Google’s Chrome OS started life in inexpensive Chromebook laptops. Then, it moved onto inexpensive, tiny desktops, or Chromeboxes. Now, the OS is ready to take on the iMac-dominated all-in-one space as well.
We first saw LG’s Chromebase AIO back in January at CES 2014. Now, the system’s arrival is imminent; it should be landing at outlets like Amazon, Newgg, and Tiger Direct on May 26, according to LG. If you’d like to see it for yourself before buying, it should also show up at your local Fry’s Electronics and Micro Center as well. It’ll carry an MSRP of $349.99.
Just what does a $350 Chrome OS-packing all-in-one desktop get you? There’s a 21.5-inch 1080p display, an Intel Celeron 2955U Haswell processor, 2GB of RAM, and 16GB of solid-state local storage. Google will throw in 100GB of cloud storage for two years also.
Connectivity options consists of 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, one USB 3.0 port, and a trio of USB 2.0 ports. An Ethernet jack is included in case you prefer a faster, more stable Internet and network connection. There’s also an HDMI-in port, which means that you can use the Chromebase’s monitor as a mini HDTV.
The Chromebase will be available in both black and white hues, and we dig the retro-futuristic style. However, that’s tainted by the wired peripherals that appear in the press photos. A wireless keyboard and mouse may be too much to ask for, considering the price. Even so, we’d still love to see a model that only needs one cable for power, or two if you aren’t using Wi-Fi.
