Who needs Windows 10 anyway?
The latest Asus Chromebook ticks all the boxes: it looks like a proper laptop, but weighs less, costs less and the battery lasts longer. The 11.6in screen is just big enough to be practical, and uses old LCD technology that means colours are dull and everything goes weird if you look at it from the wrong angle. So this isn’t the best machine for editing photos or watching films. But then that’s not the point of it. For typing and surfing the web, via the Chrome OS (Google’s lightweight equivalent of Windows), it’s fine.
The keys feel a bit squishy, and the compact layout means there’s no room for luxuries like a separate Delete key (to erase forwards, as opposed to Backspace). But it’s still a proper keyboard, and the stiff hinge lets you tilt the screen to whatever angle suits you. The touchpad works well, too. Battery life is quoted at 13 hours, more like you’d expect from a phone than a PC. We found 12 hours was more realistic – and this fell further with the screen turned up to full brightness – but this is still excellent. If you do have to charge it on the move, you’ll need the charger that comes with it. This is because, although it has a microUSB port like a mobile device, a standard mobile charger doesn’t provide enough volts. But it’ll take less than an hour to fully charge from empty, which is impressive.
You can plug in a microSD card to supplement the C201’s 16GB of flash storage. But there’s little point, since Chrome OS expects you to work online using web apps, which load from the internet rather than being installed on your computer. Besides Google’s own office programs, there are lots of others available, including creative, games and social-media software.
You can also access anything you normally can through a web browser. And, unexpectedly, the C201’s Rockchip processor, based on technology from British company ARM, handles web content faster than some budget Windows 10 laptops with Intel chips.
VERDICT
Chrome OS won’t be for everyone, but the nippy C201 shows why it can make sense not to weigh down a lowcost laptop with Windows.
SPECIFICATIONS
Rockchip RK3288C quad-core processor • 2GB memory • 16GB flash storage • 11.6in 1366x768-pixel screen • Webcam • MicroSD card slot • 2x USB 2.0 ports • MicroHDMI port • 802.11ac Wi-Fi • Bluetooth 4.1 • Chrome OS • 18x287x194mm (HxWxD) • 0.98kg • One-year warranty