Google introduced Asus-made Chromebit dongle, a compact stick running Chrome OS back in April. Today Asus and Google have launched the Chromebit. It plugs directly into the HDMI port on a TV or monitor to turn it into a desktop PC offering 1080p output. It has a fan-less design, but if it gets too hot (over 35-degrees), Chromebit will shut down automatically to prevent overheating, according to Asus.
Asus Chromebit CS10 specifications
- Quad-Core Rockchip RK3288-C processor with four ARM Cortex-A17 cores and Mali T764 GPU
- 2GB DDR3 RAM, 16GB eMMC storage
- Chrome OS
- Wi-Fi 802.11ac (dual-band), Bluetooth 4.0
- Dimensions: 123 x 31 x 17 mm; Weight: 75 grams
- HDMI, USB 2.0, DC-in (12V, 1.5A, 18W adapter)
The Chromebit ships with an HDMI extension cable and adhesive hook-and-loop stickers so that you can hide the device behind a display or position it out front for easier access to the USB port. It also comes with a separate DC adapter that provides power. It might be cheaper than the Intel Compute Stick, which runs Windows, but the Compute Stick is more powerful.
The Google Chromebit comes in Cacao Black, Tangerine Orange colors, is priced at $85 (Rs. 5610 approx.) and will be available in the U.S. through Amazon, Newegg, Fry’s, Micro Center, B&H Photo, NCIX, Canada Computers, and Memory Express starting today. It will also be available in Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan and the UK.