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Asus Chromebox M004U Desktop PC - USD $175.14 ($187.87AUD) Delivered from Amazon

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Asus Chromebox M004U Desktop PC - USD $175.14 ($187.87AUD) Delivered from Amazon Affiliate
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Pgoobar on 17/08/2014 - 22:28 amazon.com (875 clicks)
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A good alternative to the Celeron NUC if web surfing will be your main use. This chromebox has a 50% more powerful CPU and has 2GB RAM and 16GB SSD built in.

Items:
$162.23
Shipping & handling:
$12.91
Total before tax:
$175.14 USD ($187.87 AUD)

Around $5 USD cheaper than the previous deal.

Specs:
1.4 GHz Intel Celeron 2955U Processor
2GB DDR3 RAM, 16 GB SSD HDD
Intel HD graphics
Google Chrome OS

Price History at C CamelCamelCamel.
Computing ASUS Chromebox ChromeOS

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closed Comments

  • Tuba on 17/08/2014 - 23:19

    Are thee any good as media players over a wifi lan?

    • daerka on 17/08/2014 - 23:51
      +2

      If you replace Chrome OS with OpenELEC, then yes. Great XBMC box.

      • happychappy1 on 18/08/2014 - 01:19
        +1

        Raspberry pi would be cheaper.

        • Joshman5k on 18/08/2014 - 07:34
          +1

          But less powerful

        • daerka on 18/08/2014 - 10:40

          That's true, and it may well be a sufficient solution depending on your particular use case. Same for a range of Android-based devices. For my particular use, neither of these are sufficient, while the Chromebox is.

        • happychappy1 on 19/08/2014 - 21:45

          @daerka: It depends on what you want to use the device for. If it's a dedicated XBMC setup, then the RPi is more than powerful enough in terms of processing.

          The main limitations are (a) no wifi, and (b) occasional software bugs, which should be solved soon enough.

          I use Rapbmc streaming mkv's, etc. (with DTS/DD)from a DLNA server (through ethernet) on my router (with a HDD connected), and it's more than sufficient.

          What is your issue with using a RPi?

        • daerka on 19/08/2014 - 22:40

          @happychappy1: It's slow for large libraries, during library updates even painfully so. That's with reference to browsing the library. Playback wise it is not able to properly play a large part of my content, in particular, Hi10P. The Chromebox, on the other hand, does not have either of these issues.

      • 4agte on 18/08/2014 - 15:34

        No optical out kills it for me. Means all my media must be played in stereo only. I have no way getting surround sound to my speakers. Raspberry pi has the exact same issue. Shame as this would be much faster

        • bargaino on 18/08/2014 - 18:15
          +1

          No optical out kills it for me.

          You could use a USB audio device. I have a small dongle with optical out, but nobody seems to sell them any more.
          So you need something ugly like: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/like/371013625319 .

        • happychappy1 on 19/08/2014 - 15:48
          +1

          Nah… HDMI is a digital interface. So all you gotta do is connect the HDMI cable to a receiver with HDMI inputs, and it'll handle the rest.

        • bargaino on 19/08/2014 - 16:11

          @happychappy1:

          Oh dear - isn't it screamingly obvious that 4agte does not have such a receiver? A new one would cost more than the Chromebox, and his old amp works perfectly well. I think my suggestion of a $15 USB audio device was a little more practical.

        • happychappy1 on 19/08/2014 - 21:39

          @manic: True, a USB audio device would be a lot cheaper. But in terms of a long-term solution, a receiver would be much better, because you won't have to mess around with drivers that could play up at any moment.

          A receiver, on the other hand, would be a longer-term solution, as it would support decoding of newer formats that the optical-in-only receiver may not support.

          The USB sound card may be supported by the RPi, if you chose the right one, but the Chromebox may not support one.

          Plus, on sale, you can get really cheap ones that are sub-$300.

    • scotty on 18/08/2014 - 18:05

      Plex?

      • daerka on 19/08/2014 - 17:16

        It's a good question. I could spin up a Plex server, and see how well Plex runs in Chrome OS.

  • bargaino on 17/08/2014 - 23:22
    +1

    Has a spare ram slot, so cheap & easy to upgrade to 4GB. Install Linux and you have a decent desktop system.
    A shame there is no space for a 2.5"drive inside, but local fileserver or USB 3 will do.

    • CYMA on 17/08/2014 - 23:43

      If it has a 16GB SSD internal can that not be replaced for larger storage?

      • bargaino on 17/08/2014 - 23:46

        Yes, but it is mSata, I think. Would be nice to have SSD for OS, plus a 1TB hard drive.

      • daerka on 17/08/2014 - 23:46
        +3

        Yes, it can. It uses a 42mm M.2 SSD drive. These drives come in capacities up to 256GB.

  • cpho on 17/08/2014 - 23:22

    Stupid question, but can format it and change OS?
    Say replace ChromeOS with Windows or Linux?

