Everything around us is rapidly getting digitized: from our work environment to how we keep ourselves entertained, from formerly thick, paper documents to classroom notes. The contemporary student needs a capable, intelligent companion in today’s hi-tech classroom, and this is exactly what the Acer TravelMate Spin B1 TMB118-RN-C6F3 promises.
Priced at an extremely student-friendly $399.99, this 11.6″ laptop is fully convertible and built specifically to facilitate a challenging school day. How far does it deliver on this well-intentioned promise?
Table of Contents
Fellow Learner in the Class
First things first — is this laptop genuinely useful in fostering education or yet another technological intrusion in the already tech-heavy lives of today’s young learners? Well, let’s just say, the Acer TravelMate Spin B1 is definitely serious about its job of nurturing education and takes impressive steps in this direction.
The laptop is equipped with smart features that make the learning experience in the classroom more immersive. For instance, the AcerTeachSmart support lets you use LED indicators (embedded) and cloud-based solutions for classroom interaction.
The Windows Ink is particularly magical — it is delightfully easy to use the Acer Active Stylus and make all your notes with perfect ease. It feels almost exactly like a pen on paper but eliminates the need to carry extra notebooks and stationery.
Several studies in recent times have underlined the merits of technology-aided education in the classroom. In June this year, a Stanford University study noted that commencing computer education as early as primary school boosts creativity, personal expression, class collaboration, and adds innovation and novelty to the learning environment.
The distinct academic focus of the Acer TravelMate Spin B1 fits right into this era of digital awakening. Who can tell — initiatives like these might just be the juggernaut that set even the most uninterested, dormant minds in the classroom in motion!
Display & Graphics
The integrated graphics processor you get is Intel HD Graphics 500. All in all, it makes for a smooth sharing experience with friends and classmates, with visual material rendered in precise coloring even at wide angles.
Of particular note is the 16:9 aspect ratio — it renders multimedia material (read: movies!) in rich, meticulous detail. In fact, even small text and detailing is verifiably clear.
The Performance Report Card
Many students (and machines) are notorious for starting their day with gusto but fizzling out by mid-morning. Fortunately, the Acer TravelMate has both mettle and stamina: it is powered by an Intel Celeron N3450 processor (base frequency 1.1 GHz, four cores), runs Windows 10 Pro, has 4 GB memory (DDR3L), and offers 128 GB SSD storage to let you stack your notes, assignments, et al.
For a member of the academia, this notebook really has nerves of steel: it has undergone a series of intense tests including an operating temperature range of -32 degrees Celsius to 49 (whoa!), mechanical shock (122cm), rain (342.5 ml/m2/min) and humidity (59–88%). Now, that’s arguably far worse than you’re likely to encounter at school, even if you do account for foul-weather days and fits of frustration!
Connectivity & Accessibility
The Acer TravelMate appears thoroughly committed to giving students a collaborative learning experience, and it provides several exciting options to stay connected. There is a USB 3.0 port, one USB 2.0 port, an HDMI, an RJ-45 as well as a webcam (1280 x 720). It also supports wireless LAN connectivity (802.11ac).
Accessibility-wise, this notebook is adept: it has a multi-touch spill-resistant keyboard, a stylus, two microphones and two speakers. This lets you use your device seamlessly for a vast array of operations, A/V presentations and quick note-taking included. Of particular brilliance is the inventive design of the keyboard: you could potentially spill 330 ml of liquids without affecting core components. Hello, study sessions over endless cups of coffee!
Well, Isn’t The School Bag Heavy Enough?
So far so good, but here’s a nagging question that inevitably pops up when you think “school-laptop” — how much more load will students carry? God knows, school bags, with all those books, notebooks and stationery items, are heavy enough as is. The Acer TravelMate Spin B1 TMB118-RN-C6F3, however, is a load-balancing victory: it adds very little — weighing only 3.4 lb — and cuts the need to carry a lot of material.
The laptop has a 360° hinge that you can maneuver as per your need to get a total of four usage modes. So, it doubles up as a study mate, a playmate as well as a homework buddy. Moreover, the Acer TravelMate Spin B1 TMB118-RN-C6F3 is sturdily designed with toxin-free material and military-grade durability (MIL-STD 810G). This Grade A design makes the 11.46″ x 8.31″ x 0.92″ machine extraordinarily flexible and suitable for both inside the classroom and out.
| Specs of Acer TravelMate Spin B1 TMB118-RN-C6F3 |
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| Processor | 1.1GHz Intel Celeron N3450 Quad-Core |
| Graphics | Intel HD 500 |
| RAM | 4GB DDR3L |
| Storage | 128GB SSD |
| Display | Multi-Touch 11.6″ Full-HD IPS |
Yay or Nay?
Positioning a notebook for the student populace is a tempting but risky decision: students are quick to embrace innovations but even quicker to dismiss ones that disappoint! The Acer TravelMate Spin B1 TMB118-RN-C6F3 has embarked on this risk-laden path with several things working in its favor, not the least of which is its endeavor to make the teaching-learning process more immersive and riveting.
Not only is this notebook high-performing and well-adapted to the modern-day classroom environment, but it is also quick to set up, secure, and relatively less prone to glitches in manageability.
