We knew it was coming. After seeing the FCC certify the Asus Chromebook Flip C433 for the US and then viewing official press photos, the new 2-in-1 Chromebook is officially official. At least it is in the UK, according to Stuff.
Since we already knew most of the internal specs and ports, the only real questions left were the price and processor. And this is where it gets dicey, at least for us in the US.
The £499 price is for the base model with 14-inch 1080p display when the device lands in mid-October and if traditions hold that will equate to a $499 cost here in the states. But there isn’t any information on the base model specs.
Instead, the Asus Chromebook Flip C433 can be configured with up to 8 GB of memory, 128 GB of storage and an Intel Core i7 processor. So the base model likely has half the memory and storage and a much less capable CPU such as Intel’s Core m3 or perhaps a Core i3. I still don’t see fan vents on the current model pictures, which you’d need for an i3 or above.
What concerns me is what happened to the Asus Chromebook Flip C434 that I got some hands-on time with in January. That device had the latest Core i7 processor in it and Asus said options would be available with a full range of CPUs. Only that never happened. Instead, only a Core m3 version made it to market. I would hate to see that happen again.
Regardless, time will tell. In the meantime, we know nearly all of the specs and capabilities from the official product images I shared last week: Two USB Type-C ports, one USB Type-A, a microSD card reader, headphone/microphone port, 14-inch display and big ol’ trackpad.
Update: 9/16/2019, 4:15pm ET
Android Police has the official press release from Asus and, as I suspected, the base model comes with an Intel Core m3-8100Y CPU, 4 GB of memory and 64 GB of storage, just like the base Asus Chromebook Flip C434.
2 Comments
I think you might be optomistic that an 8/64 configuration would be the base. I would not bat an eye if they came with a 4/64 or even a 4/32.
In the end I don’t care so much. I am not buying another device without a fingerprint sensor or reasonable alternative. I am tired of having to choose between typing my password the 50 times a day I open my machine for a few moments. Nor do I wish to leave my password open on the slim chance someone steals it or whatnot.
Losing a $500+ machine would suck enough. Dealing with my account being open to some scoundrel is far worse.
We are on the eve of 2020. I know Google plays a long game and there are reasons for higher prices compared to other choices, etc… I no longer think that adds to a reasonable excuse for not having fingerprint sensors or the like on any machine launched. It’s hardly like I’m asking to live in the future.
Two or three years ago I would have been 100% on getting another Chrome OS device to replace my now out of coverage Chromebook. Today I am looking at the real possibility of going ipad pro unless something much more on point hits the Chrome OS camp by the holidays. I’m sad to say that actually but there it is.
I realize Chrome OS has advantages over ipad OS still. But Apple seems to be working harder/faster to close the gaps than Google is these days. More to the point over recent days – that is, the past couple years.
I would love one of these but also agree that an i5 would make it much more desirable but sadly too costly yet again.
On the security point which I think is very valid as I work a lot in coffee shops, what about using a Titan key or similar. I take mine to the toilet which is not a great solution but if you lose an open Chromebook whilst still logged in, you are f*cked.