Asus Chromebox gets down to business
Hey, there. Hey, there.
I'm Josh Goldman with CNET. I'm Josh Goldman with CNET.
And this is one very small desktop. And this is one very small desktop.
It's the Asus Chromebox which runs on Google's Chrome OS. It's the Asus Chromebox which runs on Google's Chrome OS.
If you're unfamiliar with Chrome OS, it's basically Google's Chrome web browser turned into an operating system. If you're unfamiliar with Chrome OS, it's basically Google's Chrome web browser turned into an operating system.
What that means is this little box, which starts at a mere $179, can do anything you can do in a web browser. What that means is this little box, which starts at a mere $179, can do anything you can do in a web browser.
That's actually quite a lot these days, and the Google Chrome store That's actually quite a lot these days, and the Google Chrome store
is loaded with free and pay web apps that range from simple website bookmarks to apps that can work offline and outside of a browser like traditional desktop software. is loaded with free and pay web apps that range from simple website bookmarks to apps that can work offline and outside of a browser like traditional desktop software.
Speaking of desktop software, like Chromebook laptops, you can't install traditional software directly on a Chromebox. Speaking of desktop software, like Chromebook laptops, you can't install traditional software directly on a Chromebox.
There are virtualization and remote desktop options, however. There are virtualization and remote desktop options, however.
So, if you still need to run desktop software, you can through the cloud. So, if you still need to run desktop software, you can through the cloud.
That's likely something you'll need to do for a business, and really, that's That's likely something you'll need to do for a business, and really, that's
what Asus is targeting with this. what Asus is targeting with this.
For consumers, the low-power Celeron processor, two gigs of memory, 16 gigs of storage and integrated graphics is good enough for everything you do on the web, casual games and for streaming services like Spotify or Netflix. For consumers, the low-power Celeron processor, two gigs of memory, 16 gigs of storage and integrated graphics is good enough for everything you do on the web, casual games and for streaming services like Spotify or Netflix.
And since it's secure and you can easily set up supervised users, this is a good option for a secondary or family computer. And since it's secure and you can easily set up supervised users, this is a good option for a secondary or family computer.
It's certainly not for everyone, though. It's certainly not for everyone, though.
So, be sure to check out the full review on CNET.com. So, be sure to check out the full review on CNET.com.
I'm Josh Goldman, and I'm Josh Goldman, and
that's the look at the Asus Chromebox. that's the look at the Asus Chromebox.
Hey, there. Hey, there.
I'm Josh Goldman with CNET. I'm Josh Goldman with CNET.
And this is one very small desktop. And this is one very small desktop.
It's the Asus Chromebox which runs on Google's Chrome OS. It's the Asus Chromebox which runs on Google's Chrome OS.
If you're unfamiliar with Chrome OS, it's basically Google's Chrome web browser turned into an operating system. If you're unfamiliar with Chrome OS, it's basically Google's Chrome web browser turned into an operating system.
What that means is this little box, which starts at a mere $179, can do anything you can do in a web browser. What that means is this little box, which starts at a mere $179, can do anything you can do in a web browser.
That's actually quite a lot these days, and the Google Chrome store That's actually quite a lot these days, and the Google Chrome store
is loaded with free and pay web apps that range from simple website bookmarks to apps that can work offline and outside of a browser like traditional desktop software. is loaded with free and pay web apps that range from simple website bookmarks to apps that can work offline and outside of a browser like traditional desktop software.
Speaking of desktop software, like Chromebook laptops, you can't install traditional software directly on a Chromebox. Speaking of desktop software, like Chromebook laptops, you can't install traditional software directly on a Chromebox.
There are virtualization and remote desktop options, however. There are virtualization and remote desktop options, however.
So, if you still need to run desktop software, you can through the cloud. So, if you still need to run desktop software, you can through the cloud.
That's likely something you'll need to do for a business, and really, that's That's likely something you'll need to do for a business, and really, that's
what Asus is targeting with this. what Asus is targeting with this.
For consumers, the low-power Celeron processor, two gigs of memory, 16 gigs of storage and integrated graphics is good enough for everything you do on the web, casual games and for streaming services like Spotify or Netflix. For consumers, the low-power Celeron processor, two gigs of memory, 16 gigs of storage and integrated graphics is good enough for everything you do on the web, casual games and for streaming services like Spotify or Netflix.
And since it's secure and you can easily set up supervised users, this is a good option for a secondary or family computer. And since it's secure and you can easily set up supervised users, this is a good option for a secondary or family computer.
It's certainly not for everyone, though. It's certainly not for everyone, though.
So, be sure to check out the full review on CNET.com. So, be sure to check out the full review on CNET.com.
I'm Josh Goldman, and I'm Josh Goldman, and
that's the look at the Asus Chromebox. that's the look at the Asus Chromebox.
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