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Google and ASUS Launch the $85 Chromebit, a Chrome OS Desktop on an HDMI Stick

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Re: Google and ASUS Launch the $85 Chromebit, a Chrome OS Desktop on an HDMI Stick

#11

Post by eli »

monochromatic wrote: post #9

I'm trying to figure out what in the world people are going to use these for. Single-app kiosk? Sure, but that's gotta be a tiny market. TV streaming box? Maybe, but it's not clear to me that it really offers anything I care about that isn't already done by Chromecast/Roku. I dunno. It's kind of a cool idea, but it feels like a solution in search of a problem.

My mom loves her chromebook, but uses it plugged in to a monitor, mouse and keyboard 100% of the time.

Remember WebTV? It seemed like they were pretty popular at one point, if perhaps not so profitable.

Re: Google and ASUS Launch the $85 Chromebit, a Chrome OS Desktop on an HDMI Stick

#13

Post by viraptor »

rtl49 wrote: post #10
monochromatic wrote: post #9

I'm trying to figure out what in the world people are going to use these for. Single-app kiosk? Sure, but that's gotta be a tiny market. TV streaming box? Maybe, but it's not clear to me that it really offers anything I care about that isn't already done by Chromecast/Roku. I dunno. It's kind of a cool idea, but it feels like a solution in search of a problem.

I think there is a demographic of casual internet users who might be interested in this product. It's inexpensive and occupies little space, one need only provide peripherals and a monitor. It runs ChromeOS, which is reputed to be very secure (except from Google) and easy to use. Yes, the kiosk application seems of dubious value, if only because people tend to prefer touchscreen kiosks. But I don't believe you are co…

You can get a touch panel and put it over the screen. A lot of them just work with X server. Connect to the usb port and you're done.

Re: Google and ASUS Launch the $85 Chromebit, a Chrome OS Desktop on an HDMI Stick

#14

Post by JohnTHaller »

eli wrote: post #11
monochromatic wrote: post #9

I'm trying to figure out what in the world people are going to use these for. Single-app kiosk? Sure, but that's gotta be a tiny market. TV streaming box? Maybe, but it's not clear to me that it really offers anything I care about that isn't already done by Chromecast/Roku. I dunno. It's kind of a cool idea, but it feels like a solution in search of a problem.

My mom loves her chromebook, but uses it plugged in to a monitor, mouse and keyboard 100% of the time. Remember WebTV? It seemed like they were pretty popular at one point, if perhaps not so profitable.

WebTV had a clunky UI and was limited to an SD TV screen. 1080p screens are pretty commonplace now. Turning your living room TV into a multi-use computer with a wireless mouse/trackpad unit (about 30 bucks) could be a good investment for some households.

Re: Google and ASUS Launch the $85 Chromebit, a Chrome OS Desktop on an HDMI Stick

#15

Post by vortico »

rtl49 wrote: post #10
monochromatic wrote: post #9

I'm trying to figure out what in the world people are going to use these for. Single-app kiosk? Sure, but that's gotta be a tiny market. TV streaming box? Maybe, but it's not clear to me that it really offers anything I care about that isn't already done by Chromecast/Roku. I dunno. It's kind of a cool idea, but it feels like a solution in search of a problem.

I think there is a demographic of casual internet users who might be interested in this product. It's inexpensive and occupies little space, one need only provide peripherals and a monitor. It runs ChromeOS, which is reputed to be very secure (except from Google) and easy to use. Yes, the kiosk application seems of dubious value, if only because people tend to prefer touchscreen kiosks. But I don't believe you are co…

Although, cheap computers are certainly not hard to come by. A Thinkpad T60 is about $60 used, and its performance is similar to this device.

Re: Google and ASUS Launch the $85 Chromebit, a Chrome OS Desktop on an HDMI Stick

#16

Post by rtl49 »

viraptor wrote: post #13
rtl49 wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think there is a demographic of casual internet users who might be interested in this product. It's inexpensive and occupies little space, one need only provide peripherals and a monitor. It runs ChromeOS, which is reputed to be very secure (except from Google) and easy to use. Yes, the kiosk application seems of dubious value, if only because people tend to prefer touchscreen kiosks. But I don't believe you are co…

You can get a touch panel and put it over the screen. A lot of them just work with X server. Connect to the usb port and you're done.

I don't know that ChromeOS uses X server (I know almost nothing about it, in fact). But by the time you've paid for the additional hardware, it may be the case that it's cheaper to buy a tablet or a professional-grade IDS display.

Re: Google and ASUS Launch the $85 Chromebit, a Chrome OS Desktop on an HDMI Stick

#18

Post by rtl49 »

vortico wrote: post #15
rtl49 wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think there is a demographic of casual internet users who might be interested in this product. It's inexpensive and occupies little space, one need only provide peripherals and a monitor. It runs ChromeOS, which is reputed to be very secure (except from Google) and easy to use. Yes, the kiosk application seems of dubious value, if only because people tend to prefer touchscreen kiosks. But I don't believe you are co…

Although, cheap computers are certainly not hard to come by. A Thinkpad T60 is about $60 used, and its performance is similar to this device.

Maybe so, but I imagine one's grandmother would respond with more glee to receive this sleek little dongle than a clunky used Thinkpad T60. I'm not arguing that anyone in particular should go out and buy this product, only that some people are likely to do so of their own accord.

Re: Google and ASUS Launch the $85 Chromebit, a Chrome OS Desktop on an HDMI Stick

#20

Post by CydeWeys »

monochromatic wrote: post #9

I'm trying to figure out what in the world people are going to use these for. Single-app kiosk? Sure, but that's gotta be a tiny market. TV streaming box? Maybe, but it's not clear to me that it really offers anything I care about that isn't already done by Chromecast/Roku. I dunno. It's kind of a cool idea, but it feels like a solution in search of a problem.

It seems like it could be a cheap videoconferencing unit. Take a spare monitor, slap this in the back, add a webcam, and use video Hangouts. Everyone could have one at their desk for not much money. We have a custom solution we use in the office that I'm sure is way more expensive.
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