The Chrome OS computer called Chromebit was unveiled last March 2015. After a couple of months, Google and Asus are now releasing the Chromebit for just $85.
The candybar-sized Chromebit is a dongle that can be plugged into an HDMI port of a monitor or TV, which turns the screen into a personal computer. Users also have the option to add a keyboard or a mouse via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity.
The Chromebit contains Rockchip ARM processor, 16 GB of storage, 2 GB of RAM, Bluetooth 4.0 and 802.11ac Wi-Fi. The Chromebit also features a USB port that will allow connecting wired peripherals such as a printer or a scanner. Once plugged into a monitor, the Chromebit offers a full Chrome OS experience to its user.
"The ASUS Chromebit is the first in a new category of Chrome devices – a full computing device, the size and shape of a memory stick. It is powered by a Rockchip quad-core processor with dual-band WiFi 802.11ac & BT4.0 support. The ASUS Chromebit has wide appeal for consumer and digital signage applications, and will be available for less than $100 USD later in the year," per an Asus press release.
As the Chromebit works as a full Chrome OS-based computer, a user can perform and run most of the web apps on it. Chromebit will also allow users to play TV shows and movies from Google Play, Hulu or Netflix.
The portability of the Chromebit will allow users to carry and move it from one place to the other with ease and without the hassles of disassembling and assembling wires. It can be used in the living room, in a hotel room and places where a user does not want to carry a laptop.
The Chromebit will be made available via Newegg, Amazon and Fry's in the U.S. The Chromebit will also be available in the UK, Taiwan, Sweden, Spain, Norway, New Zealand, Japan, Finland, Denmark, Canada and Australia.
