9 ms·

I think the bigger news here is the Chromebit. A $100 device that turns any monitor into a computer? Fascinating.

thehoff 12y ago
Beat me to it. I agree, the Chromebit is way more interesting.
jhardcastle 12y ago
More details on Cnet - http://www.cnet.com/uk/products/asus-chromebit/ http://www.cnet.com/uk/products/asus-chromebit/ Bluetooth 4.0, WiFi 802.11AC, USB 2.0 for accessories, 2GB of RAM and 16GB SSD
- jonknee 12y ago
  Amusing that it has a more useful port than the new Macbook.
- pronoiac 12y ago
  > The Raspberry Pi is a nearly stick-like mini computer that can run Windows or Linux. What? Is this about the future version of Windows that will run on ARM?
  - exprL 12y ago
    Windows has been running on ARM since version 8 (the ARM-specific version was called Windows RT). Since then, Microsoft announced a “special” version of Windows that's intended for the new Raspberry Pi 2.
    - pconner 12y ago
      If I remember correctly, it's more of a runtime for some .NET programs with access to the Pi's GPIO pins than a full-fledged OS.
- lewisl9029 12y ago
  Wow. AC wireless in a $100 device. Now I'm interested. What does it do for power? Through the USB port like most other similar devices I'm assuming?
  - smackfu 12y ago
    You can get AC routers for under $80 now, and they are basically just Linux boxes.
  - adventured 12y ago
    It apparently has a full-size USB and microUSB port for power purposes.
    - deleted 12y ago
      [deleted]
dpcan 12y ago
I thought this was interesting too... but are you also carrying around a keyboard and mouse?
- georgemcbay 12y ago
  Not necessarily. I do virtually all my work split between my home office and an actual workplace office. Currently I drag a laptop back and forth between the two, but having a monitor/keyboard/mouse at both (which I already do and dock the laptop into) and just bringing a small stick literally in my pocket that I can plug in to either place and get my full, familiar, always-up-to-date development environment is very appealing. Obviously YMMV depending upon use case, for me a full laptop (even a small one) is overkill for what I need for a work machine, since I never really use it anyplace other than work or home and in both places I plug it into "full-sized" keyboard/mouse/monitors anyway. Since I do Android development, ChromeOS isn't the ideal platform for this, but I suspect these sticks will run crouton like other ChromeOS devices...
  - derekp7 12y ago
    For this workflow (where you already have most of a computer at two locations), wouldn't having a diskless workstation at work and home also work out, and just carry around a USB thumbdrive? That way you still have the same environment in both locations.
    - georgemcbay 12y ago
      I've actually considered USB before in years past and discounted it because the speed of USB sticks was very bad (in the context of keeping all your files on one, compiling from one, etc). Thinking about it again in light of your comment made me realize there very well could be USB 3.0 thumbdrives with suitable speed (based on some Googling around it looks like there are some that are quite fast, but you have to be really careful with brand/model since it appears there is a very wide spread between the performance of different USB3.0 thumbdrives). But, yeah, I suppose using a fast USB3.0 thumbdrive would be another way to achieve this sort of setup.
jonknee 12y ago
Similar offering to Intel's stick computer (albeit Intel's has better specs and costs 50% more): http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/compute-stick/intel-compute-stick.html http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/compute-stick/intel-c...
- eendividi 12y ago
  Actually, according to CNET, there's a Linux version of the Intel stick that costs only $89, plus, Intel's has a micro SD card slot, although it lacks the 802.11ac. http://www.cnet.com/products/intel-compute-stick/ http://www.cnet.com/products/intel-compute-stick/
  - yohui 12y ago
    Unfortunately, the Linux edition only has 1GB of RAM and 16GB of storage, while the Windows version will have 2GB and 32GB respectively.
philip1209 12y ago
It seems like a good alternative to raspberry pis. We use these types of small computers to power dashboards, and frankly the Pis are a pain to set up for this purpose. I hope the Chromebit works well for just loading a website.
- vially 12y ago
  That's exactly why I was considering buying a raspberry pi for. Have you also considered the chromecast for this (maybe by creating a custom app/plugin for your dashboard)?
  - bduerst 12y ago
    We dropped using the pi for chromecast. Much more responsive and less maintenance, though the Pis are great learning tools.
- spankalee 12y ago
  I'm pretty sure it'll be good at that :) For dashboards and kiosks, there might be of use: https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/3134673?hl=en https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/3134673?hl=en http://googleforwork.blogspot.com/2015/03/screens-go-Google-at-the-Digital-Signage-Expo.html http://googleforwork.blogspot.com/2015/03/screens-go-Google-...
lazyjones 12y ago
I see no point in carrying around a little stick to use as a computer but not as storage. Plenty of flash-based local storage would be easy to add (with locally encrypted backups to the cloud if needed) and turn the privacy-impaired ChromeOS products into decent personal computing devices.
malenm 12y ago
I wonder how much thought they put into theft prevention if this is really intended to be used in schools - the ability to just pull this out the the USB port and walk off seems entirely too tempting in a school setting.
- maaku 12y ago
  Glue.
- kps 12y ago
  Organizationally-managed Chromeb.*s can be remotely disabled by the administrator. https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/3523633 https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/3523633
jvandonsel 12y ago
Any monitor? Not mine. HDMI required.
- egypturnash 12y ago
  Where d you even get a monitor that doesn't do HDMI any more?
  - dman 12y ago
    http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&cs=04&sku=320-2676 http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l...
maaku 12y ago
One of those running XBMC would be awesome.
rm445 12y ago
That doesn't surprise me, because I already have a Chromecast. And there are many other instances of small cheap computers too, but my point is this: once you've seen a little device that plugs into a TV/monitor and does stuff, you've already seen a computer, because all these things are computers nowadays. Hardware has to be seriously small and special-purpose nowadays to even consider a microcontroller. It's the age of system-on-a-chip.

