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Acer is expanding its Chrome OS computer line-up with its new Chromebase all-in-one desktop, which is the company’s first Chrome OS-based all-in-one.
The Acer Chromebase features a large 21.5-inch 1080P full HD display that includes a touch-screen for easy user input, an Nvidia Tegra K1 quad-core processor, a built-in HD webcam, integrated dual 3-watt speakers, USB 3.0 and 2.0 ports, 802.11ac WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity and more, according to the company. Additional specifications were not immediately available from Acer.
The all-in-one reportedly has a fast boot-up time of about 10 seconds and includes built-in security features and automatic system updates, according to Acer. In addition, Chrome OS supports multiple users and accounts and automatically syncs and backs up photos, videos, music and documents for all users into their Google accounts. The Acer Chromebase also includes 100GB of free Google Drive online storage for two years.
Pricing has not yet been announced for the new machines, which are slated for availability in the North American and Asia-Pacific markets in the second quarter of 2015.
Acer Group held a 36 percent global Chromebook market share in 2014, according to February estimates from Gartner.
In January, Acer unveiled two new Chromebooks aimed at schools and students, featuring durable construction to hold up under rough treatment and myriad technology features to help students get their schoolwork completed at home or in school. The Acer Chromebook C910, with a 15.6-inch display, and the Acer Chromebook C740, with an 11.6-inch display, start at $299.99 for the C910 or at $259.99 for the C740. The larger Acer C910 is aimed at school lab and classroom uses and can be shared by multiple students. The smaller Acer C740 is a compact Chromebook that fits well in backpacks so students can easily transported it home.
Earlier this week, competitor Asus unveiled its own new Chrome OS devices, including the new Chromebook Flip—which is a convertible laptop and tablet in one—as well as the Chromebit, which is a small dongle that plugs into a monitor via a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) port and allows users to turn the display into a basic computer.
The all-metal Asus Chromebook Flip, which is just a little more than a half-inch thick (19/32 of an inch) and weighs less than 2 pounds, will be available later this spring, starting at $249. The Flip is the first Chromebook that can easily convert from a tablet to a laptop with a simple flip, according to Google. The machine includes a Rockchip 3288 processor, a choice of 2GB or 4GB of memory, a choice of 16GB of eMMC storage or 16GB of solid-state drive (SSD) storage, a 10.1-inch In-Plane Switching (IPS) display, an ARM Mali 760 quad-core graphics chip, battery life of up to 10 hours on a charge, an integrated track-pad, Bluetooth 4.0 and built-in 802.11ac WiFi.
Google describes its new Chromebit as smaller than a candy bar while including everything needed to provide users with a basic, fully featured computer for $99 when it is plugged into any HDMI-equipped monitor. The Chromebit includes a Rockchip 3288 processor, 2GB of memory, 16GB of eMMC storage, an ARM Mali 760 quad-core graphics chip, a single USB 2.0 port, 802.11ac WiFi capabilities and Bluetooth 4.0. The Chromebit will be available for purchase later this summer, according to Google.
Two other Chromebooks, each priced at $149, were also announced by Google this week and are available for preorders immediately—the Haier Chromebook 11 from Amazon and the Hisense Chromebook, which will be sold by Walmart.com.
The Haier Chromebook 11 includes a Rockchip 3288 processor, 2GB of memory, 16GB of eMMC storage, an 11.6-inch display, an ARM Mali 760 quad-core graphics chip, a 720P HD camera, a built-in SD card reader, up to 10 hours of battery life on a charge, built-in 802.11ac WiFi, 2 USB 2.0 ports and Bluetooth 4.0 capabilities.
The Hisense Chromebook includes a Rockchip 3288 processor, 2GB of memory, 16GB of eMMC storage, an 11.6-inch display, up to 8.5 hours of battery life on a charge, an ARM Mali 760 quad-core graphics chip, a 720P HD camera, a built-in SD card reader, built-in 802.11ac WiFi, two USB 2.0 ports and Bluetooth 4.0 capabilities.
A ruggedized Haier Chromebook 11E for education is also slated for release later this spring, featuring components that are similar to the Haier Chromebook 11, according to Google.
Chromebooks and their desktop brethren Chromeboxes run Google’s Chrome operating system and feature a wide range of preinstalled, cloud-based Google services and products, including Google Docs and Google Calendar. Chromebooks allow users to do their work online or offline.