Google’s Chrome OS has typically arrived in laptops known as Chromebooks, but it looks like ASUS will be going a different route with the announcement of their Chromebox. The device will be powered by Chrome OS, but the main different is that it does not come with a monitor, keyboard, or mouse. In fact one could almost liken the Chromebox to a small form factor PC. Just like Chromebooks, the Chromebox will offer the user access to Google’s wide variety of products and services, such as YouTube, Hulu Plus, and Netflix.
The Chromebox will be powered by a 4th generation Intel processor and will feature WiFi connectivity to allow the user to access the internet. It will also come with four USB 3.0 ports, Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity, and an SD card reader to transfer files from other devices onto the Chromebox. The ASUS Chromebox will also feature HDMI and DisplayPort outputs for dual monitor support and will even play nicely with 4K UHD monitors, so if you’re planning on upgrading to a 4K monitor in the future, you can rest assured that it will be compatible with the ASUS Chromebox.
Other features of the Chromebox include how it is a fan-less design, meaning that when it is up and running it will be relatively quiet. It will also come with 100GB of Google Drive space that will be valid for 2 years, after which users will have to continue their subscription in order to keep their storage. For those interested in getting their hands on the device, the ASUS Chromebox will be available in March and will be priced starting at $179.