Announced in April, Acer’s Chromebase AIO PC – running Google’s Chrome OS – is now available. The DC221HQ is said to be the first AIO running Chrome.
Because Chrome has low hardware requirements, Acer was able to use ARM-based components. For instance, an Nvidia Tegra K1 SoC (quad-core Cortex-A15 CPU and Kepler-based GPU) runs the OS, paired with 4GB of DDR3 RAM. Local storage is a simple 16GB SSD; as with other Chrome PCs, most of the storage – 100GB – is located in the cloud.
HDMI, USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 ports are featured, as well as WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity. The 21.5″ display has 1920 x 1080 resolution and 178° viewing angles; it can tilt from 15° to 75°. 3W speakers are built in.
Acer is selling the DC221HQ now, for $430 (touch) or $330 (non-touch).
Analyst Comment
Some might question the use of less powerful hardware on a desktop PC – after all, these are often used today by users who want more power and speed. More casual computer-users make do with a laptop. However, the ARM-based components mean that Acer has achieved a very affordable price point for its new AIO – comparable to those of a premium mid-range laptop. For that price, portability is sacrificed for a larger – but not overly large – screen. (TA)
