Chromebox: No, Google Hasn’t Abandoned Chrome OS
And now, we have received proof that Google is not done tackling the Chrome OS idea. Information about pricing and specs regarding the upcoming Chromebox, a device that will be released in a partnership with Samsung, have leaked online. A prototype of the device was showcased during the CES but since then, no new information surfaced about it. If the information is to be believed, the new ChromeBox miniPC (now for sale at TigerDirect) will come packed with a 1.9 GHz Intel Celeron B840 dual core processor plus 4GB of DDR3 memory, a 16GB solid state disk and 6 USB ports. It also supports a DVI port, Ethernet, two Display Link ports, headphone jack and a power jack. It will probably become available with a wireless keyboard and mouse. The price has also become available and has been set to a decent $329.99. The new machine running Chrome OS will support better integration with the massive portfolio of online Google apps. The curious thing about such a machine is that all the data plus settings will be integrated into the cloud. This might translate into a smart way to avoid data loss due to hardware crash or whatever mischief life brings about. Will this prove an advantage for Chrome OS? I still believe Google needs 2 different Chrome OS versions if they want to become a serious threat for Microsoft and Apple.
Chrome OS Needs Time for Mass Adoption
But not everybody is convinced Chrome OS will be a success, there’s just too much competition around and with the upcoming Windows 8 getting ready for the official launch, there’s just no so much room for Google to spread its wings of dominion. And how about Android? Does this mean the two operating systems will converge to become one thing? And if so, will Chrome run Android apps or the other way around? I wouldn’t mind a Chrome OS-Android experience, to be honest. Maybe the recent success of Chrome’s browser is proof that the world might be ready for a cloud OS. Not that the Chrome Web Store is very developed at the moment and certainly lacks the spice of other app shops. We also know of the well sedimented problem of Android apps which don’t work universally but are fragmented and function on certain devices only. Also, Android developed a few Chrome-like features starting with version 3. Regardless of these opinions, the ChromeBox will be getting released apparently, so we will have to wait and see if it ends up being a success on the market. Don’t forget, Chrome OS is still a rookie in this field. Some might say that this is a lame product and that Google needs something much more powerful than that to win the audience’s heart. I think that we should be patient and watch closely. Google isn’t hurrying anywhere, they’ve got plenty of cash and time to plan all their moves. I still believe Chrome OS has a future, it just needs to be presented in the right form to the user. Update: if some of you thought Chromebox is dead, think again. With a slightly bigger price, Chromebox comes in a new configuration that should impress Chrome OS lovers. Maybe this is a sign that consumers didn’t like the poor specs the previous version had. The new one comes with the Intel Core i5 processor, replacing Celeron Series 3. The new model will cost 80 more dollars. At the moment, no other upgrade besides than the processor is known.
