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Google's Chromebit Micro-Computer Launches (techcrunch.com)

Posted by Soulskill on from the go-small-or-go-home dept.

An anonymous reader writes: Back in March, Google announced the Chromebit, a small computer crammed into an HDMI stick that runs Chrome OS. The device, built by Asus, has now launched for $85. It weighs 75 grams, runs on a Rockchip ARM processor, and includes a USB port. It has 16GB of storage and 2GB of RAM, and connects via 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0. According to Tech Crunch, the Chromebit is not particularly fast, but it's usable for basic tasks. "As long as the work only involves web apps (or maybe a remote connection to a more fully-featured machine), the Chromebit is up for the job and can turn any screen into a usable desktop."

16 of 60 comments (clear)

  1. Re:HDMI really needs the ability to source power.. by sexconker · · Score: 2

    The HDMI automotive spec includes power.
    For regular HDMI, I wonder if you could jam some extra electrons through it via power over ethernet. Find the dumbest device that pipes ethernet through HDMI and the dumbest device that does PoE and slap em together.

  2. Price/Keyboard vs Chromebook by bradgoodman · · Score: 2

    I bought my daughter a decent Chromebook (new) for $150. For $85 (as this thing is) - add the cost of of a keyboard and mouse - and you're close to that. I don't think this is going to fly too heavily for $85.

    1. Re:Price/Keyboard vs Chromebook by Archangel+Michael · · Score: 4, Informative

      This isn't for a replacement to a Chromebook. This is to run Chrome Apps on your 60" TV

      --
      Agent K: A *person* is smart. People are dumb, stupid, panicky animals, and you know it.
    2. Re:Price/Keyboard vs Chromebook by amiga3D · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I am wondering if it can run XBMC. If so that would make it useful as you could control it with an Android phone.

    3. Re:Price/Keyboard vs Chromebook by bananaquackmoo · · Score: 2

      Chrome OS is just linux, so yes it can run XBMC. The issue is, can it run it quickly enough to decode high resolution video properly?

    4. Re:Price/Keyboard vs Chromebook by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      Yes, including hardware H.265 (not just H.264) decoding, all the way up to 4K resolutions and full HDMI 2.0 (so yes, 4K@60) support, and even supporting 30-bit "deep color" mode just for gits and shiggles:

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockchip_RK3288

      Honestly I'm considering grabbing one as a video-player for one of the Seiki 4K's I picked up back when they were $250, as this looks to be an ideal pair for a 'dumb 4K' TV to give it useful 'smart' features.

      - WolfWings, way too lazy to login to /. in way too many years.

  3. Re:Not tempted by parallel_prankster · · Score: 2

    But sometimes you dont need a laptop. I was thinking about using this instead of Chromecast and being able to access all my google play + amazon prime movies at the same place. My friend owns a store and he was thinking of using it as a transaction service station.

  4. Not worth it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    Not when you can get something like the Kangaroo for $15 more:

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/...

    Has an Intel cpu, 2gb memory, 32gb built in storage and comes with Windows 10 (home) but can run Linux also.

  5. Re:Not tempted? by U2xhc2hkb3QgU3Vja3M · · Score: 4, Funny

    Sometimes it is a good idea to pause and think before speaking.

    <pause>... narf!

    Nope, didn't help. At all.

  6. Sad it's missing.... by Lumpy · · Score: 2

    The ability to add a USB webcam and USB Microphone. This device would be the PERFECT way to get Google Hangouts into the corperate world of small "Huddle" type meeting rooms.

    Why is it that Apple and Google never ever thinks of the corporate and company uses for their products?

    --
    Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
    1. Re:Sad it's missing.... by swillden · · Score: 2

      The ability to add a USB webcam and USB Microphone. This device would be the PERFECT way to get Google Hangouts into the corperate world of small "Huddle" type meeting rooms.

      Perfect? I doubt it. It's kind of low-powered for that application. You can add the webcam and microphone, but I doubt the result would be particularly outstanding.

      Why is it that Apple and Google never ever thinks of the corporate and company uses for their products?

      You mean like Chromebox for Meetings? I have this setup in my home office. Audio and video quality is excellent, automatic integration with Google calendaring is slick, it's very nice. The background photos when not in use are a nice bonus. If you take a look at the photo I linked, you'll notice the on-screen keyboard. That's there only because I popped it up to hide some meeting names; I hardly ever use it. Mostly I just schedule meetings on my calendar and the Hangouts display notifies me when one is coming and I tap the meeting description to join. I can also type meeting names if they're not on my calendar, or I can make phone calls. On the rare occasion I do an audio-only teleconference, I still use the Chromebox system because it's convenient and very high quality.

      It could be done with a Chromebit rather than a Chromebox, but it wouldn't be much cheaper ($85 vs $229; not a substantial difference in the corporate world), and I doubt performance would be as good.

      --
      Note to ACs: I usually delete AC replies without reading them. If you want to talk to me, log in.
    2. Re:Sad it's missing.... by bawbgale · · Score: 2

      $200 gets you only a lower-powered i3 or Celeron-based Chromebox. The Chromebox for Meetings bundle includes i7-based boxes, which sell for $600-700. So $999 for that plus the peripherals is a fair price for the hardware BUT it is only sold through resellers and includes $250 annual support contract.

  7. Re:HDMI really needs the ability to source power.. by Lumpy · · Score: 3, Informative

    Yep. Problem is 99% of all TV manufacturers don't supply more than 0.5A of power there. Every stinking time we try to use a stick powered via the HDMI and it fails, we have to plug in the USB as well. and on some sets an external USB power as they cant supply any real power out their USB jacks.

    --
    Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
  8. crazy. by sootman · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "Don't expect blazing performance from the quad-core Rockchip SoC that powers the device, but it's perfectly usable."

    The device in question is the size of a pack of gum. It's nice to be living in the future.

    --
    Dear Slashdot: next time you want to mess with the site, add a rich-text editor for comments.
  9. USB hub, $10. Or keyboard with ports by raymorris · · Score: 2

    It has USB. Plug a in hub (which can also be pocket sized) and you've got four or five USB ports. Of course, some keyboards have a USB hub built-in, so you don't need a separate hub.

  10. /. QOTD by avgapon · · Score: 2

    In the future, you're going to get computers as prizes in breakfast cereals. You'll throw them out because your house will be littered with them.

    How relevant!