Beat me to it. I agree, the Chromebit is way more interesting.

More details on Cnet - http://www.cnet.com/uk/products/asus-chromebit/ http://www.cnet.com/uk/products/asus-chromebit/ Bluetooth 4.0, WiFi 802.11AC, USB 2.0 for accessories, 2GB of RAM and 16GB SSD

jonknee 12y ago
Amusing that it has a more useful port than the new Macbook.
pronoiac 12y ago
> The Raspberry Pi is a nearly stick-like mini computer that can run Windows or Linux. What? Is this about the future version of Windows that will run on ARM?
- exprL 12y ago
  Windows has been running on ARM since version 8 (the ARM-specific version was called Windows RT). Since then, Microsoft announced a “special” version of Windows that's intended for the new Raspberry Pi 2.
  - pconner 12y ago
    If I remember correctly, it's more of a runtime for some .NET programs with access to the Pi's GPIO pins than a full-fledged OS.
lewisl9029 12y ago
Wow. AC wireless in a $100 device. Now I'm interested. What does it do for power? Through the USB port like most other similar devices I'm assuming?
- smackfu 12y ago
  You can get AC routers for under $80 now, and they are basically just Linux boxes.
- adventured 12y ago
  It apparently has a full-size USB and microUSB port for power purposes.
  - deleted 12y ago
    [deleted]

dpcan 12y ago

I thought this was interesting too... but are you also carrying around a keyboard and mouse?

georgemcbay 12y ago
Not necessarily. I do virtually all my work split between my home office and an actual workplace office. Currently I drag a laptop back and forth between the two, but having a monitor/keyboard/mouse at both (which I already do and dock the laptop into) and just bringing a small stick literally in my pocket that I can plug in to either place and get my full, familiar, always-up-to-date development environment is very appealing. Obviously YMMV depending upon use case, for me a full laptop (even a small one) is overkill for what I need for a work machine, since I never really use it anyplace other than work or home and in both places I plug it into "full-sized" keyboard/mouse/monitors anyway. Since I do Android development, ChromeOS isn't the ideal platform for this, but I suspect these sticks will run crouton like other ChromeOS devices...
- derekp7 12y ago
  For this workflow (where you already have most of a computer at two locations), wouldn't having a diskless workstation at work and home also work out, and just carry around a USB thumbdrive? That way you still have the same environment in both locations.
  - georgemcbay 12y ago
    I've actually considered USB before in years past and discounted it because the speed of USB sticks was very bad (in the context of keeping all your files on one, compiling from one, etc). Thinking about it again in light of your comment made me realize there very well could be USB 3.0 thumbdrives with suitable speed (based on some Googling around it looks like there are some that are quite fast, but you have to be really careful with brand/model since it appears there is a very wide spread between the performance of different USB3.0 thumbdrives). But, yeah, I suppose using a fast USB3.0 thumbdrive would be another way to achieve this sort of setup.

jonknee 12y ago

Similar offering to Intel's stick computer (albeit Intel's has better specs and costs 50% more): http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/compute-stick/intel-compute-stick.html http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/compute-stick/intel-c...

eendividi 12y ago
Actually, according to CNET, there's a Linux version of the Intel stick that costs only $89, plus, Intel's has a micro SD card slot, although it lacks the 802.11ac. http://www.cnet.com/products/intel-compute-stick/ http://www.cnet.com/products/intel-compute-stick/
- yohui 12y ago
  Unfortunately, the Linux edition only has 1GB of RAM and 16GB of storage, while the Windows version will have 2GB and 32GB respectively.

philip1209 12y ago

It seems like a good alternative to raspberry pis. We use these types of small computers to power dashboards, and frankly the Pis are a pain to set up for this purpose. I hope the Chromebit works well for just loading a website.

vially 12y ago
That's exactly why I was considering buying a raspberry pi for. Have you also considered the chromecast for this (maybe by creating a custom app/plugin for your dashboard)?
- bduerst 12y ago
  We dropped using the pi for chromecast. Much more responsive and less maintenance, though the Pis are great learning tools.
spankalee 12y ago
I'm pretty sure it'll be good at that :) For dashboards and kiosks, there might be of use: https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/3134673?hl=en https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/3134673?hl=en http://googleforwork.blogspot.com/2015/03/screens-go-Google-at-the-Digital-Signage-Expo.html http://googleforwork.blogspot.com/2015/03/screens-go-Google-...

lazyjones 12y ago

I see no point in carrying around a little stick to use as a computer but not as storage. Plenty of flash-based local storage would be easy to add (with locally encrypted backups to the cloud if needed) and turn the privacy-impaired ChromeOS products into decent personal computing devices.

malenm 12y ago

I wonder how much thought they put into theft prevention if this is really intended to be used in schools - the ability to just pull this out the the USB port and walk off seems entirely too tempting in a school setting.

maaku 12y ago
Glue.
kps 12y ago
Organizationally-managed Chromeb.*s can be remotely disabled by the administrator. https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/3523633 https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/3523633

jvandonsel 12y ago

Any monitor? Not mine. HDMI required.

egypturnash 12y ago
Where d you even get a monitor that doesn't do HDMI any more?
- dman 12y ago
  http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&cs=04&sku=320-2676 http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l...

maaku 12y ago

One of those running XBMC would be awesome.

rm445 12y ago

That doesn't surprise me, because I already have a Chromecast. And there are many other instances of small cheap computers too, but my point is this: once you've seen a little device that plugs into a TV/monitor and does stuff, you've already seen a computer, because all these things are computers nowadays. Hardware has to be seriously small and special-purpose nowadays to even consider a microcontroller. It's the age of system-on-a-chip.