Best Chromeboxes

Google's Chrome OS has taken the world by storm in recent years, and a popular item that comes with it are various Chromebook laptop systems. Although Chrome OS has a few limitations when compared directly to other operating systems such as Microsoft Windows, it has come a long way, being the centerpiece behind a power workstation computer. There are few things now that can't be done using Chrome OS. However, one of the biggest limitations of it has been in regard to only being available on certain laptops.

The Acer CXI3-i716KM Chromebox, 8th Gen is a complete desktop computer that runs Chrome OS from Google. This system is surprisingly powerful for its size, as it packs some impressive hardware and features inside of the case. The kit includes a keyboard and mouse, and the Chromebox itself is easily mounted to the back of the monitor or TV via VESA mount holes. So, you can start using the device immediately after unpackaging. This gives this unit an unprecedented level of versatility that simply can't be matched by most other desktop PCs. Whether you need to use it at the office as a full workstation, or at home as mostly an entertainment device, this Chromebox gives you complete flexibility in use.

One of the most important capabilities of any kind of office system is the ability to remotely manage the computer. System admins need ways to easily manage multiple systems simultaneously, as it is simply too time consuming to work on each computer one at a time. Therefore, it is important for an office computer to support remote management, not only for the benefit of the system administrator but for that of the user as well.

The HP Chromebox mini G2 Tower Desktop Computer is a Chromebox running Chrome OS from Google that has full remote management capabilities, which makes it easy to set up your HP Chromebox to work with digital displays or to work as a virtual desktop, such as during presentations. In essence, this full powered desktop computer has an extraordinary amount of flexibility that makes it a powerful workstation for the office.

The small form factor of the system is also another huge advantage, as it not only allows for an extremely small footprint on the desk, leaving plenty of room for other important items, but also allows it to be relocated easily with minimal breakdown and setup time needed. About the only imperfection of this device is that it doesn't run completely silent, but to most people this is simply not an issue.

The most prominent characteristic of the ASUS Chromebox is that it has 32GB of built-in SSD storage. This space will allow for storing all your documents and images, and even a selection of movies, though not too many. It is also one of the bigger storage options on the market.

The RAM of this model is equally good for a Chromebox. While it is no match for a full-sized laptop and, of course, a PC, the 4GB DDR4 RAM is on par with most top-shelf Chromebooks. Well, a Chromebox is a Chromebook, after all, just without the display and, hence, cheaper and even more portable.

This ASUS Chromebox model is built based on the Intel Celeron 3865U processor. The reason for that is that Celeron CPUs are a tad cheaper than Intel Core options yet offer the performance good enough for most tasks you can complete on a Chrome OS. The 3865U has a clocking speed of 1.8GHz, not too far from that of the Intel Core i3-4030U CPU featured in the Acer Tower Chromebox, for example.

As it uses the Chrome OS, this Chromebox can obviously work with Google Play Store apps for Chrome OS but there is the support for a variety of Android apps as well so chances are you'll have a selection of games you play on your Android-based phone to be installed and played on a large monitor connected to this little Chome OS box.

The advancements in computer technology in recent years have been tremendous, and one of the hallmarks of that, along with portable devices such as smartphones and tablets, has been the proliferation of small form factor desktops. These small desktop computers have the same powerful capabilities that older large tower systems had, with the smaller modern systems in many cases being an order of magnitude more powerful. Even more impressive, though, is something that is called a "computer on a stick". These devices are full-fledged computers that have all of the capabilities of a much larger system.

A great example of this is the ASUS Chromebit Stick-Desktop PC. This extremely tiny computer comes in a form factor that is no larger than a candy bar, yet has all of the power of a regular desktop computer. This device is lacking only in internal storage capability, providing only 16 GB of storage capacity, but it has another trick up its sleeve. Together with the mini PC, you will receive 100 GB of cloud storage on the Google Drive service (for 2 years free usage), where you can store a lot of personal content. This more than makes up for the small internal storage, and also gives you instant access to the files stored there from anywhere you go.

There are quite a few benefits to having a small form factor desktop PC. They take up little space, are generally quite power efficient, and they are easy to take with you wherever you go. At the same time, though, there are some drawbacks to them as well. One of the biggest ones would be the fact that such devices can be easily stolen or moved without permission, leaving your data and personal information unprotected from prying eyes. Furthermore, these devices cost enough to make the impact of theft quite big on your wallet. In short, it is necessary to have some kind of anti-theft protection for such a small device.

The HP J5N50UT Chromebox Desktop Computer has just what is necessary to protect it from theft. There is a special industry standard Kensington lock protective connector on the case, designed to attach the Chromebox to a stationary object, which will help prevent unauthorized removal. This lets you keep your Chromebox sitting safe on your desk, without worries of someone coming along and taking it without permission. With this combined with the usual security precautions, you can be assured of your private information being safe and secure on this small form factor desktop computer.