Acer 2GB/32GB Win10 11.6" CloudBook REFURB $114.99/$129.99 Newegg/ebay

[VirtualLarry]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834315449

now $110 in NewEgg's shell shocker today

New deal 2016-07-04:

Newegg via ebay, two different sub-models

381679143171
Acer AO1-131-C7DW 11.6" Laptop Intel Celeron N3050 (1.60 GHz) 2 GB Memory
$114.99 + $1.99 ship

291719540674
Acer AO1-131-C9PM 11.6" Laptop Intel Celeron N3050 (1.60 GHz) 2 GB Memory
$129.99 + $1.99 ship





http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834315348
New sub-model, appears to essentially be the same product.
$89.99 with an additional $10 MIR! $79.99 AR FS

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834315346&ignorebbr=1p
New deal, $99.99 for the 14" model.


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834315374

Working laptop, REFURB, for $90! I snagged one, hoping I can put some flavor of Linux on here. Cheap enough to mess with, in case I screw it up.

Not a "ChromeBook", but a Windows laptop, with low RAM / storage amounts, a new category called a "CloudBook". Kind of what was called a "Netbook" in times past, until the reputation caught up with them.

Edit: It has a Cherry Trail Atom N3050 dual-core 1.6Ghz CPU. Not super-powerful, but should get the job done for basic web browsing.

Edit: Specs list ONLY a 90-day warranty. Also, no OS mentioned. But the "Overview" mentions Windows, and Windows 10. So I'm presuming that this comes with Windows 10, and it's not just a bare no-OS laptop. If it is, then bad on Newegg for not mentioning that.

Edit: Here's a review, doesn't seem so bad:
http://laptoping.com/specs/product/...-ao1-131-c9pm-ao1-131-c1g9-signature-edition/

Was also available on Newegg's ebay site, 6 of them, apparently. Now sold out on both sites.

Edit: The original deal was a ShellShocker for $90, but it appears that it is still available at the above link for $100 + ship.

 

[Mike64]

Edit: Specs list ONLY a 90-day warranty.

Also, just as a PSA, it's not refundable either. Returnable only for replacement.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834315374

Working laptop, REFURB, for $90! I snagged one, hoping I can put some flavor of Linux on here.

At least one person has managed it, though apparently with some fiddling.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Also, just as a PSA, it's not refundable either. Returnable only for replacement.

Do you think that this isn't as good a deal as I initially thought? I checked Newegg's ebay store, they have what appears to be the same item for $129.99, mfg refurb too.

But the also had some other refurb laptops, around the same price, that might have been older but more powerful. *shrug*.

Maybe it's not such a hot deal.

I paid $120 for a Lenovo IdeaPad 100s 11.6" new from BestBuy on ebay. And then paid $150 for a similar Dell "CloudBook". Way too much bloatware on the Dell, chewing up 100% CPU time for 10 minutes after you boot the machine. It's also, IIRC, only a dual-core Cherry Trail as well. The IdeaPad 100s is a Z3735F quad-core Atom.

I like the Lenovo, it's lightweight and fairly spry for browsing. The Dell, no so much. This Acer, well, that's kind of the wildcard. I guess I thought $90 was a deal, but maybe not for a non-refundable refurb with only 90-day warranty.

I wonder how many were returned due to defects, versus people buying them and simply thinking that they were just too slow?

 

[Mike64]

Do you think that this isn't as good a deal as I initially thought?

No, I don't think it's a "not good" deal, and that's not why I pointed out that it's not returnable, for that matter. I just did that since it a fairly infrequent exception to Newegg's general return policy even on laptops and whatnot...

