While the base model Asus Chromebox begins shipping in the US this week, we’ve yet to see a solid price and release date for Australia. We confirmed last month that Asus was definitely bringing them here but Asus has now supplied indicative pricing and availability information.
The units will begin to arrive next month, with the Celeron based M004U model priced at $299. There will be an i3 based Chromebox released in Australia from mid-May that will support 4K video, but will cost $499. There is also the i7 Chromebox which is Google’s platform for their Chromebox for Meetings service which Google is still deciding on a launch date for.
The full specs of the Asus Chromebox range :
| Chromebox-M004U | Chromebox-M025U | Chromebox-M020 | |
| CPU | Intel® Celeron 2955U Processor | Intel® Core i3-4010U Processor | Intel® Core i7-4600U Processor |
| GPU | Intel HD (200/1000MHz) | Intel HD 4400 (200/1000MHz) | Intel HD 4400 (200/1100MHz) – supports 4K Video |
| RAM | 1 x 2GB DDR3-1600 | 1 x 4GB DDR3-1600 | 2 x 2GB DDR3-1600 |
| Storage | 16GB SSD + 100GB Google Drive storage for 2 years | ||
| Networking | 10/100/1000 Ethernet and Dual-band 802.11 a/b/g/n, BT 4.0 |
||
| I/O | SD card reader 4 x USB 3.0 – (2x Front and 2xRear) 1 x HDMI 1 x DisplayPort 1 x Audio Jack (mic-in/speaker out) 1 x Kensington Lock |
||
| Dimensions | 12.4×12.4×4.19cm @ 0.6 kg | ||
| Price/Availability | $299/Early April | $499/Early May | TBA by Google |
There’s a lot of possibilities for Chromeboxes, they run quietly and at fairly low power in the background and even at $299, are a fairly cheap option to add a Web capable terminal to a TV or spare monitor.
The new Chromeboxes do have a price premium with regards to the US launch. The base model in the US is shipping for $179, while we pay an extra $120 for the box, there’s little you can do with the three US based retailers – Amazon, TigerDirect and NewEgg – selling the Chromebox there refusing to ship to Australia. Shipping forwarders are an option, but you will have to account for US power supplies.
Asus has yet to confirm retailers who will be carrying the Asus Chromebox range but we will be updating with that information when it comes to hand. We will definitely be going hands-on with the Asus Chromebox range as they release here in Australia as soon as they arrive in our stores.
Will you be getting a Chromebox? The Celeron based model or are you waiting for the i3 version with 4K video support?
All online retailers are sold out… Anyone find it in a retail store in the United States???
I would be quite happy with a Chromebox for daily use. The only problem is that I still game… and I’d like a Steam packaged app for ChromeOS so I could stream from a SteamBox. Would be perfect.
Very interested! When my daughter is old enough I’ll probably employ something like this for her to play on.
would be so nice if I can easily install other OS in there. seems google locks down chrome “boxes” so tight
You can install Crouton – essentially a full Linux distro – with almost no hassles whatsoever.
I would be happy turning it into an XBMC box, sounds like it could be good for that.
thanks for the tip. but I meant something like Apple where I can easily pop-in an install DVD and install the OS of my choice. not sure why Google is locking down their OS/hardware much more than Apple.
I thought they were the “good” guys?
Is it just the i3 one that will have the asus chromeos wireless keyboard and mouse included?
Almost positive that it does but since I wasn’t able to confirm I couldn’t put them in. Definitely chasing that info and the retailers who will carry them. You interested in a Group Buy for an i3 if I organise one?
I’d be interested.
yeah i would be also interested in getting in on a group buy in Aus. is this going ahead and how do I get information?