Asus has new Education Chromebook coming

Love seeing my little guy use his Chromebook and I love the idea of these kinds of resources in school (kinda shudder whenever I hear that schools are using iPads).

Well, Asus just launched a new line of Chromebooks aimed at the education sector.

What we do know is that the Tablet CT100 (ChromeTablet... Chromeblet?) is coming to Canada in mid-April.  The rest we're waiting to hear more news.

Announcing the ASUS Chromebook Education Series
First-ever ASUS Chrome OS 9.7" tablet, plus all-new ruggedized, classroom-ready 11.6" and 14" laptops featuring ergonomic design and easy serviceability

KEY POINTS
·         ASUS Chromebook Tablet CT100: First ASUS Chrome OS tablet, with tough all-round protection and stunning 9.7" QXGA touchscreen
·         ASUS Chromebook C204: 11.6" compact clamshell laptop with classroom-ready durability and school day-long battery life
·         ASUS Chromebook Flip C214: 11.6" convertible laptop empowers innovative and flexible learning with 360° hinge, built-in stylus and world-facing camera.
·         ASUS Chromebook C403: 14" clamshell laptop combines big-screen productivity with classroom-ready toughness and an ergonomic keyboard


Markham, Canada, April 2, 2019 – Today marks the debut of the ASUS Chromebook Education series, a family of lightweight, ruggedized Chrome OS computer solutions for educational use that continues the ASUS commitment to providing an extensive range of innovative products and services for the education sector.
The series includes two traditional clamshell laptops: the 11.6-inch ASUS Chromebook C204 and the 14-inch ASUS Chromebook C403 — the first 14-inch ASUS Chromebook for education — along with the versatile 11.6-inch ASUS Chromebook Flip C214 convertible. A brand-new form factor is also introduced, with the ASUS Chromebook Tablet CT100, a stunning 9.7-inch QXGA wide-view touchscreen tablet.
Key design features of the series include enhanced durability, spill- and tamper-resistant keyboards and all-around rubber bumpers built to withstand the rigors of the classroom. Educators and parents now have access to a full portfolio of lightweight, ruggedized options that can meet their specific curriculum choices to unleash the full creativity and productivity of students.

ASUS Chromebook Tablet CT100: The first Chrome OS tablet from ASUS
ASUS Chromebook Tablet CT100 is designed as an easy and familiar introduction to technology for younger children. This rugged tablet uses Chrome OS, but in a friendly form factor that’s reinforced to withstand life in the hands of children. The rubberized chassis measures less than 10mm thick, which means it’s easier for small hands to hold and less likely to be dropped. But even if it is dropped, it’s rated for drops of up to one meter — the height of most tables and desks.
The 9.7-inch QXGA display is covered in tough tempered glass for protection against scratches and gouges, and the stylus can be safely stored in a slot in the frame when it’s not being used for art, tracing letters, or practicing numbers. Inside this slim tablet is a hexa-core OP1 processor, made especially for Chromebooks, with 4GB of RAM to keep performance smooth as students switch between Chrome windows and Android apps. School work can be stored on the 32GB of onboard storage, which is ample for files as well as fun games.
ASUS Chromebook Tablet CT100 has a high-resolution rear camera that supports AR applications. Teachers can bring the world into the classroom to engage students with immersive lessons, for example by dropping a skeleton into a science lesson, or the Mona Lisa into Art History. The possibilities for learning are virtually limitless. A 35Wh lithium-polymer battery offers up to 9.5 hours battery life[i], enough for a full school day, and is charged via the same standard USB Type-C™ (USB-C™) connection that’s found on most smartphones.

