Chrome OS has been on the market for over two years now. With this operating system, developer Google wanted to compete with Windows and Apple's OS X, among others. We now see the operating system a lot on cheap Chromebooks, of which the Asus C300 is also one.
Asus C300 Chromebook
Price: € 329,-
Operating system: Chrome OS
Screen size: 13.3 inch
Display resolution: 1366 x 768 pixels
Processor: Intel 2.42GHz Dual Core
Internal memory: 2GB
Storage: 16GB + 100GB Google Drive
Weight: 1.4kg
Thickness: 23mm
8 Score 80- Pros
- Easy to operate
- Lightning fast
- Light and small
- Battery life
- Price
- Negatives
- Internet required
- Software limited
Google's Chrome OS
Before I start with the review of the Asus C300, you will first read some information about the operating system of this Chromebook. The basis of Google's Chrome OS, on which the Asus C300 runs, is the Chrome web browser. Almost the entire Chromebook can be controlled from here. From computer settings to word processing and playing games, everything is done from this browser.
The big advantage of this is that it all requires little computing power. After all, the laptop only needs to be able to run a browser. This results in very affordable laptops that, despite the not great specifications, run like a train.
Because almost everything is done from the browser, the operating system is extremely easy to control. It's even a lot simpler than Windows and as soon as you get your hands on a Chromebook for the first time, you can start using it right away. Everything is well-arranged and if you still can't figure something out, there is an extensive help center built in.
Disadvantages Chrome OS
Despite these very nice advantages, Chrome OS also has some disadvantages. As mentioned, almost everything is controlled from the browser, except for things like the calculator and explorer. This also means that you must always be connected to the internet if you want to be able to do something with your Chromebook. So if you have a malfunction with your internet at home or if you are on a train without WiFi, then it is of no use at all. You can't even open your word processor. You can read here how you can continue to use a Chromebook offline in a detour.
Besides the fact that you always have to be connected, you are not free to choose the programs you download. They must be available in the Google store. You cannot install all of the programs that you are used to on your Windows laptop, and you will have to look for an alternative for many programs.
Without the internet you are nothing. For example, you can't even open a word processor without WiFi.
The Asus C300 Chromebook
Now that you've caught up on the pros and cons of Chrome OS, let's take a look at the C300, Asus' new Chromebook. This gives you a lightning-fast notebook. For the price of a tablet, namely 329 euros, you have a computer that is ideal for standard activities such as surfing, emailing and word processing. Not that it is no longer possible, but rather because you are more limited to the range of programs on offer.
When you are working with this Asus C300, you have the idea that you can do everything you want with it. If you click on mail, your mail will be opened within a second. This, of course, has everything to do with the fact that the browser is your home base. All icons on the start screen are only links with which, for example, a browser extension is opened, which greatly improves the speed. It is also very nice that the Chromebook starts up in just a few seconds.
The Asus C300 has an excellent battery life of about eight hours. There is a good chance that you will not use it for eight hours in a day, which ensures that you can continue for several days on one battery charge. This is ideal if you want to grab it quickly, or if you are on the road and need to look up something quickly (yes, you must have internet of course).
The screen of the Asus C300
The Chromebook from Asus has a 13.3-inch screen. If you think this is a bit too big, you can also opt for its little brother, the C200. It has an 11.6 inch screen. The screen of the C300 has a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. We also regularly see this resolution in larger laptops and it is perfectly adequate on this smaller screen. The image is pretty sharp and because it's a matte screen, you don't see any reflections. In addition, the brightness is also more than sufficient and you can easily adjust this via the keyboard.
The display is sharp enough and does not reflect.
A look at the appearance
This Chromebook looks very slick. Despite the case being made of plastic, they have been able to give it a brushed look, which gives it a chic look. It is nice and thin at 2.3 centimeters and very light with a weight of 1.4 kilograms. So it is easy to carry.
The Asus C300 is nicely slim and light, making it easy to carry.
The keyboard is completely equipped with separate keys, so that there is a small space between each key. This ensures that you can type very fine and fast on it. However, you do miss a number of keys that you may be used to from a standard laptop or keyboard. Think of the delete button, caps lock or the F hotkeys. In addition, you do not have a numerical section, but that is logical with such a size laptop. You will find extra keys, for example for setting a full screen, the brightness of the image and the volume.
Other extras of the Asus C300 are the card reader, an HDMI connection and two USB ports, one of which is a USB 3.0 port. So you are almost as flexible as with a normal laptop.
The Asus C300 is an ideal laptop if you have few requirements.
Conclusion
If you're looking for a Chromebook, this Asus C300 is a choice you can rely on. It is fast, light, easy to carry and has an enormous battery life. In addition, he also looks slick. The only question is whether you can do everything with the Chrome OS device. Do you almost always have access to an internet connection and do you have enough surfing, word processing, watching movies and playing some small games? Then this is sufficient. However, if you expect more, such as larger games or heavier software, you should still look at a laptop with a different operating system. Yet you have a great product in your hands for less than 330 euros.
