Chromebook of the Week: HP Touchscreen Chromebook 11 G5

Chromebooks are designed to deliver seamless user experience not only in education but also in business. They provide a number of business-critical applications that help boost productivity. Many IT decision-makers have embraced the idea of using hybrid devices that run Android apps on Chrome to achieve secure enterprise mobility.

Hybrid Chromebooks are shareable while keeping the experience personal and the data secure. They are ideal for mobile workers thanks to the flexible form factors. The same applies to employees already using Google and Android apps to create, collaborate and communicate.

Support for millions of Android apps presents a real opportunity to merge notebook and smartphone experiences. More importantly, mobile workers like salespeople who rely on smartphones while on the go can now take advantage of Chromebook's flexibility. Access to Android apps is expected to drive the development of more business features that boost usability.

The benefits of migrating to the Chromebook OS ecosystem extend beyond initial use cases. The management console allows IT professionals to implement granular access control policies. The console's simplicity reduces time administrators spend managing devices. As a result, it becomes easier to focus on managing data.

Tech Radar says ''As the tech industry moves more and more into cloud computing, a Chromebook is worth a serious look if there is a good match with your infrastructure, employee use cases, and budget.''

Key Features of the HP Chromebook 11 G5 EE

The HP Chromebook 11 G5 EE allows users to create and collaborate using a variety of interactive tools. It has a distinctively rugged design that incorporates co-molded rubber edges to ensure durability. The device's keyboard is resistant to minor spills while the protected edges can take daily bumps and dings. It passed the U.S. Military Standard (MIL-STD) 810G tests designed to verify performance in harsh environments.

The wide-angle IPS touchscreen gives users an opportunity to make the most of touch-enabled apps. Also, it enhances collaboration by allowing students and business professionals to show slideshows and presentations to a small group of people. The 180-degree hinge is designed to boost flexibility by providing a hybrid experience. Additionally, it minimizes stress on the lid.

The notebook also comes with a noise suppression feature, which can be useful when collaborating via Google Hangouts. It uses an Intel Celeron processor with an integrated chipset for superior performance. The device weighs only 2.72 pounds and offers a long battery life of up to 12 hours and 30 minutes making it ideal for field-based workers. It has a 16GB internal drive and 4GB memory.

Analyst recommendations on HP's Chromebooks

If you want your organization to boost productivity and business mobility by switching to Chromebooks, you should follow a number of key steps to evaluating the benefits. Experts at Spiceworks recommend kickstarting the process by assessing the current use of mobile apps and cloud computing. Many businesses are already using the cloud for data storage.

Once the evaluation is complete, you can use the insights as the basis for migrating to Chromebooks. If your employees are already using Android apps on smartphones, they can help select a core set of mobile apps for the entire organization.

The next step involves shifting communication, collaboration and productivity tasks to the cloud using G Suite. This applies to entities that are not using G Suite apps. The final step entails adopting Chromebooks to merge desktop computing and mobile experiences.

A hybrid device like the HP 1BS76UT 11.6-inch Touchscreen Chromebook 11 G5 EE offers the greatest level of flexibility. It can work as a laptop for more compute-intensive tasks and as a tablet when collaborating with colleagues.

Here is what other experts are saying about the HP Chromebook 11 G5 EE:

PC Mag – HP has been packing many high-end features into its latest Chromebook offerings. This is aimed at meeting the needs of mobile business professionals and students.

Tech Radar - ''Finally - a Chromebook that's excellent as well as cheap.'' The device offers a responsive keyboard, great performance and an excellent screen with rich colors. ''It's a quarter of the price of even the cheapest 11-inch MacBook Air and it's far more than a quarter as lovely.''

Business Insider – The HP Chromebook 11 offers impressive features for its price. It is sturdy and the screen is vibrant

Final thoughts on the HP Chromebook 11 G5 EE

The HP 1BS76UT Chromebook offers many key benefits to business users. The device can run for up to 12 hours and 30 minutes, which is impressive for any Chromebook. Its lightweight and rugged design bolster portability and durability allowing users to enjoy worry-free business trips.

The HP Chromebook 11 is an incredible value, available in the Apps Admin Shop for $270.10