Chromebit
{{Short description|Stick PC running Chrome OS}}
{{Infobox computer hardware
| name = Chromebit
| logo = Chromebit-Logo.jpg
| image = Asus Chromebit.jpg
| caption = The Asus Chromebit installed to a TV
| invent-date =
| invent-name =
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| introduced = {{start date and age|2015|3|31}}
| discontinued =
| type = Stick PC
| processor =
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| memory = 2 GB
| coprocessor =
| connection = Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
| power =
| weight = {{flatlist|
;Asus Chromebit: {{cvt|75|g|oz|sigfig=2}}
}}
| dimensions = {{flatlist|
;Asus Chromebit: {{cvt|123 xx 31 xx 17|mm|in|sigfig=2}}
}}
}}
The Chromebit is a stick PC running Google's ChromeOS. It is able to be plugged into any display via HDMI to act as a personal computer. Keyboards and mice are able to be connected over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. The device was announced in April 2015 and began shipping November 2015.
Functionality
A Chromebit uses a display with an HDMI port to control a desktop variant of the Chromebook netbook, which runs Google's ChromeOS operating system. ChromeOS primarily supports a single application, a web browser, thereby relying heavily on an Internet connection for software functionality and data storage.{{cite web|url=http://chrome.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/chrome-os-is-here-to-stay.html|title=Chrome OS is here to stay|date=2 November 2015 }}
Chromebits have a superficial resemblance to the Chromecast, another Google device. But whereas the Chromecast is designed to display multimedia and web content from an Android or ChromeOS device on a television or other large-screen display, the Chromebit is a self-contained personal computer.{{Cite news|url = https://gizmodo.com/googles-chromebit-turns-any-tv-into-a-chrome-pc-for-und-1694793903|title = Google's Chromebit Turns Any TV Into a Chrome PC for $85|last = Hollister|first = Sean|date = March 31, 2015|work = Gizmodo}} The device competes against the Intel Compute Stick, which offers similar plug-in functionality using two other operating systems, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10.{{Cite web|title = Google Chromebit packs an entire Chrome OS computer into an HDMI stick|url = http://www.androidcentral.com/google-chromebit-packs-entire-chrome-os-computer-hdmi-stick|access-date = 2015-03-31|last = Kessler|first = Derek|publication-date = March 31, 2015|website = androidcentral| date=31 March 2015 }}{{Cite web|title = Intel® Compute Stick|url = http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/compute-stick/intel-compute-stick.html|website = Intel|access-date = 2015-03-31}}
Technology
Internally, the first Chromebit resembles a standard Chromebook laptop.{{Cite web|title = Google debuts the Chromebit, a Chromebook dongle for under $100|url = http://mashable.com/2015/03/31/chromebook-chromebit/|website = Mashable|date = March 31, 2015|first = Karissa|last = Bell}} The device features 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0, as well as a USB 2.0 port at one end. The other end swivels, enabling it to fit into a variety of HDMI slots. The Chromebit has a total RAM capacity of 2 gigabytes and 16 gigabytes of flash memory.
Availability and models
Google announced the Chromebit on March 31, 2015. Google and Asus began shipping the first model that November.{{Cite web|title = More Chromebooks, for everyone|url = http://chrome.blogspot.com/2015/03/more-chromebooks-for-everyone.html|website = Google Chrome Blog| date=31 March 2015 |access-date = 2015-12-21}}{{Cite web|title = This $85 Device Turns Any Screen into a Computer|url = https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015/11/17/google-and-asus-release-chromebit-a-computer-on-a-stick|website = U.S. News & World Report|date = 2015-11-17|access-date = 2015-12-21}} The Chromebit no longer received updates after November 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/6220366?hl=en|title=Auto Update policy - Google Chrome Enterprise Help|website=support.google.com|access-date=2020-04-27}}
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Announced
! Brand ! Model ! Processor ! RAM ! Storage ! Size |
|---|
| March 2015
| Asus | Asus Chromebit CS10 | 2 GB | 16 GB |12 CM |