"Why Chromebook Pundits Are Out of Touch"

[Graham]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

It's March now, so what day is the Chromebox being released?

Here you go:

http://www.omgchrome.com/asus-chrome...dy-to-ship-us/



Graham

[Kumabjorn]

$180 is very tempting. Lots of ports but I bet I can't connect my USB monitor to it.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Graham

Here you go:

http://www.omgchrome.com/asus-chrome...dy-to-ship-us/



Graham

Thanks - I've been thinking about getting one. I'll wait for Best Buy to get them.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

$180 is very tempting. Lots of ports but I bet I can't connect my USB monitor to it.

Notice how that is a sale price? Their listed price is $20 more than Asus' price. Ridiculous!

[afv011]

Originally Posted by Graham

Here you go:

http://www.omgchrome.com/asus-chrome...dy-to-ship-us/



Graham

Thanks. I see it has HD4000 graphics, that's certainly plentiful to play HD movies - this would make a good media PC.

The i3 model is too expensive at more than twice the price.

[tubemonkey]

Asus Chromebox will be released in 2 days (14 Mar). Price for the 2GB version is $179. It's already the #1 best seller in desktops at Amazon.

• Asus Chromebox - Asus --> $179
• Asus Chromebox - Amazon --> $179
• Asus Chromebox - Newegg --> $179
• Asus Chromebox - TigerDirect --> $180

Ratings

• Anandtech --> detailed review w/ many pics (incl inside)
• CNET --> very good (7.4)
• PCMag --> excellent (8.0) -- Editor's Choice

Here are the specs again from an earlier post:

Asus Chromebox ----- Acer C720 Chromebook

• CPU ---> Intel Celeron 2955U (Haswell architecture)
• Cores ---> dual-core
• Speed ---> 1.4 GHz
• RAM ---> 2 GB
• SSD ---> 16 GB
• USB 2 ---> 0 ----- x1
• USB 3 ---> x4 ----- x1
• Card Slot ---> full-size SD
• HDMI ---> full-size
• DisplayPort ---> YES (full-size) ----- NO
• Ethernet ---> YES (gigabit) ----- NO
• WiFi ---> dual-band (2.4/ 5 GHz) 802.11a/b/g/n
• Bluetooth ---> 4.0
• Speakers ---> ??? ----- stereo
• Head/ Mic ---> YES
• Display ---> NO ----- YES (11.6" - 1366x768 - 135ppi - non-IPS)
• Camera ---> NO ----- YES (VGA - front)
• Price ---> $179 ----- $199

[tubemonkey]

Inside the ASUS Chromebox

Like the NUC, it's pretty easy to get inside the Chromebox. Peel off the four rubber feet underneath the box to reveal the four Phillips head screws. Remove the screws and use one of the screw holes to provide leverage to pop the bottom off and you're in.

ASUS' motherboard is slightly rectangular (11.25cm x 10cm) compared to the more square Intel NUC form factor (10cm x 10cm).

There are no real surprises on the inside. The Chromebox features two DDR3 SO-DIMM slots, an M.2 SATA port and a mini-PCIe both of which come populated from the factory.

[afv011]

I will most likely get this ChromeBox when I go next South of the border. It will make a good media PC and no-frills internet PC.

[tubemonkey]

I might get one to hook up to the TV in the living room. It's only $179 and well within my toy budget.

[QuantumIguana]

Originally Posted by frahse

I did see where MS may have a FREE version of Win 8.1.

Chrome OS is indeed a world mover!

Microsoft experimenting with free version of Windows 8.1
By Tom Warren on February 28, 2014 08:17 am

"Microsoft is currently experimenting with a free version of Windows 8.1 that could boost the number of people using the operating system. Sources familiar with Microsoft’s plans tell The Verge that the company is building "Windows 8.1 with Bing," a version that will bundle key Microsoft apps and services. While early versions of the software have leaked online, we understand that Windows 8.1 with Bing is an experimental project that aims to bring a low-cost version of Windows to consumers. ZDNet first reported some Windows 8.1 with Bing details earlier this week.

