ASUS Chromebook Flip C100 Is World’s First 10-inch Chrome OS Convertible
At long last, the Asus Chromebook Flip C100 is reaching online retailers. The tiny Chromebook has been getting plenty of attention since Asus first began teasing the device earlier this year. Chromebooks aren’t for everyone, but the Flip C100 looks to be (on paper, at least) an attractive choice for people willing to part with the Windows operating system.
The Flip C100 is a tiny convertible that can be used in traditional laptop mode, flipped for tablet mode, or propped in stand or tent positions. The 10.1-inch screen is a 1280x800 IPS display with multi-touch support and Asus’ own touch technology, which is meant to improve the accuracy of the display when it comes to swiping and tapping.
The 1.8GHz Rockchip quad-core RK3288C processor is paired with 2GB or 4GB, depending on the model. Likewise, the onboard storage is either 16GB or 32GB eMMC, though either model supports additional storage via the micro SD (and micro SDXC/SDHC) card reader.
Other features include 802.11ac and Bluetooth connectivity, as well as two USB 2.0 ports and a micro HDMI port. The Asus Flip C100 has a single camera that is meant for chatting. That’s not surprising on a laptop, but it’s an area where a typical tablet is more versatile than a convertible like the Flip C100. Many tablets have cameras on either side so you can chat or take pictures.
Decent battery life is hard to pull off in super-thin devices like the Flip C100 (which is a mere 0.61 inches thick), but Asus claims the device can go for nine hours. Asus is also touting the Flip C100’s audio capabilities, but we’ll reserve judgement for when we review the convertible.
Obviously, you’re committing to Google’s array of apps and services when you pick up a Chromebook. Google Drive is central living a Google life, so Asus throws in two years of free 100GB of storage, which would normally be $1.99 per month.
The Flip C100 starts at $249 for the model bearing 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. The higher-end model has the same processor, but doubles the RAM and storage for $30 more, which seems like a no-brainer. If the Flip C100’s performance and build quality is as good as the system looks, it could find a home in many a backpack.
The Flip C100 is a tiny convertible that can be used in traditional laptop mode, flipped for tablet mode, or propped in stand or tent positions. The 10.1-inch screen is a 1280x800 IPS display with multi-touch support and Asus’ own touch technology, which is meant to improve the accuracy of the display when it comes to swiping and tapping.
The 1.8GHz Rockchip quad-core RK3288C processor is paired with 2GB or 4GB, depending on the model. Likewise, the onboard storage is either 16GB or 32GB eMMC, though either model supports additional storage via the micro SD (and micro SDXC/SDHC) card reader.
Other features include 802.11ac and Bluetooth connectivity, as well as two USB 2.0 ports and a micro HDMI port. The Asus Flip C100 has a single camera that is meant for chatting. That’s not surprising on a laptop, but it’s an area where a typical tablet is more versatile than a convertible like the Flip C100. Many tablets have cameras on either side so you can chat or take pictures.
Decent battery life is hard to pull off in super-thin devices like the Flip C100 (which is a mere 0.61 inches thick), but Asus claims the device can go for nine hours. Asus is also touting the Flip C100’s audio capabilities, but we’ll reserve judgement for when we review the convertible.
Obviously, you’re committing to Google’s array of apps and services when you pick up a Chromebook. Google Drive is central living a Google life, so Asus throws in two years of free 100GB of storage, which would normally be $1.99 per month.
The Flip C100 starts at $249 for the model bearing 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. The higher-end model has the same processor, but doubles the RAM and storage for $30 more, which seems like a no-brainer. If the Flip C100’s performance and build quality is as good as the system looks, it could find a home in many a backpack.
