Ace remote learning with $250 off this Acer Aspire 5 laptop

Lots and lots of classrooms will be virtual this fall, meaning it might be time to rethink the “ideal” laptop for students. I usually recommend a 13.3-inch screen, which makes for a lighter, more portable machine, but portability isn’t necessarily the driving requirement anymore. Maybe it makes more sense to have a bigger screen, a wider keyboard and other comfort amenities?

Here’s a deal worth considering: For a limited time, and while supplies last, Staples has the Acer Aspire 5 A515-54G-54QQ 15.6-inch laptop for $549.99, which is $250 off the regular price. But, hang on, it can get even better.

Today only, slotxo cash-back service Rakuten is offering 10% back on Staples purchases. That would bring your net price down to $495 (post-rebate, of course), making an already pretty excellent deal even better. Note: Make sure you visit Rakuten first (and sign up for an account if you don’t already have one), then click through to Staples, then add the Acer to your cart. It must be done in that order.

The Acer Aspire 5 features an Intel i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, a 512GB solid-state drive, a backlit keyboard and a full-HD screen (meaning 1,920×1,080-pixel resolution). It’s not a touchscreen, which I don’t consider essential in a laptop, but I can see why kids might balk at that. Also, this isn’t a convertible, so it can’t pivot to work in stand or tablet mode. (Because no touchscreen.)

For straight-up laptop duty, however, it should be solid. That’s plenty of horsepower for remote-learning requirements, and it’s augmented by a dual-microphone system that promises better audio clarity for webcam meetings. There’s also a GeForce MX250 graphics subsystem, which is fairly entry-level but still better than most dedicated graphics chips. Translation: This laptop can handle Minecraft just fine, but it may struggle a bit with Fortnite.

CNET’s Joshua Goldman reviewed a slightly different configuration of the Acer Aspire 5 and found it to be excellent overall, the only real dings being the lack of an SD card slot (barely needed nowadays) and build quality that’s in line with the price tag.

Assuming your student doesn’t insist on a convertible design, this is a well-appointed system at a compelling price — especially with the cash-back option.

Your thoughts?