Despite its popularity is still less than Windows PC or Mac,
the Chrome OS-based device still has special attraction in the working world,
especially for meetings and video conferencing. From there, Google started the
initiative of "Chromebox for Meetings" in 2014.
So far there have been two sets of devices that have been
marketed, but Acer recently introduces Acer Chromebase, as well as the third
member of the Chromebox for Meetings devices line. Chromebase is designed for
video conferencing of two people, ideal for use in small room that's connected
to the other working partners via Google Hangouts service.
Acer Chromebase is basically an all-in-one PC with Chrome OS
operating system. It is equipped with 24-inch touch screen 1080p resolution,
Intel Celeron dual-core processor and 4 GB RAM. In addition, there is an HD
camera, four microphones and stereo speakers making it relevant as a tool for
video conferencing.
What distinguishes Acer Chromebase from other devices in
this line is the ease of use. Google claims that users only need to connect it to
the Internet, can be via Wi-Fi or Ethernet, to start using the device as a
means to communicate and collaborate remotely.
Google also bundles it with special software so that the IT
team at a company can optimize its settings remotely, aka from a distance. The
Hangouts service capability is also improved; it can now accommodate 25 people
simultaneously.
As a productive device, the connectivity of Chromebase is
fairly complete. There are four USB ports on the back, three of which are USB
3.0. Then there is also an SD card reader and a standard headphone jack.
The device is sold for $ 799, including the subscription
cost of remote management tool software for a year.