Skip to main content

CTL introduces new Chromebook with innovative 360-degree hinge

ctl convertible chromebook j5 header alt
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Over the past few years, the concept of a laptop-tablet hybrid has gone from something of a novelty to a flourishing form of tech being adopted by businesses and schools as well as for personal use. Now, the Oregon-based CTL has announced a brand new Chromebook that offers plenty of flexibility thanks to its 360-degree hinge.

The CTL J5 gives users several different ways to work depending on the task at hand. Whether you need it to resemble a standard laptop for some word processing, a tablet for casual Web browsing or one of the tent-like configurations intended to enhance presentations, all it takes is a quick adjustment of the system’s hinge.

Recommended Videos

The J5 is targeted at on-the-go professionals and academic institutions, and CTL has endeavored to ensure that the hinge-based design is tough enough to withstand this type of usage. The company describes the system as “rugged,” referring to features like its spill-proof keyboard and a drop-resistant frame.

The J5 boasts a 11.6-inch 16:9 IPS panel, with a 1,366 x 768p resolution and five-point touch functionality. That’s complemented by an Intel N3050 Braswell processor, 4GB of LPDDR3 RAM, and a 16GB eMMC hard drive that can be upgraded to a capacity of 32GB as an optional extra.

The system also finds space for a combo audio jack, two USB 3.0 ports, and an HDMI input. The J5 runs Chrome OS as standard — with enterprise-level support and services available from CTL — and features a robust battery that can last for up to ten hours on a single charge.

Given that the J5 has been designed with a view to large-scale rollouts across schools and businesses, it should be of little surprise that CTL has priced the system aggressively. The J5 will be available in time for the education buying season, with pre-orders currently open and prices starting from $249.

Brad Jones
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Brad is an English-born writer currently splitting his time between Edinburgh and Pennsylvania. You can find him on Twitter…
I took my son shopping for his first school laptop. Here’s what surprised me
A young man using the HP 14-Inch 2-in-1 Chromebook.

My son began second grade this past September, and his school issued him an old, beat-up Chromebook to his backpack as his first laptop. Unacceptable! As a tech writer, I could not settle for what the school was offering. So, I did what any tech nerd dad would do and took my boy shopping for a new Chromebook.

But as I quickly learned, the world of Chromebooks can be dizzying. If I was going to find the right option for my kid, I'd need to check my own tech knowledge and preferences at the door.

Read more
This laptop completely changed my perception of Chromebooks
HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook front angled view showing display and keyboard deck.

I get the appeal of Chromebooks -- I really do. Sometimes less is more, and an operating system that is simpler can provide a less distracting experience for the right audience. But it's never been a good fit for me.

I'm pretty bought into Microsoft's Office suite, and I'm willing to pay a premium for top-notch hardware. I want my laptop to look and feel like a serious work tool without compromises -- and that's always made me think Chromebooks weren't for me. Then I tried the HP Dragonfly Elite Chromebook.
Chrome OS hardware really can be top-notch

Read more
Why I converted my Windows laptop into a Chromebook, and why you should too
Chrome OS Flex on a ASUS laptop.

You've probably not heard of ChromeOS Flex. It's Google's program for turning crusty computers into Chromebooks -- which sounds like a neat idea as a concept. But it's primarily been marketed toward businesses and classrooms.

I wanted to give it a shot, though. I have an older Windows laptop that was dying to be converted into a fresh, snappy Chromebook. As someone who's been primarily using Chromebooks for almost half a decade, I was ready to take on the challenge to see if ChromeOS Flex might be a serviceable way to bring old laptops back to life. Despite some limitations in the end product, it's a pretty intuitive way to breathe some fresh air into an otherwise unused laptop.
Chrome OS Flex is all Chrome, all the time

Read more