And I do think it's a good deal, if... you want a "<fill-in-the-blank>book" rather than more full-featured laptop. But to me, the <>books have become kind of wishy-washy neither-laptop-nor-tablet kinda thing. They certainly fill a niche, but not a niche I personally fit into. I was briefly tempted by this one, but just couldn't get past not being able to expand the really-available storage (vs using a card or some sort of USB-attached device.) I could probably live with the RAM limitation, but even that, on further thought, seems like it would get old sooner rather than later given the full Windows 10 OS. I think I'd find myself too often wanting to install software that would run poorly/slowly with only the 2GB of RAM. And while it's more or less as "portable" as a tablet in the sense of being able to "take it places", since you have to open it to use it, it wouldn't be as travel-friendly. (I do see people with open laptops on the subway, but that would be a bit much for me, for example.)

As for why they're being returned, I couldn't begin to guess. This is pure speculation on my part, but I do suspect that if there were something seriously wrong with them they'd probably end up being cannibalized and junked rather than repaired, though. Screen and keyboard problems, and maybe even stuff like broken ports, could be repaired easily enough, but as far as the more fundamental electronics are concerned, I can't imagine it's cost-effective to do any real work on the main boards even at the factory, even with robots doing the work, given the tight specs of the original work...

 

[Roland00Address]

With so many chinese atom detachable tablets that come with keyboards, as well as name brand refurbished tablets that are detachable that come with keyboards in a similar price range, is there any reason you prefer this cloudbook compared to those two part solutions?

Usually those are about $120 and sometimes cheaper, but is the price of $90 vs $110 or $120 the only factor you are thinking or am I missing something?

----

I am not dissing your deal, I am just asking questions for I am not sure if I understand why you like the aspects you like of this deal.

 

[BenJeremy]

I find it frustrating there are so many potentially cool pieces of tech ruined by marginalizing the specs to the bare minimum.

I don't want an Android TV box that has 1GB RAM and 16GB of ROM... 2GB/32GB should be a minimum.

Likewise, 4GB/64GB should be the minimum on anything purported to run Windows 10. The market is SATURATED with units that are barely, but not really, able to get the job done.

The Chinese seem to have this down to a fine art, but it doesn't help when "brand name" makers like Asus and Acer do it as well. I wonder how many Win8.x tablets and "Cloudbooks" have been thrown into the trash because they cannot be upgraded due to crappy specs.

Sorry, just had to rant a little. Got lots of "barely there" tech laying around. Within the month I'll be able to afford better, but I find the lack of tech with decent specs a bit disappointing. I just want a reliable, easy-to-use Smart TV box that runs Kodi without locking up or going off into limbo because it doesn't have enough RAM to get the job done. I'd also like a bo that has h.265 support, a remote (better than the half-dozen Android Box remotes I have floating around here), Bluetooth support and no gotchas lurking in the future.

This "Cloudbook" looks cool enough, but the specs and reviews are enough to chill me to it. My nephew, who only basically watches videos MIGHT be able to use it without getting frustrated, but it might as well be a tablet (and not having a touch screen, it's less convenient than a tablet)

 

[Roland00Address]

Likewise, 4GB/64GB should be the minimum on anything purported to run Windows 10. The market is SATURATED with units that are barely, but not really, able to get the job done.

So Microsoft will continue to change this and it is not set in stone forever (2017 rules may be different than 2016, which were different than 2015). But currently one of the requirements for OEMs like HP, Dell, Asus, Acer, Chinese, etc is that computers with 2gbs of RAM get windows for free, but computers with 4gbs of RAM microsoft gets at least some form of license payment for windows and how much it is depends on many factors of the device but also what rate HP or another company brokered with microsoft for microsoft makes some deals for higher volume and so fort.

Now RAM is not the only factor of which devices get free, reduce, or standard windows licensing but also things like MSRP price point of the final device, screen size, etc.

 

[VirtualLarry]

With so many chinese atom detachable tablets that come with keyboards, as well as name brand refurbished tablets that are detachable that come with keyboards in a similar price range, is there any reason you prefer this cloudbook compared to those two part solutions?

Usually those are about $120 and sometimes cheaper, but is the price of $90 vs $110 or $120 the only factor you are thinking or am I missing something?

