If you have not been paying attention, PCs have been invading the living room for several years by integrating features of the PC into other items like Smart TVs and set-top boxes. This year’s battlefront started with consoles as the new Valve SteamOS took shape. Now ASUS Chromebox is here to replace everything but your sound system.
The Chromebox is exactly what you think it is: a compact mini-PC powered by the Google ChromeOS. It is a media center PC with 16 GB SSD storage for the OS, 100 GB Google drive (2 years free), SD card reader, and four USB 3.0 ports to round out ways to get media to this little wonder. If you don’t have a huge media collection, then you have Netflix, Hulu Plus, Vudu, etc. for HD streaming content. Just pair the Chromebox with a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi remote as it supports BT 4.0 and 802.11n right out of the box too.
When you are done with your favorite movie or the latest new release, the Chromebox will do something no set-top-box can: actual PC work. You get full access to the Chrome Web Store with apps for business, education, home use, and I am sure Angry Birds will be in there somewhere. People still play that, right? All of this PC greatness is packaged into something smaller than any Blu-ray player and it’ll be available for a starting MSRP of $179.
What is there not to love about the ASUS Chromebox? You can replace that bulky “family” computer sitting in your corner come this March in the US. Yeah, that one you’re looking at right now.
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Announcing the ASUS Chromebox
The ASUS Chromebox is a compact and powerful device delivering an incredible Chrome OS experience at an unbelievable starting price of $179
February 4th, 2014 – ASUS today announced the Chromebox. ASUS Chromebox is a stylish and compact device thoughtfully designed to simplify home, classroom or office computing. It is easy to set up right out of the box, and starts up in seconds to give users quick access to their favorite applications, games and websites. It provides integrated virus and malware protection and automatically updates itself for a safe hassle-free user experience.
“The ASUS Chromebox offers the simplicity, security and speed of Chrome OS in the most compact and powerful Chrome device to date,” said Felix Lin, director of product management, Google. “Perfect for home, the classroom or the office, Chromebox is designed for the way we use computers today.”
Simplified computing for everyone
ASUS Chromebox provides a gateway to the world of Google web services and thousands of Chrome Web Store apps designed for business, education and home, including many popular services like YouTube, Hulu Plus and Netflix. Users are provided with 100GB of Google Drive space*, turning the ASUS Chromebox into a complete data hub for their other personal PCs, smartphones, and tablets. Users can access all of their data and files in the cloud by simply logging in to their Google Account on any device, anywhere.
A 4th generation Intel® processor that provides very responsive multitasking performance powers ASUS Chromebox and ensures users won’t be kept waiting when working on documents, streaming HD video, browsing the web or playing the latest game. It features 802.11 b/g/n dual-band Wi-Fi to speed web browsing and other online activities. Four USB 3.0 ports, Bluetooth 4.0 and an SD card reader are included to ease everyday tasks such as transferring files, photos and other media. ASUS Chromebox is compatible with a wide range of USB devices, including external storage devices, keyboards, mice, webcams and USB hubs, making it easy to expand as needed.
In addition, ASUS Chromebox features HDMI and DisplayPort outputs for dual monitor capability and support for next-generation 4K Ultra High Definition (4K/UHD) displays*. This gives users the flexibility to use desktop displays or large-screen TVs, giving them more room to work, collaborate or play.
Secure and safe account-based access
The account-based, login and start working or playing nature of ASUS Chromebox makes it an easy-to-use family, classroom or office computer. Users can quickly add new Google Accounts for each family member, classmate or co-worker, and can switch accounts at any time ensuring each user’s data is safe and secure. Parental controls ensure a safe web environment for kids, and ASUS Chromebox takes the hassle out of computing to allow users—young and old—to enjoy everything the web has to offer. It integrates perfectly with today’s digital lifestyles, enabling users to bring one-on-one and group conversations to life with photos and free video calls via Google Hangouts, for example, or create, edit and share office documents with Google Docs in real-time.
Availability
ASUS Chromebox will be available at leading North American resellers in March with pricing starting at $179 US. Please contact your local ASUS representative for further information on availability, configurations and pricing.
ASUS Chromebox Specifications
- Operating System Google Chrome OS
- CPU Intel® Core™ i7-4600U Processor (optional sku in selected markets)
- Intel® Core™ i3-4010U Processor
- Intel® Celeron™ 2955U Processor
- Memory 2GB / 4GB x DDR3-1600MHz; 2 x SO-DIMM
- Graphics Integrated – Intel® HD Graphics (up to 4400)
- Storage 16GB M.2 (NGFF) SSD, 100GB of Google Drive space for limited time
- LAN 10/100/1000Mbit/s
- Wireless Dual-band 802.11 a/b/g/n; Bluetooth V4.0
- Interfaces 1 x 2-in-1 Card Reader
- 4 x USB3.0
- 1 x HDMI
- 1 x DisplayPort
- 1 x LAN (RJ45) Port
- 1 x Audio Jack (Mic-in/Speaker-out)
- 1 x Kensington Lock
- 1 x DC-in
- Power Supply 65W
- Dimensions 4.88 x 4.88 x 1.65 inches
**support for 4KJ/UHD 4K resolution requires Core-i3 or higher SKU
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