Acer Spin 13 & 713, as compared to Google Pixelbooks that’ve been selling on eBay for $150-200

newtochromebook

Hello, I don’t know if I’m suffering buyer’s remorse (probably some), but as mentioned in another post below, I thought I’d done a fairly thorough search of 2-in-1 “convertible” computers that could meet my needs/preferences: because I do mostly word processing and reading and scanning massive piles of documents, and some movie streaming on TCM, reading the paper online, and similar basic tasks (and web surfing, looking up information, some YouTube etc), it was not imperative that my broken computer be replaced by a windows device, and Chromebook might work for me; but I definitely wanted to get away from 16:9 aspect ratio, and toward 4:3 or 3:2, with very high resolution for reading; that brought me to Acer Chromebooks that in the last 2-3 years got stellar reviews.I became absolutely convinced if I could find a used one in my budget limitations (preferably around $300 of a little less, $400 am absolute upper limit, that was my best option, and pursued a feverishly intense, often frustrating (one bait-&-switch attempt by an unscrupulous eBay seller with a completely different model on auction, purporting to be an Acer 713)...

After finally winning an Acer Spin 13 in my budget range, I’m suddenly aware of a GAPING BLINDSPOT in my search process: there has been a veritable flood of used and reconditioned Google Pixelbooks with 2400 x 1600 pixels (yes, 3:2, with far higher resolution than Acer), and virtually all with 256GB internal storage and either 8GB OR 16GB RAM, all I5 or I7 processors, and these are all selling, seemingly every day since November, for prices mostly between $170-$250, averaging in about the middle of this range. 

Am I missing something? Those specs seem to wipe the floor with what I thought was a great find for $335: a 2019 Spin 13 with 8GB RAM, but only 64GB storage, I3 processor. This was apparently a $700 or $800 device a year ago, and when appearing refurbished on eBay now are in the $400-500 range, at least listed that way. 

What’s up with these $200 Pixelbooks that seem to offer everything Acer 713 us touted so extravagantly for, for half the price? Is the real going rate for a refurbished 4K 3:2 Chromebook with 256GB+ internal storage, sleek all aluminum body, only about $200-225? 

Did I just make a big mistake? Why are the refurbished Acers on eBay starting around $400, the Pixelbooks half that price? (Esp. Given that their retail prices new start around $1000?)

billsey

I don't have an answer for you, but usually if you see a flood of cheap models on eBay it's either because a lot of people are getting rid of there because there was something they didn't like, or entities like school districts are dumping their old models for new ones. I'd think the latter would be more likely the case, and Google is known for donating in bulk to school districts...

newtochromebook

OOPS: BEEN ***SEEING*** on EBay selling for such relatively low prices!!!! Sorry for such a serious, confusing typo in my very TITLE!!!

billsey

I don't have an answer for you, but usually if you see a flood of cheap models on eBay it's either because a lot of people are getting rid of there because there was something they didn't like, or entities like school districts are dumping their old models for new ones. I'd think the latter would be more likely the case, and Google is known for donating in bulk to school districts...

newtochromebook

Thanks for the thoughtful response! Getting more reconciled to my Acer Spin 13 (if FEDEX ever actually delivers it, that is!) thanks again!