What made you choose a Chromebox?

[SpookDroid]

I'm curious as to what made you choose to get a Chromebox over a desktop PC or even a Chromebook/Laptop. Any features you're especially enjoying?

 

[Golfdriver97]

Been tempted to get a Chromebox to act like a desktop. There is an HP one that I have been looking at.

From an AOSP M8

 

[Scott7217]

I'm curious as to what made you choose to get a Chromebox over a desktop PC or even a Chromebook/Laptop. Any features you're especially enjoying?

I chose a Chromebox because I wanted to try out Chrome OS, but I didn't like the Chromebooks that were out on the market.

I wanted a Chromebook with a really nice screen and a backlit keyboard. The Chromebook Pixel met those requirements, but it's expensive. The other Chromebooks that I looked at seemed to compromise in other areas.

I bought an Asus Chromebox and hooked it up to a monitor that I had in the house, and it's been working out great. I use a backlit keyboard that's wireless.

I haven't ruled out buying a Chromebook in the future. I would be interested in a refresh of the Pixel at a lower price point, but I don't know if Google will ever release a new version.

 

[ab2c4]

I chose a Chromebox because I wanted to try out Chrome OS, but I didn't like the Chromebooks that were out on the market.

I wanted a Chromebook with a really nice screen and a backlit keyboard. The Chromebook Pixel met those requirements, but it's expensive. The other Chromebooks that I looked at seemed to compromise in other areas.

I bought an Asus Chromebox and hooked it up to a monitor that I had in the house, and it's been working out great. I use a backlit keyboard that's wireless.

I haven't ruled out buying a Chromebook in the future. I would be interested in a refresh of the Pixel at a lower price point, but I don't know if Google will ever release a new version.

This is exactly why I am now looking to get a Chromebox instead of a Chromebook. None of the existing Chromebooks are what I am looking for hardware wise and the Pixel is too expensive.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[Scott7217]

This is exactly why I am now looking to get a Chromebox instead of a Chromebook. None of the existing Chromebooks are what I am looking for hardware wise and the Pixel is too expensive.

What kind of hardware are you looking for?

You can upgrade the RAM and storage on an Asus Chromebox by opening the case and swapping the components. You can even buy a version with a Core i7 processor, but that would be expensive.

For most people, the base model is good enough if you only need to use Chrome OS.

 

[ab2c4]

If I got a Chromebook I want a good 1080p 13" to 14" display, 4gb of RAM and a better processor than what I am seeing out there, for under $350usd.

The Toshiba Chromebook 2 has everything I want but the processor from what I read is underpowered and the device is laggy.

I have read that new processors will be in this fall's Chrome devices so that it's what I am waiting for at this point. I will either get a Chromebox with the new cpu, 4gb of RAM, in the $200price range. Or, an upcoming Chromebook with 1080p 13" display, 4gb of RAM and updated processor in the $300 range.

Regardless of what I buy, desktop or laptop, I want to be using it on a 1080p display with zero lag.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[Scott7217]

Regardless of what I buy, desktop or laptop, I want to be using it on a 1080p display with zero lag.

Something I've noticed from using a Chromebox is that certain websites have a lot of ads that introduce excessive lag when you are web surfing.

When I'm reading Gmail or typing up a document, I don't see lag.

On a side note, I'm thinking of getting a stand to turn my monitor into portrait orientation so that I don't have to scroll as much when I'm viewing a web page. That's something you can't do with a Chromebook. 1080p in landscape is great for movies, but sometimes I want more vertical space.

 

[Fuzzy761210]

I bought a chromebox w/celeron, flashed with openelec Kodi(xbmc), purchased a usb ir remote, now I have one of the best media players you can buy and its under 200 bucks

 

[AzD]

I have had a Chromebook for awhile now, one of the Samsungs from a couple years ago. It still runs like a champ, despite being a bit scratched up.

I got sick and tired of my Windows 10 desktop - core i7, 16GB of RAM and it still hiccups and has slowdowns, not to mention Windows' nonsensical interface. And it broke access to my DVD drive, and SD card reader... what a ****ing joke. Not to mention this giant energy hogging box sitting on the floor by my desk.

Mainly was only using for Lightroom/Photoshop, but I have also ditched those - a story for another day - lets just say I now am among the group of people who loathe all things Adobe.

So I bought a Chromebox - ASUS core i3 4GB model, and what a great computer. The difference is night and day - fast, easy, small and energy efficient, an absolute joy to use. If I never own another Windows machine I will be a very happy man. Chromebox + Chromebook is a great combination.

 

[Golfdriver97]

To update my own post here: I did get a Chromebox a couple months later. I got the Acer CXI-4GKM. Intel 2957U CPU, 4 GB RAM, 16 GB internal, and I love it!!! Like my Chromebook, 14 seconds and I am surfing the forums from a cold startup.

 

[SpookDroid]

That is quite nice! I guess I'm still torn between the 'full desktop' experience (thank you, stubborn work apps that won't update for mobile/tablet) and just a tablet.

But that's really nice! Full on use in 14 seconds.

 

[Golfdriver97]

That is quite nice! I guess I'm still torn between the 'full desktop' experience (thank you, stubborn work apps that won't update for mobile/tablet) and just a tablet.

But that's really nice! Full on use in 14 seconds.

Updates are quick too. Maybe 10 minutes to download, and reboot to install. Reboot time is almost the same.

 

[Octopus_ring]

If inside the box we have same hardware, what OS is better - Windows 10 or ChromeOS?