Chromebox Explained

Chromebox
Manufacturer:Acer; AOpen; Asus; CTL; Dell; Google (as a bundler); Hewlett-Packard; Lenovo; Promethian, Samsung; SMART
Cost:$179-$999
Processor:ARM, Intel Celeron, Core i3, Core i5, Core i7
Memory:2, 4, 8, or 16 GB
Ports:USB 2.0/3.0/3.2 Gen 1 Type-A & C, Ethernet, HDMI, DisplayPort++, Micro SD, SDHC & SDXC Card Reader

A Chromebox is a small form-factor PC that runs Google's ChromeOS operating system. The first device debuted in May 2012.[1]

History

Chromeboxes, like other ChromeOS devices including Chromebook laptops, primarily support web applications, thereby relying heavily on an Internet connection for both software functionality and data storage. That connection, via a local area network, can be wireless or through an Ethernet port.

The machines are classed as small form-factor PCs[2] and typically feature a power switch and a set of connections to support a keyboard, pointing device and one or more monitors. Solid state drives are used for storage and only wireless printers are supported. The first Chromebox, released by Samsung on May 29, 2012, ran a dual-core Intel Celeron Processor 867 at 1.3 GHz, and featured six USB 2.0 ports and two DisplayPort++ slots compatible with HDMI, DVI, and VGA.[3]

In February 2014, Google bundled an Intel Core i7 Chromebox with a business video conferencing package, 1080p high definition camera module, external microphone/speaker and remote control.[4] This Chromebox for Meetings system retailed for $999 plus a $250 annual management fee, waived the first year—a cost thousands of dollars less than other unified videoconferencing systems, including those from Cisco and Polycom.[5] The system employed a Google Hangouts-like interface for up to 15 participants, a dedicated URL for sharing screens, and management accounts for scheduling meetings.[6] An updated system announced in November 2017 featured a 4K camera and a machine learning feature that automatically identifies and frames participants.[7]

In March 2014, Asus established a new price at the low-end of the Chromebox market with a compact, 1.32 pound model that retailed at $179 and featured a Celeron CPU and four USB 3.0 ports.[8] [9] Yahoo Tech columnist David Pogue called the Asus device among the smallest, "least-expensive desktop computers ever sold", likening it to a Smart car. "You won’t be hauling lumber from Home Depot in it, but it’s a terrific deal—and most days, it’ll get you where you want to go."[10] In May, Asus released a faster model with an Intel Core i3 processor. Hewlett-Packard entered the market in June with a Chromebox powered by an Intel Celeron processor, optionally bundling a keyboard and mouse. In August, Acer introduced two models that could stand vertically and provided some business-oriented features, including encryption and fast deletion of local data. In September, Dell entered the market with an entry-level machine, as well as Dell's implementation of the Google video conferencing system.[11]

In August 2015, AOpen announced a family of Chromeboxes designed principally for driving the content of digital commercial signage. The models were ruggedized for on-site operation.[12]

The capability to run Android apps with ChromeOS devices, introduced by Google in 2016 and realized by certain Chromebooks in 2017, seemed to bypass Chromeboxes until a cluster of new Chromebox offerings appeared in 2018, including Acer,[13] Asus,[14] and HP.[15] Oregon-based CTL (Compute Teach Learn), maker of Chromebooks since 2014, launched its first Chromebox in March 2018.[16]

In late 2020, four major Chromebox manufacturers, HP,[17] Acer, Asus,[18] and CTL,[19] announced plans for new Chromebox models based on the 10th generation Intel Comet Lake architecture.