----

I am not dissing your deal, I am just asking questions for I am not sure if I understand why you like the aspects you like of this deal.

I don't "do" those detachable 2-in-1 tablet / wannabe-laptop things.

 

[Macgyversite]

Here is an Interesting but yet released Laptop. 1080p screen though. Might be useful to some.

https://www.amazon.com/HP-14-an013nr-14-Inch-Notebook-Drive/dp/B01F4ZG68A?tag=tbpre-20

 

[VirtualLarry]

Here is an Interesting but yet released Laptop. 1080p screen though. Might be useful to some.

https://www.amazon.com/HP-14-an013nr-14-Inch-Notebook-Drive/dp/B01F4ZG68A?tag=tbpre-20

WOW! Full-HD screen for $220? 4GB RAM, 32GB storage. RAM is OK, storage kind of light. Would be nice if it was an upgradable internal mSATA or M.2 SSD. (Could also install Win7 on it then too. Win7 doesn't support eMMC.)

 

[Roland00Address]

I don't "do" those detachable 2-in-1 tablet / wannabe-laptop things.

May I ask why you do not? I am not being confrontational but can you list 5 reasons why cloud books are okay but detachables are not?

Subjective Opinions are okay

 

[VirtualLarry]

May I ask why you do not? I am not being confrontational but can you list 5 reasons why cloud books are okay but detachables are not?

Subjective Opinions are okay

I need 5? Really?

I like to use my laptop, sitting on my chest, while laying in bed. (As I am now.)

The rigid hinge of a laptop / netbook allows that.

 

[Mike64]

4GB/64GB should be the minimum on anything purported to run Windows 10.

^ This

RAM aside, 32GB of main storage that can never be expanded and has to hold the OS as well as everything else (the availability of attached storage notwithstanding) is truly pathetic. Understandable perhaps in a "cheap knockoff", but coming from a major manufacturer it's just absurd. I think the only reason they get away with it is that (judging from the sorts of questions people ask about them on Amazon, for example), most potential buyers have literally no clue what the implications of the specs really are.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Likewise, 4GB/64GB should be the minimum on anything purported to run Windows 10. The market is SATURATED with units that are barely, but not really, able to get the job done.

Shrug. Maybe for 64-bit Win10. Still, 2GB/32GB is better and worlds more usable than 1GB/16GB (specs of my Winbook TW701 Windows 8.1 tablet). My Lenovo IdeaPad 100s 11.6" "cloudbook" has 2GB/32GB, and it's surprisingly usable. As long as you don't try to open 100s of tabs in a web browser (20 is fine).

 

[lupi]

Had a netbook that was pretty decent once you plopped a ssd in it. Got it before knowing I'd be in the hospital for a couple days and it did great for what it was.

 

[Roland00Address]

I need 5? Really?

I like to use my laptop, sitting on my chest, while laying in bed. (As I am now.)

The rigid hinge of a laptop / netbook allows that.

Part of me was being reactionary so I asked for 5 things, what I should have asked for is one good thing. I was not thinking it through for I just could not see the reason for your dislike.

---

You gave one good reason. The reason why I like tablet / convertibles of the 10 inch to 12 inch side instead of the 12 inch cloudbooks is for many reasons but if I think about it, probably one of the biggest reasons is

1) If I want to type for long periods I use a desktop, both cloudbook and convertible suck at

2) Taking notes in class which they do equally well

3) But if I am doing fun and consumption with my tablet I am laying on my stomach with the tablet forward, or on my back with the tablet straight above me. Or I am sitting on the couch multitasking.

In other words the same activites as you but in different body positions. I now get your dislike, it is like me trying to understand why lefties hate many things of the righted handed default.

-----

Moving on, remember I did not say you were wrong with your like of these devices at the very beginning, it is just me not getting it.

Have a good day.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Hey, no worries.

Anyways, got mine today. The condition was indistinguishable from new, other than a white sticker on the backside with a phone and email for Acer Refurb Products.

