ASUS has just launched its Chromebook CR series, which has been tailored for the needs of those providing education for children and young people aged five to 18.
Laptops are now an integral part of any teacher’s everyday equipment, as children need to be taught how to use laptops from an early age.
But laptops used in educational settings need certain qualities such as ruggedness if they are to survive for any length of time. Accidental damage is common when they are used by small hands – or just moved around a school – so a normal laptop isn’t what educators are looking for.
To this end, ASUS has launched its next-generation ASUS Chromebook CR series of laptops, tailored to meet the needs of students from reception to Year 13.
The Chromebook CR series has been designed for the needs of students whether they are in a classroom or learning remotely. The rugged and modular design, featuring replaceable internal parts, guarantees durability and longevity.
For instance, with 11.6-inch or 12.2-inch Corning Gorilla Glass touchscreens and a 180° lay-flat or 360°-flippable hinge, the laptops offer flexibility for enriched educational experiences, and that can stand up to the rough usage they can sometimes have in education settings.
Rugged partner
For school students, an everyday-use laptop should be invincible. Scratches and knocks are an almost-inevitable part of their daily routine, as they are likely passed from class to class so the Chromebook CR series features an all-round rubber bumper for extra peace of mind. The laptops also feature a rugged design that’s tested to meet or exceed the MIL-STD-810H US military-grade standard and use tough Corning Gorilla Glass to protect the touchscreen from scratches.
Additionally, the spill-resistant keyboard can cope with minor water spills without harm, so minor splashes on the desk or at the dinner table can be easily drained, cleaned and dried. Finally, the special fingerprint-resistant finish keeps the laptop cleaner for longer.
Effortless flexibility
The Chromebook CR series laptops are powered by up to Intel N250 processor and are equipped with either 180° lay-flat or 360°-flippable hinges. The clamshell models (CR1104C, CR1204C) facilitate easy group sharing, while the convertible models (CR1104F, CR1204F) support versatile usage modes including laptop, tent, stand and tablet. The idea of this flexibility is that it can make group discussions and students sharing devices easier.
The 11.6-inch or 12.2-inch touchscreens with garaged stylus support improve productivity and are comfortable for the students, with low blue-light levels to protect their eyes. Equipped with up to WiFi 6E (802.11ax) and optional 4G LTE connectivity, along with up to 16GB LPDDR5 Memory and 128GB eMMC storage, students can enjoy an efficient learning environment and use the laptop anytime and anywhere.
It also includes a 13MP world-facing camera, which makes it easier for students to explore their surroundings, capture photos and record videos when in tablet mode. Up to 1080p FHD front-facing webcam provides students with clearer image quality, ensuring they appear clear and sharp for an enhanced and more efficient online learning experience.
Convenient, versatile I/O ports
To allow students to connect easily to any available peripherals, Chromebook CR series laptops feature a comprehensive set of I/O ports, including two conveniently placed USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C® ports, one on each side. Notably, these are full-function ports that support data, video output and power delivery, allowing the laptop to be charged from either side, offering students greater flexibility in how and where they can set up their learning space – and not every classroom has many plug outlets, or ones that are conveniently placed.
Additionally, there are two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, HDMI® 1.4b, an audio combo jack, and a Kensington Lock slot. An optional garaged stylus is also available for those wishing to add
an intuitive way of inputting sketches and notes.
Comprehensive all-round protection
With hygiene still a concern for schools post-pandemic, there is an option to have the laptops protected by ASUS Antimicrobial Guard technology, a surface coating on the keyboard area, which is one of the most touched parts of the laptop. The coating contains positively charged silver ions, which are attracted to negatively charged microbial cells. When they contact, the silver ions pierce the cell surface to damage the structure and inhibit reproduction.
To provide maximum protection for students’ eyes, the up to WUXGA 16:10 displays provide enhanced visual experiences and high-quality colors and are TÜV Rheinland-certified for low blue-light levels.
Easy maintenance
The Chromebook CR series has been designed to make deployment and maintenance as simple as possible. The modular design allows technicians to rapidly replace and upgrade the key hardware components, ensuring less downtime and more learning time.
Anti-drop captive screws on the underside eliminate worries about losing these little parts during repair. Additionally, the supported Chrome Education Upgrade ensures multi-layer security, automatic updates and streamlined deployment.