Chromebooks are great for many scenarios, but they really shine for education. Why? Well, they are often inexpensive, and best of all, they are very secure thanks to the Linux base and restrictive software design. ASUS has a new such laptop called "Chromebook Flip C213." The 11.6-inch notebook is designed to be very rugged so that if a student abuses it, it should hopefully survive. ASUS even promises an impressive 12+ hours of battery life.

This convertible laptop is powered by a 2.4GHz Intel processor and features 4GB of RAM. This should run Chrome OS very well. Besides the traditional camera at the top of the screen, there is an additional camera above the keyboard. When the laptop is folded to a tablet, that second camera becomes a "rear" camera. Cool, right?

"The Chromebook Flip C213 has been rigorously tested to pass military-grade durability tests, ensuring that it can easily withstand the physical stresses of use in educational environments. The tests include dropping the laptop from almost 4 ft. (1.2m) and subjecting the all-metal 360°-degree hinge to 40,000 open-and-close cycles," says ASUS of the laptop's durability.

The company further shares, "The rugged internal construction is combined with an external wraparound reinforced rubber 'bumper' to protect the chassis and reinforce the I/O ports for protection from minor knocks and scrapes. The all-metal 360° hinges are covered with strong zinc-alloy caps. The body has two special grip areas strategically located to reduce the chances of dropping Chromebook Flip C213 when carrying it. The ergonomic, spill-proof keyboard has 2.0mm key-travel for more accurate typing and a better feel. It can cope with accidental spills of up to 2.2oz (66cc) of liquid, giving students and teachers additional peace of mind."

Also cool? The ASUS Chromebook Flip C213 comes with out-of-the-box support for Google Play store. In other words, it can run Android apps. While students and school faculty may be able to get by with just web apps, it is nice to know that Android support can serve as a safety net if an app is needed. Let us not forget about games too!

ASUS shares the full specifications of the Chromebook Flip C213 below.

Processor Intel Apollo Lake Dual-Core N3350 Processor Operating system Chrome OS Display 11.6-inch Memory & storage 4GB RAM

32GB eMMC Wireless 802.11ac 2x2 Wi-Fi Bluetooth 4.0 Connectivity 2x USB 3.1, Gen 1 Type-C ports

2x USB 3.1, Type-A ports

1 x Micro SD card reader

3.5mm audio combo jack Battery 46Wh lithium-polymer Camera HD front camera + 5MP rear camera Dimensions (WxDxH) Chromebook C213 (with Wacom EMR stylus support): 12.08 x 7.83 x 0.81 in. / 307 x 199 x 20.65 mm

Chromebook C213 (with anti-glare display): 12.08 x 7.83 x 0.82 in. / 307 x 199 x 20.9 mm Weight 2.65lbs./ 1.2 kg

The ASUS Chromebook Flip C213 can be had immediately for $349 from various retailers. A special version with Corning Gorilla Glass and a Wacom EMR stylus will be sold in September for $50 more.

Are you a Chromebook fan? Tell me why in the comments below.