    • daerka on 17/08/2014 - 23:44
      +2

      Depends on the OS. In general, yes, but there aren't necessarily drivers for every bit of hardware. Ubuntu and Mint, for example, run fine, Windows does not seem to have sound over HDMI.

      • elusive on 18/08/2014 - 03:02

        Since it's Intel HD graphics, shouldn't the Intel drivers work? (HDMI audio is usually part of graphics drivers.)

        • daerka on 18/08/2014 - 10:34

          Should, but doesn't. With the default Windows 8.1 driver the HDMI audio device shows up as unplugged. Once you install the latest drivers from Intel it no longer shows up at all. Other people are reporting the same problem, and I'm not sure what the issues is. Haven't found any report of it working.

      • Wimma on 18/08/2014 - 09:41

        Which version of Ubuntu did you test please?
        Make an interesting htpc/steam streaming box potentially

        • daerka on 18/08/2014 - 10:37

          14.04. Have not done extensive testing, but all seems to be working at least. Same for Mint 17.

        • Wimma on 18/08/2014 - 12:46

          @daerka: Thanks.

  • bargaino on 17/08/2014 - 23:44
    +2

    $13 cheaper here:

    http://www.amazon.com/HP-Chromebox-CB1-020-Desktop-Silver/dp…

    (Almost identical - slightly different case design.)

    • daerka on 17/08/2014 - 23:49
      +1

      Not as upgradable in terms of memory. Only one SODIMM slot. No VESA mount. But yes, functionally identical.

    • goobar on 18/08/2014 - 10:38

      Yes, this also looks like a good deal if not looking to upgrade internals!

      • daerka on 18/08/2014 - 10:51
        +2

        There is one advantage the HP has over the Asus wrt export units. It has a power adapter with a cloverleaf connector and a separate cloverleaf to mains cable which is cheap and easy enough to replace. No need to fiddle with US to AU adapters, which isn't the easiest with the Asus adapter and its integrated US pins.

  • CYMA on 17/08/2014 - 23:45

    This chromebox has a 50% more powerful CPU…

    Really?

    • daerka on 17/08/2014 - 23:54

      Compared to what?

      Yes. It's Haswell too, not Bay Trail.

    • goobar on 18/08/2014 - 10:31
      +1

      Compared to the Celeron NUC in the previous sentence.

  • ezza on 18/08/2014 - 08:26

    Wow.. this is very tempting!
    Thinking I need one at this price.
    Is it easy to upgrade the RAM though?

    • ezza on 18/08/2014 - 08:40

      Dunno if the price just went up.. but this is what it looks like just before check out:
      Order Summary
      Items: $166.99
      Shipping & handling: $12.91
      Total before tax: $179.90
      Estimated tax to be collected: $0.00
      Order total: $179.90

    • daerka on 18/08/2014 - 10:57

      Not too difficult on the Asus. Take off four rubber feet, then undo four screws, gently lift off the bottom and the SODIMM slots are easily accessible. All goes back on nicely too. It's a bit trickier on the HP.

      • ezza on 19/08/2014 - 12:34

        great! i ordered one yesterday… any idea on the specific 2gb RAM stick i should be buying?

        • daerka on 19/08/2014 - 17:06

          The Asus comes stocked with the following:

          Brand: SK hynix
          Type: 2GB 1Rx16 PC3L - 12800S - 11 - 12 - C3
          Model No.: HMT425S6AFR6A

          I'd assume any single rank (1Rx) low voltage (PC3L) module with 1600Mhz will work. I've tested a few different 1Rx8 and 1Rx16 PC3L modules from Hynix, Kingston and Crucial and all worked fine. I've tested a couple of 1Rx PC3 modules and neither worked, so make sure it is low voltage.

          If all else fails, I've upgraded my units and have a couple of the original Asus modules spare. ;-)

          P.S. While you have the unit open, use this opportunity to remove the write-protect screw.

        • ezza on 20/08/2014 - 09:22

          Hi daerka

          Appreciate the response and advice.

          I'd be interested in your spare ones.. knowing they will definetly work in the chromebox… tried to PM you but it doesn't look like you have PM on.

          Can you please PM me.

          Thanks!

  • Twisty on 18/08/2014 - 09:10

    Can this play Foxtel GO?

    • goobar on 18/08/2014 - 10:40

      Can you play Foxtel Go inside the chrome browser? If so then yes it will play on this.

      • awebofdeception on 18/08/2014 - 20:44

        That's not true actually. There's no Silverlight plug-in for Chrome OS, or Java for that matter..

    • bargaino on 19/08/2014 - 09:51

      Last I heard, The Network of Evil requires Internet Explorer installed (even if it runs in a Chrome tab).
      Its kind of possible under Linux in theory (WINE), but no-one really wants to got there.
      Maybe the Mac version inside a VM? But even a jailbroken iPhone is blocked, so I don't like your chances.
      Anyway, isn't Fox even more evil than News Corp? They'll support Linux after they get exclusive coverage of the winter olympics in Hell.

      http://delimiter.com.au/2013/07/17/locked-down-foxtel-blocks…

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