Acer, a Taiwanese computer maker, is expanding its Chrome OS product line with a new notebook and the company's first desktop Chrome PC.
For the desktop, the diminutive new Chromebox CXI will be a standalone device, about the size of a modem or router. It is VESA mountable (VESA mount included) and can also be attached to the back of an Acer monitor. The Chromebox CXI includes a keyboard and a mouse.
Processing power is supplied by an Intel Celeron 2957U dual core 1.4GHz chip. Storage is provided by a 16GB solid-state drive. Standard memory allotment is 2GB, expandable to 4GB. Ports include HDMI, four USB 3.0, an SD card reader, LAN and DisplayPort. Two of the USB 3.0 ports and the SD card reader are mounted on the front panel. It supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0. One of the USB ports is available for power-off charging for smartphones and tablets.
The most important stat, though, is this - a retail price of $179.99 when it hits stores next month. The Chromebox CXI with 4GB of RAM will sell for $219.99.
Acer is targeting this desktop Chrome OS device at education, small businesses and to consumers on a budget. Although any Chromebook notebook model can also be ported to a desktop monitor, mouse and keyboard, Acer believes there is a strong market for desktop Chrome OS computers since schools and businesses do often not allow computer portability.
The CXI is said to boot up within eight seconds and wake instantly from sleep, a benefit of its solid-state drive technology.
"The Acer Chromebox CXI is an excellent fit for schools and any other institution or business where conserving costs and space are high priorities," said Simon Hwang, President of Acer Stationary Computing and Display Business Group.
"Due to the ease of management, the Chromebox can significantly reduce the technical support and consequently lower the overall cost of ownership for institutions and businesses. IT administrators will appreciate the multiple layers of security, while users will enjoy how easy it is to navigate the Chrome OS, share documents on Google Drive, connect with their associates on Hangouts and the diversity of the additional 30,000 apps available in the Chrome Web Store."
Acer will also bring the Acer Chromebook 11 notebook to market next month. It is available in both consumer and commercial/education models. Powered by an Intel Celeron N2830 processor with 16GB of solid-state storage, it features upgraded battery life (up to 8.5 hours) and faster wireless communication with greater range. It offers an 11.6-inch HD LED-backlit LCD 1366x768 display. Ins and outs include USB 3.0 and 2.0 ports, an SD card reader, HDMI output and a combo speaker/headphone jack. It is slim and weighs only 2.43 lbs. Retail price has not yet been announced.
