CES 2016, and Acer has taken the wrapping off of a stylish new Chromebase PC.
It’s the biggest and most powerful Chromebase released to date.
The all-in-one Acer Chromebase 24 leapfrogs the company’s first-gen model in almost every single area.
Acer has seen fit to bump up the screen size and quality to an IPS panel with full-HD resolution; has ditched the white, plasticky-looking casing, super charged the processor choices; and sprinkled a few novel hardware innovations on top.
The result is a killer Chromebase – the sort we’ve been waiting for since LG debuted the first such device back in 2013.
Acer Chromebase 24 Specs
The Acer Chromebase 24 sports a vivid 23.8-inch IPS display pushing a roomy resolution of 1920×1080 (known as FHD in abbreviation speak). A speaker grill sits beneath the screen (which will also be available with an optional 10-point multi-touch display).
The model will be available in a range of configurations, with a range of Intel Core processors promised. Yup, the low-power slow-poke Intel Celerons used previously give way to proper desktop processors.
A sleek chassis houses both the screen and system innards, while the switch to a traditional monitor stand enables the screen to be repositioned between 5 and 30 degrees.
Ports wise there is a selection of USB 2.0 and 3.0 slots, headphone/mic in jacks and an SD card slot for expanding storage.
Sadly Acer only appears to offer a HDMI out slot. This is handy if you need to work with two screens, but limiting for anything else. (The LG Chromebase launched in late 2013 offered buyers a HDMI in port, thereby allowing the Chromebase to double-up as a regular PC monitor, TV or Chromecast receiver).
Key specs at a glance:
- FHD IPS Display — Largest of any Chromebase
- Choice of Intel Core processors
- Up to 8GB of RAM
- 10-point touch display (optional)
- 178-degree viewing angles
- VESA mount compatibility
- 4 microphones for improved sound
- Adjustable HDR webcam
To Buy, Or Not To Buy?
It’s thrilling to see that the Chromebase category isn’t dead. With a paltry pair of devices released thus far – a seemingly endless churn of iterative new Chromebook models make the category seem stale by comparison – a new model was not a given.
A stylish new look, roomy screen size and vivid IPS touchscreen display combine to make my inner desire demand I try to find a purpose for one, if no one else’s!
As an interactive info kiosk in a hotel lobby or a family PC that handles online shopping, social networking, and basic media playback, the Chromebase can more than hold its own against similar low-power PCs out there, be they running Android or Microsoft Windows systems.
Acer is shy on pricing for this new model. But with previous Chromebases asking for around $329 you should expect a price tag in a similar range.