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Walmart's $155 Chromebook is the best student laptop deal I've seen all year

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The Acer Spin 311 is half laptop, half tablet. But it can also sit in between, like in the
The Acer Spin 311 is half laptop, half tablet. But it can also sit in between, like in the "display mode" shown here. Wait, doesn't that make for three halves? I'm bad at math. (Photo: Acer)

Shopping for a back-to-school laptop? Hang on, let me check my calendar... yep, okay, most kids have been back to school for at least a month already. So maybe you're shopping for an already-in-school-and-need-something-better laptop?

Good news: Whatever the reason you decided to delay this purchase, it just paid off. For a limited time, and while supplies last, Walmart has the Acer Spin 311 Chromebook for just $155. That's one of the best deals I can recall seeing for any laptop ever. It normally sells for $299.

$155 $299 at Walmart

The Spin 311 is an 11.6-inch convertible, meaning it has a touchscreen on a 360-degree hinge. So in addition to operating like a traditional laptop, it can spin (see what Acer did there?) to become a full-fledged tablet.

In fact, Google's Chrome operating system offers not only school-friendly tools like Google Docs and Classroom, but also compatibility with millions of Android apps. This is a decidedly capable little machine, especially for the price.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, it's no powerhouse, with a fairly entry-level processor, 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. The screen resolution is on the low side at 1,366 x 768, though at this size I wouldn't expect it to be any higher.

Speaking of size, that screen necessarily brings with it a small-ish keyboard. It's a comfortable, responsive one (at least according to various reviews), but not ideal for touch-typists.

I suspect that most grade-school students (who have smaller hands anyway) won't care. Indeed, for everyday schoolwork, the Spin 311 will get the job done, and without interruption: Acer promises up to 15 hours of operation on a charge, impressive for any laptop.

It's rare to find a Chromebook for under $200. But a convertible for $155? That's rarer still. If you're in the market, jump on this deal before it's gone.

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