Acer Chromebook 512: Intel N4020, 12" 1366x912, 4GB RAM, 32GB eMMC Expired

You completely missed the point. Of course there is a reason for touchscreens. I have the Lenovo Chromebook Duet that is a 2 in 1 (laptop and tablet). I took off the keyboard and I am using the touchscreen now..... This Chromebook doesn't have that removable keyboard. The keyboard is permanently attached. Whenever I am using my pc laptop with its touchscreen or the Lenovo Duet with its keyboard in landscape, it is far more effective to USE the keyboard. Faster typing, more control, less work moving my finger, etc.... I have a PC laptop (2 in 1) with a touchscreen, Samsung Galaxy s6 lite with Dex (also tried with regular Android with Logitech Bluetooth keyboard), Lenovo Chromebook duet and iPad with Logitech Bluetooth keyboard. Unless you have a detachable keyboard and can use it as a tablet, touchscreen isn't necessary especially for $129 deal.

I know that it's just a cheap Chromebook, but I do hate the idea of having a 12" screen and then a massive 1.5" bezel around the whole thing. Kind of defeats the purpose of having a 12" screen.

I was ready to buy this to replace my 2013 model but it has no Pg Up/Pg Dn/Home/End/Ins/Del keys.

Just a heads up to anyone else who values these as much as I do. (I use mine to remotely connect to my work computer and use these a lot in excel, etc. )

I've got a Toshiba Chromebook 2. I wonder about replacing it at this price. I think I've got one more month of updates on it before it stops receiving any.

HAHA... This is Chrome OS. This isn't an android tablet with a LAPTOP build or using Windows 11. You are confused. Why would you prefer to lift up your arm and move it around a chromebook laptop over the touchpad or using a mouse? MORE WORK unless you prefer to do it the hard way...... Android tablet is completely different than a chrome OS LAPTOP! How do you hold a tablet? How do you hold a laptop? Difference in weight too. Did you think this was a chrome tablet? I have a Lenovo Chromebook Duet.... I only use the touchscreen when I am in tablet mode and disconnected the keyboard. When I am connected to the keyboard (horizontal), I use the keyboard and touchpad because it is common sense and works the best. It is foolish to have a keyboard and touchpad connected and me swiping with my finger on the screen. I am sure there will be some people or you prefer typing on the screen when they have a physical keyboard that works more effective..... Mouse > touchpad > finger on screen when it comes to chromebook laptops.

Why would anyone prefer to lift their arm up and move it around a laptop at a desk when there is a more effective touchpad or maybe my favorite and most effective option the mouse with scrolling wheel? Duh.

*** "Windows 11 is also designed for touch screens".... Not that well though. Windows 11 touchscreen isn't anywhere close as a good as touchscreen android. Yes. I have a touchscreen windows laptop and while it has improved, it isn't quite as polished as android touchscreen. That is why I prefer the keyboard with touchpad or mouse with Windows. Windows is the best of the bunch with the keyboard/mouse and the worst of the bunch with touchscreen.

It has those functions but you have to learn new ways of doing it. Like page down is alt down arrow.

FWIW: Over 60% of K-12 students in the U.S. are sporting Chromebooks and they expect touch screens - even on laptops. I very rarely touch the screen, but the kids in the school will reach for my screen to navigate.

Not true at all because the supplied chromebooks from the school are budget chromebooks under $300 retail with no touch screen. I saw it. What kids want and what laptops are supplied by the school are different. They arent giving the 9 year old kids my Lenovo chromebook duet or pretty expensive HP chromebooks. They aren't giving careless young children $300-400 chromebooks with fancy bell and whistles like 1080p ips, touchscreen, powerful processor, etc. Go on best buy and look for youself on how much the retail price is raised with touchscreen. The cheapest touchscreen Chromebook on best buy right now is the Lenovo duet or HP Chromebook at $319. There is a reason why Acer budget chromebooks are being supplied and used and not expensive +$300 Chromebooks. Would a kid prefer a 1080p ips screen with touchscreen, powerful processor for their games, great speakers, etc.? Sure but they won't get it for $129.

There are many touch Chromebooks out in the field. It's true that schools will buy whatever they will, sometimes I wonder if they purposefully choose the worst devices. But many, if not most districts, try to give touch for the younger crowd.

You are confusing low price with being "worst". Look at the positive reviews. I bought many items that are low price and worked great and even better than more expensive items. What gets the job done? Is a 1080p screen necessary for a budget chromebook at $129? No way. Is an i3 processor? Nope. Chromebook works great for basic tasks.

There are very few budget chromebooks though. Schools will buy what gets the job done and be a solid value. Chromebooks are being favored due to their low cost and solid value as well as good communication between teacher and students. Acer and Lenovo are great values as HP and Samsung costs lot more. My niece got a budget Acer Chromebook with no touchscreen from her school. Sure there are "many" Chromebooks in the range of $100-$900 but schools aren't spending huge bucks on +$350 Chromebooks for tons of students during the pandemic because it has touchscreen where the keyboard and touchpad can literally do the same thing. 720p vs 1080p? Schools shouldn't care about that. Schools bought up so many budget laptops during the pandemic. Simple logic says if a student doesn't like the 720p screen or no touchscreen, he/she can ask mom or dad to buy them a +$350 HP Chromebook or some $1k MacBook. Most kids living in the rich districts probably got $1k laptops. Middle-class and definitely poorer districts won't have the huge budget to buy expensive laptops for each student. Lot of students may already have pc or even MacBook at home and they still take the supplied budget chromebook because their teacher and fellow students are more comfortable with it. Lots of students were supplied.

On top of that, don't forget that military grade bumper protection and spill resistant matters when giving out laptops to young kids and teenagers. How many tablets can one kid crack? Not careful. Important feature that is missing with the expensive midrange Chromebooks.