AppleInsider Staff
Devices running Google's budding Chrome OS cloud-based operating system continue to fall in price, as the company announced two new laptop models from Chinese manufacturers Haier and Hisense, alongside a convertible Chromebook and thumb drive-sized "Chromebit" from Asus.
Haier's Chromebook 11 ships with an 11.6-inch display, powered by a 1.8 gigahertz Rockchip RK3288 processor. Inside the 3.3-pound package, buyers will find 2 gigabytes of RAM, 16 gigabytes of eMMC flash storage, and a battery that the company says will power the Chromebook 11 for up to 10 hours.
Competitor Hisense's own Chromebook is nearly identical, specification-for-specification, though its Rockchip processor is clocked slightly higher. The 2.5 gigahertz clock speed drops battery life down to just 8.5 hours.
Both machines are available for preorder today, for $149 each.
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Taiwanese manufacturer Asus joined the party with the Chromebook Flip, an all-metal convertible laptop and tablet. Technical specifications are not yet available, but the Flip is expected to launch later this spring for $249.
Asus also announced the Chromebit, a minuscule computer-on-a-stick with an HDMI port on one end and a USB port on the other. Following the recent trend of devices-on-a-stick, the Chromebit will turn any HDMI-equipped monitor into a Chrome OS-based computer.
Technical specifications for the Chromebit are likewise unavailable, but it is expected to ship this summer for "less than $100."
Andrew Orr
Amber Neely
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
26 Comments
Today's "Chrome OS-based computer" is the Internet Appliance of yesteryear.
The computer on a USB drive is kind of a cool idea. I wonder how many could be lashed together to create a bitcoin mining operation? LOL...
I've always wanted to buy a laptop from a company that makes refrigerators. And I bet that Rockchip processor is a speed demon.
Haier. Right. Don't they make like air humidifiers and I dunno, bug zappers maybe? It's the last manufacturer that I would choose to make a [S]netbook[/S] ChromeBook.
I've always wanted to buy a laptop from a company that makes refrigerators. And I bet that Rockchip processor is a speed demon.
A computer with a built-in beverage holder? I'm in.