Models

AvailableBrandModelProcessorRAMStorageSizeAuto Update Expiration date[20]
2012-05SamsungSeries 3 XE300M22-A01USCeleron B8404 GB16 GB SSD1.3xMar 2018
2013-01Series 3 XE300M22-A02USIntel Core i5-2450M
2013-03Series 3 XE300M22-B01USCeleron B8404 GB16 GB SSD1.57x
2014-02Google Chromebox for MeetingsIntel Core i74 GB16 GB M.2 SSD12.4x???
2014-03AsusChromebox-M004UIntel Celeron 2955U2 GB16 GB M.2 SSD4.88x???
2014-05Chromebox-M075UIntel Core i3-4010U 2 or 4 GB
2014-06Hewlett-PackardHP Chromebox CB1Intel Celeron 2955U2 GB / 4 GB / 8 GB16 GB (128 GB Or more max) M.2 SSD4.96x[21] ???
HP Chromebox[22] Intel Core i7-4600U 4 GB / 8 GB / 16 GB???
2014-08AcerChromebox CXI[23] Intel Celeron 2957U2 or 4 GB16 GB6.5x???
2014-09DellDell ChromeboxIntel Celeron 2955U2 GB16 GB4.9xSep 2019
Intel Core i3-4030U4 GB
Dell Chromebox for MeetingsIntel Core i7-4600U4 GBAug 2019
2014-08AsusChromebox CN60Intel Celeron 2955U2 GB / 4 GB / 16 GB16 GB (128 GB Or more max) M.2 SSD1.6xSep 2019
2017-07AsusChromebox 2 CN62Intel Celeron 3215U2 GB / 4 GB / 16 GB16 GB (128 GB Or more max) M.2 SSD1.6xJun 2021
2015-03AcerChromebox CXI[24] Intel Core i3-4030U (Haswell)4 or 8 GB16 GB6.5x???
2015-05LenovoThinkCentre Chromebox[25] Intel Celeron 3205U4 GB16 GB SSD7xJun 2021
2015-08AOPENChromebox Commercial[26] Intel N2930[27] (quad core Atom)4 GB32 GB[28] 6.5xSep 2021
2018-04[29] AcerAcer Chromebox CXI3 4GKMIntel Celeron 3865U4 GB32 GB5.9xJun 2025
Acer Chromebox CXI3 I38GKMIntel Core i3-7130U8 GB64 GB
Acer Chromebox CXI3 I58GKMIntel Core i5-8250U
Acer Chromebox CXI3 I716GKMIntel Core i7-8550U16 GB
2018-06[30] Asus[31] [32] Chromebox 3 N017UIntel Celeron 3865U4 GB32 GB14.9xJun 2025
Chromebox 3 N018UIntel Core i3-7100U
Chromebox 3 N019UIntel Core i3-7100U 8 GB
Chromebox 3 N020UIntel Core i7-8550U
Chromebox 3 N3299U Intel Core i3-8130U4 GB
Chromebox 3 N3289U Intel Core i3-8130U8 GB128 GB
Chromebox 3 N5327U Intel Core i5-8250U
2018-06[33] HPHP Chromebox G2 3VD02UTIntel Celeron 3865U4 GB32 GB5.87xJun 2025
HP Chromebox G2 3VD03UTIntel Core i5-7300U8 GB
HP Chromebox G2 3VD04UTIntel Core i7-8650U
HP Chromebox G2 3VD05UTIntel Core i7-8650U16 GB64 GB
2018-07CTL[34] CTL Chromebox CBX1Intel Celeron 3865U4 GB / 8 GB / 16 GB32 GB SSD5.83xJun 2025
2020-12-05https://www.asus.com/Displays-Desktops/Mini-PCs/Chrome-OS-devices/ASUS-Chromebox-4/techspec/AsusAsus Chromebox 4Intel Celeron 5205U
Intel Core i3-10110U
Intel Core i5-10210U
Intel Core i7-10510U		4 GB / 8 GB / 16 GB32 GB eMMC
64 GB eMMC
128 GB M.2 SATA SSD
256 GB M.2 SATA SSD
M.2 PCIE GEN3x4 256 GB SSD		14.9xJun 2028

