Ever thought of trying a Chromebook but stopped because you didn’t feel like spending a few extra hundred on a Web browser? Well, here’s a solution for you: a flash drive running Chrome OS dubbed “Chromebit” from Asus. It will cost a measly $99 and will require you to just have your own accessories and a TV/monitor with an HDMI port.
Like the Intel Compute Stick, the Chromebit comes with hardware packed inside, but looks several million times better and can swivel to hide behind the monitor. You get a Rockchip 3288 SoC, 2 GB RAM, 16 GB storage and Mali 760 GPU. For connectivity, apart from the HDMI port, you get a USB 2.0 port, Bluetooth 4.0 for wireless keyboard and mice and Wi-Fi 802.11.
The Chromebit will be available in three colours: Blue, Grey and Orange. All of ’em do look quite cute and decidedly portable. Battery life is not known right now as testing is not quite complete.
As said, the Chromebit will be available for an acceptable $99. Google will be hoping that it will play the same role that the Chromecast played to media streaming. And for that price, even the most money-conscious can try it out too.
