The Asus Chromebox is now available for preorder via various online retailers. Announced last month, the small Chrome device will only put you back $179. It will still ship on March 14th, but those anxious souls clamoring for a new Chromebox can go ahead and order theirs now.
The new Asus Chromebox marks a return to the desktop for Chrome OS. Having been a back-burner project since the original Chromebox, this new one promises to satiate the Chrome fans. It’s got decent specs considering Chrome OS runs pretty light, and the pricing reflects that. It’s a nice transition fromt he overpriced $300-plus Chromeboxes we’ve seen in the past.
The base variety, which is the $179 version on offer, has an Intel Celeron 2955U processor with 2GB DDR3 RAM. A 16GB SSD compliments a microSD card slot, while an HDMI or DisplayPort will get you some face time with a monitor. There are 4 USB 3.0 ports, a headphone jack, and Bluetooth 4.0 as well.
The outer dimensions are slight enough to tuck away. At 2.2 pounds, and 4.88 x 4.88 x 1.65 inches, the Chromebox can be slipped into a drawer or affixed undr a desk with ease. If you need a simple, easy-to-use desktop solution — and don’t want to spend a ton of cash — check out the Chromebox. Just keep in mind you’re buying the device without a monitor, keyboard, or any other peripherals.