Notes and References

  1. News: Google Chrome OS computers updated with faster processors. 2012-05-29. Leo Kelion. BBC News .
  2. Web site: Chromebook Definition from PC Magazine Encyclopedia. PC. 2018-12-17.
  3. Web site: Dormon . Bob . Review: Samsung Chromebox . The A Register . 5 July 2012.
  4. Web site: Google's next hardware push: Chromebox videoconferencing for businesses . Hachman . Mark . 6 February 2014 . . . 23 April 2014.
  5. Web site: Google debuts videoconferencing tool, battling Cisco and Polycom . Liedtke . Michael . 6 February 2014 . . . 24 April 2014.
  6. Web site: For Meetings: Chromebox, plus everything you need for video meetings . 23 April 2014.
  7. News: Google made a Chromebox for Hangouts video conferences. Davenport. Courbin. 2017-11-01. Android Police. 2017-11-16. en-US.
  8. Web site: Review: Asus crafts a tiny $179 Chromebox out of cheap, low-power parts . Cunningham . Andrew . 27 March 2014 . . . 23 April 2014.
  9. Web site: Asus Chromebox M004U . Domingo . Joel Santo . 12 March 2014 . . . 23 April 2014.
  10. Web site: Asus Chromebox: A Tiny, Cheap, Very Useful Computer . Pogue . David . 14 March 2014 . . . 24 April 2014.
  11. Web site: $179 Dell Chromebox Will Hit US Stores Late September . Sneden . Joey-Elijah . 5 September 2014 . OMG! Chrome! . Ohso Ltd . 6 September 2014.
  12. Web site: AOPEN unveils commercial-grade Chrome OS devices as Google targets digital signage market. BetaNews. 2016-01-19. Fagioli. Brian. August 2015.
  13. Web site: Davenport . Corbin . Acer Chromebox CXI3 review: The ultimate Chrome OS desktop . Android Police . July 12, 2018.
  14. Web site: Danton . Tim . Asus Chromebox 3 review: can this tiny computer replace a Windows PC? . The Big Tech Question . June 2018.
  15. Web site: The Chromebox now comes with Android Apps; HP and Asus launch Android App supported Chromebox. Chrome Computing . November 9, 2018.
  16. Web site: Brangers . Gabriel . CTL launches affordable Kaby Lake Chromebox . Chrome Unboxed . March 8, 2018.
  17. Web site: 2020-09-22. HP announces Chromebox G3 and AMD-powered Pro c645 Chromebook for enterprise. 2021-01-16. 9to5Google. en-US.
  18. Web site: November 19, 2020. ASUS Announces New Chromebox 4. 2020-11-22. ASUS Latest News. en-US.
  19. Web site: October 6, 2020. CTL unveils 10th Gen Comet Lake Chromebox CBx2. 2021-02-22. Chrome Unboxed. en-US.
  20. Web site: Auto Update policy - Google Chrome Enterprise Help. support.google.com. 2019-03-01.
  21. Web site: HP Chromebox . . 6 November 2015.
  22. Web site: HP has Chromeboxes with Intel Core i7 chips, but they'll cost you . McAllister . Neil . 11 June 2014 . . Situation Publishing . 17 October 2014.
  23. Web site: Acer introduces Chromebox CXI PC family starting at $179.99 . Portnoy . Sean . 22 August 2014 . . . 28 August 2014.
  24. Web site: Acer's 4K Chromebox goes big on RAM, not on price . Newman . Jared . 5 March 2015 . . . 3 April 2015.
  25. Web site: ThinkCentre,ThinkCentre Chromebox,Model:10H50003US. psref.lenovo.com. 2019-07-09.
  26. Web site: AOPEN Unveils First Commercial Grade device based on Google Chrome . 10 August 2015 . 18 January 2016 . 9 January 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190109012242/https://www.digitalsignagetoday.com/press-releases/aopen-unveils-first-commercial-grade-device-based-on-google-chrome/ . dead .
  27. Web site: Chromebox Commercial . 18 January 2016 . 25 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160325114955/http://www.aopen.com/us/chromebox-commercial . dead .
  28. Web site: Chromebox Commercial Specsheet . 18 January 2016.
  29. News: Do you like Chrome OS, but hate laptops? Acer's newest Chromebox might be for you. Pelegrin. Williams. 2018-04-14. Android Authority. 2018-04-16. en-US.
  30. Web site: Abent . Eric . ASUS Chromebox 3 launches: Here's what's inside . Slash Gear . June 1, 2018.
  31. Web site: ASUS Chromebox 3 Chrome Devices ASUS Global. ASUS Global. en. 2018-06-05.
  32. Web site: ASUS Chromebox 3 Chrome Devices ASUS USA. ASUS USA. en. 2022-02-05.
  33. Web site: Tofel . Kevin . HP Chromebox G2 now available direct starting at $199 . aboutchromebooks.com . May 30, 2018.
  34. Web site: Chromebox CBX1 | CTL Spain Chromebook Store . 13 July 2018 . 13 July 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180713231606/https://es.ctl.net/products/chromebox . dead .

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Chromebox".

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