ASUS Chromebook C204: Tough, compact, and school-ready
The dark-grey ASUS Chromebook C204 has a thinner chassis than its predecessor, making it even easier to carry around, but it's also tougher. The rubberized chassis is reinforced with thick bumpers on each corner to absorb shock, and the keyboard has a brand-new tamper-resistant design that minimizes the gaps between the frame and the keys, preventing the keys from being pried out. The laptop can survive falls of up to 120cm when dropped flat, and up to 80cm when dropped on its sides. A raised rubber rail on the bottom of the laptop makes it even easier to hold, so it’s less likely to be dropped.
The 11.6-inch HD anti-glare display has a 180° lay-flat hinge that is tested for 50,000 open and close cycles, so it won’t work loose over time. Its wider range of movement improves versatility, and allows easier screen sharing for during group work. The keyboard has 1.5mm of key travel — more than most laptops — which enhances feedback for more accurate typing. An optional touchscreen version offers more scope for interactivity.
It's powered by dual-core Intel® Celeron® processor with 4GB of RAM that delivers responsive multitasking performance. There's 32GB of onboard storage for studying materials offline, though most students will spend their time in the cloud with G Suite for Education, Google’s suite of cloud-based education apps, such as Google Classroom, Google Docs, Google Drive, and Google Slides. A USB Type-A port makes it easy to connect external storage or plug in a mouse, and there are two reversible USB-C ports for newer peripherals or monitors. The microSD card makes it easy to transfer photos from a camera to the cloud, and the audio combo jack allows students to plug in to listen to virtual lessons or make video calls using the HD webcam.
ASUS Chromebook C204 has a 50Wh battery for all-day autonomy[ii] of up to 14 hours. For reliable connectivity, dual-band Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) allows connections on the 2.4GHz band as well as the less crowded 5GHz frequency.
The durability of ASUS Chromebook C204 makes it a perfect fit for the classroom, where shared devices see more wear and tear than the average laptop. But accidents happen, so the device is engineered for easy repair. It features an even more modular design than before, making repairs even easier. The mainboard can be accessed in three steps, and a service door has been added to make the ribbon cables easier to reach.

ASUS Chromebook Flip C214: Flip, explore, and learn!
The ASUS Chromebook Flip C214 has a convertible design that effortlessly transforms between a tablet and a laptop — or anything in between — making it a supremely versatile choice for the classroom.
ASUS Chromebook Flip C214 has a rugged exterior, a spill- and tamper-resistant keyboard, and a dark grey colour scheme. It's powered by up to an Intel Celeron N4100 processor, with 4GB of RAM, and 32GB of storage complemented by expansion via microSD or USB Type-A storage. Students can connect to external displays or charge up via either of the two USB-C ports, and a stable and reliable network connection is facilitated by the dual-band Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) connectivity.
The 11.6-inch HD display has an anti-glare coating (available on selected configurations) and features a durable 360° any-position hinge that allows users to switch seamlessly between laptop and tablet mode. An optional stylus can be stored in a slot on the side. The world-facing camera is located at the bottom right corner of the palm rest, the ideal location for video calls and recording when the laptop is used in tablet mode. It also allows users to grip both sides of the laptop, in portrait or landscape mode, without worrying about blocking the view.
ASUS Chromebook Flip C214 is reinforced to minimize damage, but in the event that there's an accident, it’s easy to repair. With just a few tools, it’s easy to replace the battery, the motherboard, the keyboard, or even the thermal module. Getting inside the laptop takes just a few minutes, which means broken parts can be replaced without taking a computer out of commission for more than a morning.

ASUS Chromebook C403: Bigger 14" screen, ultratough design
ASUS Chromebook C403 has the same ruggedized design as ASUS Chromebook C204, but offers a larger 14-inch HD display that provides ample workspace for longer and more complicated projects. It has a matte anti-glare coating to minimize distracting reflections from overhead lights, and a 180° lay-flat hinge that allows for more freedom of movement and different work positions.
ASUS Chromebook C403 is also the most powerful in the series. It can be equipped with up to a dual-core Intel processor, and features 4GB of RAM. While most students will access and use G Suite, Google’s suite of cloud productivity apps, including Google Classroom, Google Docs and Google Slides, and store their work in the cloud – backed up to Google Drive for safe keeping - there's 32GB of onboard storage for working on assignments offline.
The keyboard features 2mm of key travel to ensure long study sessions can be completed in comfort. Versatile I/O comprises two USB Type-A ports, plus two USB-C ports with display output. Both USB-C ports are also capable of charging the laptop, and ASUS Chromebook C403 can run for up to 12 hours[iii] on a single charge. Rounding out the collection of I/O ports is an audio combo jack that supports headphones, a microphone, or a headset. Powerful built-in stereo speakers feature extra-large sound chambers that deliver up to 80dB of crystal-clear audio.
ASUS Chromebook C403 is built to withstand rough handling, with reinforced corners and a rubberized exterior to protect it from bumps and falls. The spill-resistant keyboard is now also tamper-resistant, with reduced gaps between the keys and the frame to prevent them being pried out. ASUS Chromebook C403 also is also easily repairable, and allows IT professionals to get inside the chassis and replace components in just a few steps.
ASUS Chromebook C403 is the largest model in the new series, but even with its ruggedized chassis, it easily fits into any bag or backpack.

AVAILABILITY & PRICING
ASUS Chromebook Tablet CT100 will be available in mid-April in Canada at major consumer electronics retailers. The ASUS Chromebook Education series will also be available from in mid-April, but in limited markets. Please contact your local ASUS representative for further information.