The version of Windows 10 64-bit Home that came on it, pre-dated the "version 1511". At least, the version that the recovery stick built.

Speaking of which, it took like 2 hours to make a recovery USB stick. (Due to the slow CPU???) I used a 32GB USB3.0 stick in a USB3.0 port, because it said it needed 16GB or more of space, and my "16GB" sticks are really around 15.5GB.

I tried putting Linux Mint 18 beta on there, but it wouldn't even boot. I then tried Xubuntu 16.04, which booted off of the USB stick, but when installed, gave me "Boot device not found", from the UEFI after first reboot. So maybe I needed to install Grub-EFI or something. Not sure.

I then realized, after restoring Win10 back on it, that I could have tried setting BIOS to "Legacy" (which is an option, even with the eMMC storage, amazingly), and tried installing Xubuntu that way.

But I also did the Windows Updates, which included the 1511 upgrade (OS re-install). I just ran Disk Cleanup to "remove previous Windows version".

The 32GB eMMC was basically filled up by the OS upgrade.

Edit: Like 13GB free after disk cleanup.

It should also be noted that this particular "CloudBook" comes with a full-sized SD card slot, rather than microSD(HC/XC).

 

[fastamdman]

I might have to pick this up for use with hptuners. I need something to replace my old netbook acer aspire one that is extremely out dated. I do have a spare 256gb crucial m4 I am going to toss in it though.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I might have to pick this up for use with hptuners. I need something to replace my old netbook acer aspire one that is extremely out dated. I do have a spare 256gb crucial m4 I am going to toss in it though.

Don't get confused, this Acer "CloudBook" has a non-removable, non-upgradable, 32GB eMMC drive soldered to the mobo. You won't be able to put an SSD in this.

 

[fastamdman]

VirtualLarry - I understand, I was referring to my acer aspire one that I was going to toss the crucial m4 in since I upgraded to the samsung 850 pro 512gb. I don't need A LOT of storage in my life as I format about once a month lol. Thanks for the clarification though, I just worded it odd since its late right now and I need some caffeine.

 

[VirtualLarry]

At least one person has managed it, though apparently with some fiddling.

I should have noted the important part of that review, for putting Linux on, was setting the BIOS to Legacy, rather than UEFI boot. I tried installing Xubuntu 16.04 with UEFI boot, and when it was done and wanted to reboot, it couldn't find any bootable devices.

Still liking this little thing, keyboard and touchpad are both decent.

 

[VirtualLarry]

bump for 14" model now on sale.

 

[VirtualLarry]

bump for new 11.6" sub-model on ShellShocker, with $10 MIR additional! $79.99 AR.

 

[VirtualLarry]

bump for ebay version of the deal. Not quite as good as the $79.99 AR FS deal, but still passable. ($114.99 or $129.99)

 

[VirtualLarry]

OK, I got Linux Mint 18 MATE 64-bit installed on my Acer Cloudbook's internal eMMC and am booting off of it.

You need to set a BIOS (TPM?) password, in order to be allowed to disable Secure Boot. You also need to set boot to "Legacy" (from "UEFI"), and set Trackpad to "Basic" rather than "Advanced".

Prepare a USB flash drive with the Linux Mint 18 MATE 64-bit ISO, using Rufus in "dd mode".

Power off the system, plug the USB flash drive into the right USB2.0 port, and power on. Hit F12 repeatedly until you get the boot menu. Select the flash drive.

I had issues booting Mint with the default settings, it would kernel panic error about no APIC.

So, I had to press SPACE while booting, and select "Compatibility Mode" to boot.

Then, when booted, start the installer. You'll need to connect to the internet wirelessly to do the install.

When prompted by the installer, select "erase entire drive and install Mint", and when prompted, unmount the eMMC so the installer can re-partition / re-format it.

I had some issues with restarting when done, I had to force power-off. Also, I've had issues restarting after the initial update session.

I had to edit the GRUB options, and insert "noapic" as a kernel boot parameter. Then it boots OK.