Winfuture and European merchants have divulged the imminent release of the Cloudbook Aspire One 11 AO1 ahead of any official announcements from Acer. The AO1-132 model will apparently be a small update over the existing AO1-131 model that is currently available for just $190 USD. Acer has been positioning the Cloudbook as an alternative to the Google Chromebook and even coined the term "Cloudbook" before Intel announced its company-wide refocusing on cloud-based services. The manufacturer includes a license for Office 365 and also throws in 1 TB of cloud storage free with every new purchase for a limited time. Chrome OS has been growing in popularity in the U.S. where it only recently started outselling Apple's Mac OS X systems.
Core specifications for the Acer netbook include:
- 11.6-inch 1366 x 768 resolution panel
- Intel Celeron N3050 SoC
- 2 GB RAM
- 32 GB eMMC w/ SD reader
- 802.11ac + Bluetooth 4.1
- USB 2.0, USB 3.0, full-size HDMI, 3.5 mm audio
- 10-hour battery life
- Windows 10 Home
- 292 x 202 x 17.9 mm
- 1.1 kg
Other notable features are a spill-resistant keyboard and the potential for another Atom-based Cherry Trail SKU. The base model uses a matte panel while glossy touchscreen options will be made available. The entry-level local specifications with wireless-ac connectivity encourages the use of Cloud storage.
Prices are expected to start at about 250 Euros for the Aspire One 11 AO1-132.