I downloaded several different ones, and I’m continually settling on the app that annoys me the least or seems to be able to handle some of what I would like. I even tried to find a power button app because I just wanted to turn off the computer with a single, on screen button push – despite over a dozen apps that claimed to do this, all of them performed poorly and one you had to close out an ad before it would turn off (really?!?).

In choosing whether or not to keep it, I had to weigh the solid build and reliable performance against an operating system that was under par for Windows or Mac.

That said, I’m very glad I kept this little guy. In the end, it’s a reliable little entertainment unit and it’s wonderful where it counts: It’s a great streamer (with a beautiful picture) and it plays music that I love and I can leave it in place and listen on my blue tooth headphones while I wander all over the house. The apps are a shame, but honestly, given the price point here, it’s a good deal and I can live with it.

Great little laptop. The performance seems adequate, the screen is bright and easy to see from an angle. The bezel around the screen is pretty thick, but not bad for the price. Surprisingly the touch pad is really responsive and works great. The computer I received doesn’t quite match the description, it is just an Acer, not a Gateway, but it’s fine. I am happy with it.

I am very happy with this laptop! Even though it has only an 11.5” inch screen, it’s very easy to look at for a long period of time. The keys are not too close together, so typing is a breeze. It was very easy to set up. Straight out of the box, you just plug in the charger and then turn on the laptop. Mine had a 96% charge on it already. The set up was so easy following the step-by-step instructions on the screen. It even synced up my bookmarks from my old laptop! It is Bluetooth enabled, which made it very easy to work from my apartment. It has a good weight and seems very sturdy. I like that it is light enough though to carry around in my backpack. It holds a charge well. It’s a very basic laptop, with not a lot of bells and whistles. But that’s all I need. I don’t do any streaming or movie watching on it. Basically I use it for social media, emails, and Amazon. So it’s exactly right for my use! I’m so happy that I got this Chromebook. My old laptop was also a Chromebook, and I never had any issues with it getting any viruses. This is the best Chromebook for the money, in my opinion. Great price on it too!

I needed a simple laptop and this definitely gets the job done. It’s light weight and easy to you. I highly recommend for someone whom does not need a fancy computer but one you can pick up and go easily

Very good