CTL Educational Chromebook (NL6)

We saw something of an explosion of Chrome-based laptop in the past year, and if there is a place where Chromebooks are the perfect fit, it is the classroom. These inexpensive devices are easy to set up with educational apps, and full classroom Chromebook will be managed by the management tools Google Chrome. Everything based on the cloud and then synced with Google account, any single system can be used by multiple students. With the new CTL Educational Chromebook ($ 279 as tested), the small Chrome-based laptop gets an education-friendly makeover, with features that open up new educational activities, a design must take the worst a child can dish out, and a price cheaper than some textbooks.

design
The NL6 is built to withstand the busy, rough-and-tumble environment of the classroom. The laptop body is made ​​from durable, molded plastic to live stuffed into backpacks and manhandled by elementary schoolers. The favorable and port are reinforced against the stresses and strains. A rubber bumper wraps around the outside of the chassis to protect against drops and mistakes. The keyboard is water-resistant to splashes and spills. For anyone to worry about handing their child an expensive piece of technology, the NL6 both ruggedized and affordably pinepresyuhan.

It was also easy to tote around, with a built-in handle and a slim design that measures 0.88 by 11.8 by 8.4 inches (HWD) and weighs just 3.04 pounds. It actually looks quite similar to NL4 2Go Convertible Classmate PC, with its plastic construction and classroom-ready design, but without the rotating touch display. It is not as sleek as the HP Chromebook 11, but it has the functionality and portability you need, even if it is not a fashion plate.

The 11.6-inch display offers a basic 1366-by-768 resolution. The screen reasonably bright and has an anti-glare coating, so it must be good to bring along with, say, an outdoor field trip. As same size display C200 Asus Chromebook, best viewing of the screen when viewed head on, because the viewing angle is not good-you'll begin to see color distortion in only a few degrees off-center. Unlike current Editors Choice 'for the Chromebook, Acer Chromebook C720P-2600, the NL6 incompetent touch.

Above the display is a 1-megapixel webcam, but not like before the cameras in fixed positions seeing other Chromebook, one of NL6 rotating from front to back, a feature carried over from the previous learning-oriented system like 2go NL4. The picture quality is middling, looks washed out in bright light, but it does offer a feature you will not find in the average Chromebook: A magnifying "microscope" attachment that resembles a jeweler's loupe and snaps onto a raised ridge around the webcam lens. An integrated microphone built in, and rotating, the webcam.

The chiclet keyboard has a matte finish, and "anti-Peel key," meaning the lettering sticker will not come off when they begin to wear. For an adult, the keyboard can feel just a little small, but it is perfect for children and their smaller hands. Layout of the keyboard is a little different than what you see on most laptops, with the functions of specific keys along the top, Chrome, dedicated search key instead of Caps Lock, and (obviously) no Windows key. The matte-finish palm rest is also soft-touch feel, which is more comfortable than smooth or glossy plastic. Just below the spacebar is a multitouch trackpad, which supports gesture controls Chrome OS, like two fingers tapping and scrolling, and swiping three fingers to see multiple windows.