"Designed as a free or low-cost upgrade for Windows 7 users"

We’re told that Microsoft is aiming to position Windows 8.1 with Bing as a free or low-cost upgrade for Windows 7 users."

Free!!!

Do people actually use Bing? Microsoft tried to brand Bing not as a search engine, but as a "Decision Engine". What that seems to mean is that they wanted to drive you to the decisions that Microsoft wants you to make. Now they are trying to rebrand it as a "Doing Engine". What people want is a search engine. They just want to find information.

[ApK]

Hmm...A free OS centered around an Internet search engine...how do the Redmond guys come up with these new, innovative ideas....?

Anyway:

Originally Posted by QuantumIguana

Do people actually use Bing? Microsoft tried to brand Bing not as a search engine, but as a "Decision Engine". What that seems to mean is that they wanted to drive you to the decisions that Microsoft wants you to make. Now they are trying to rebrand it as a "Doing Engine". What people want is a search engine. They just want to find information.

Yes. There are Google-haters, there are people who don't know how to change the default IE search provider, and there are those like some of the devs I've work with who have just really drunk the MS kool-aid...they use Windows Mobile phones, share files with Mesh (or Skydrive or whatever it is now) listen to WMA files on their Zunes, and search on Bing.

However, whenever I think of Bing (or Yahoo) I think of this:

http://www.collegehumor.com/video/50...ling-with-bing

[frahse]

Originally Posted by ApK

Hmm...A free OS centered around an Internet search engine...how do the Redmond guys come up with these new, innovative ideas....?

Anyway:

Yes. There are Google-haters, there are people who don't know how to change the default IE search provider, and there are those like some of the devs I've work with who have just really drunk the MS kool-aid...they use Windows Mobile phones, share files with Mesh (or Skydrive or whatever it is now) listen to WMA files on their Zunes, and search on Bing.

However, whenever I think of Bing (or Yahoo) I think of this:

http://www.collegehumor.com/video/50...ling-with-bing

I am not trying to be a contrarian but I do think Yahoo Finance has a much better Personal Portfolio than Google Finance. I do use both system of charts.

I only use Bing when Google isn't doing what I want.
Likewise the other search engines I have available on my drop down menu.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by frahse

I am not trying to be a contrarian but I do think Yahoo Finance has a much better Personal Portfolio than Google Finance. I do use both system of charts.

I know lots of folks that use Yahoo! Finance. I was thinking more specifically of the search engines, but as it happens, the frequency Yahoo! email accounts get hacked does make me suspicious about the brand as a whole.

[tubemonkey]

On a related note, Google Drive storage prices have been slashed:

• 15 GB = free
• 100 GB = $1.99/ mo (was $4.99)
• 1 TB = $9.99/ mo (was $49.99)

For those who signed up for the free 2-yr 100GB plan with your Chromebook purchase, it'll only cost you $1.99 per month to continue. I didn't sign up for it. As is, I haven't used any of the free 15GB I already have.

[frahse]

Originally Posted by ApK

I know lots of folks that use Yahoo! Finance. I was thinking more specifically of the search engines, but as it happens, the frequency Yahoo! email accounts get hacked does make me suspicious about the brand as a whole.

Remember any "Brand" (company) changes.

I once had my domain for writing and personal stuff with Yahoo. It was cheap. It was great. I had unlimited "redirects" and everything was fine.
Then they "upgraded" which resulted in a loss of the redirects (except 1) and the costs skyrocketed.

I left and a few "Brands" later, was with 1and1 which I have now been with for a fair number of years.

When the lady from Yahoo came on so strong and seemed to be doing a good job, I bought YHOO stock and then it came out that she was firing the guy (also from Google) that she had personally hired at a very high price to raise the profits and was giving him a ridiculous parachute, I myself bailed, at least on the YHOO stock.
I still use the Yahoo Finance as my main Portfolio to follow my stocks because Vanguard which carries our 401 and where I buy and sell, doesn't have as good a presentation system.