Laptops are getting really portable these days, and smartphones are essentially portable computers, but a new device made by Google and Asus goes a step further. The Chromebit is an HDMI dongle that can run Google's Chrome OS when plugged into any display.
The Chromebit, which looks a lot like a highlighter pen both in appearance and size, plugs into any display with an HDMI port just like Google's Chromecast video-streaming dongle. Simply connect a keyboard or mouse via Bluetooth or the in-built USB port and your TV or monitor is a fully functional Chromebook.
Asus was able to design such a small computer thanks to the Chinese-made Rockchip processor. Similarly powered devices running Android have been available on Alibaba for almost a year, and Intel released the Atom-powered "Compute Stick" that is capable of running Windows 8.1 or Linux in January, but neither look quite as slick as the Chromebit. The Rockchips have been optimized for power consumption and heat dissipation, so it should be able to last a full day without overheating.
The Chromebit houses a Rockchip RK3288 (with quad-core Mali 760 graphics), 2 GB of RAM, 16 GB of solid state storage, 2x2 dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 and a single full-size USB 2.0 port on one end. It comes in blue, silver and orange and also has a nifty swivel device at the end, which means you can plug it into any HDMI port even if your TV is mounted up against a wall.
Asus hasn't released pricing details, but Google says the device will be available this summer for less than $100 (Intel's Compute Stick costs $150). Google is pitching this as the "perfect upgrade for an existing desktop" for home, schools and businesses.
It's certainly an interesting idea, but the little computer still requires a separate mouse and keyboard to turn your screen into a Chromebook, so it's not quite as portable as it might first seem. It'll no doubt be a popular plugin for home TVs as many households will already have Bluetooth keyboards and mice, but it could be most useful for presentations. It'd be the perfect addition to corporate conference rooms, allowing people to present online material without their laptops.
