The first HP Chromebox will arrive this spring in four different colors with an Intel Haswell Core i7 processor onboard. HP intends to target business customers with its high-quality Chromebox, hot of the heels of Google's announcement of Chromebox for Meetings.
Recently, Google's Chrome OS has gained widespread popularity, especially with business and education users. Chromebooks and Chromeboxes are coming out in full force and with Google's recent announcement of Chromebox for Meetings, it looks like Google is just getting started. Although Google announced Chromebox for Meetings with the ASUS Chromebox, it also stated that Dell and HP would soon add their own Chromeboxes to the mix.
Typically all Chromeboxes look the same: square, monochromatic and small. To differentiate its Chromebox from all of the other Chromeboxes on the market, HP decided to offer the small, portable PC in four different colors, including turquoise, black, grey and white. HP started introducing products with fun, bright color accents recently, but the turquoise Chromebox is one of the most vibrant and interesting of the bunch. Last year HP released white Chromebooks with colorful accents and they are quite popular with customers.
Of course, as with any gadget, it's what's inside that really matters. HP's Chromebox is loaded with the most powerful processor you can find in the PC market: the Intel Haswell Core i7 CPU. ASUS' new Chromebox only offers the Core i7 processor on Chromeboxes sold outside of the United States, so HP has a clear advantage in that regard.
In terms of ports and connectivity, the HP and ASUS Chromeboxes are essentially identical. Both Chromeboxes have four USB 3.0 ports, a DisplayPort and HDMI output ports. Both Chromeboxes can also be mounted to the back of other displays and have slim profiles, so that they don't stick out too much. HP's website states that the company's first Chromebox will be available in spring 2014, but it did not list a specific price or release date. However, given the fact that HP's Chromebox has a Core i7 processor, it will probably cost more than the ASUS Chromebox, which starts at $179.
Prior to the recent launches of the ASUS, Dell and HP Chromeboxes, Google only offered one Samsung Chromebox. Now the company is really diversifying its offerings and leveraging the Chromebox. After Google's presentation of Chromebox for Meetings, Chrome OS is perfectly positioned to take over the business landscape and steal much-needed customers right out from under Microsoft's nose.
