About a decade ago, a computer used to be a big box that had a lot of wires sticking out of it and a pen drive was a portable storage medium with about 2 GB of flash memory. The ASUS Chromebit is a full computer in a form factor that is little larger than a pen drive. Well, maybe not a full computer in the strictest definition of the word. But it does include the bit that typically finds the most use.

The computer in a stick form factor isn’t particularly new. There are a number of options available including Intel’s excellent Compute Stick. However, this ASUS is the first one that runs Google’s ChromeOS. The browser-based operating system crams some basic desktop computer functionality into the innards of the Chrome browser and lets the Internet do the rest. The result is a surprisingly competent computing device. It represents a middle ground between the full-blown desktop OS that Windows mini PCs can deliver and the touch-screen oriented app ecosystem that Android sticks offer.

Size matters? The Chromebit is slightly short of 4 inches long and less than 2 inches across. It is powered by a RockChip RK3288 processor and a ARM Mali-T624 GPU paired with 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of storage space. What that combination of internals provides, in the Chrome environment, is performance that allows you to have about 8 tabs open with HD video playing in one of them and a Skype audio call going on in another. It has a removable cap, which reveals a HDMI connector that will plug into any recent desktop monitor or TV. The device supports resolutions upto 1080p.

Before you complain about the lack of 4k support, bear in mind that you will probably spend most of your time in 720p mode if you sit more than 10 feet away from your screen. It cannot draw power from the TV and does not have a micro USB port either, requiring an external power supply that plugs into a proprietary port instead. The opposite end to the HDMI connector features the lone USB 2.0 port. Other connectivity options include Bluetooth and WiFi. There are no peripherals included in the box, so you will also have to spring for a USB hub and a wired keyboard and mouse combo or the Bluetooth equivalent.

Plug & Play Using the Chromebit is a fairly seamless experience. It does not have a power button and starts up as soon as the TV comes on. It also detects Bluetooth peripherals and automatically connects to them. With responsive websites replacing native software programs, the browser becomes word processor, file manager and media player rolled into one. By stripping away most of the advanced features available in full desktop operating systems, ChromeOS also removes the complications associated with one. A virus, for example, is a non-starter in Chrome’s idiot-proof sandboxed environment.

However, the environment is restrictive and you will frequently come up against its limitations.

The ChromeOS is a niche device that can do certain tasks very well.

As a kiosk computer for hotel lobbies, airports and other public spaces, it is unbeatable.

As a media center it is only adequate, offering access to Internet and local streaming, but through an interface that is meant for close proximity usage.

As a desktop computer, it is an underwhelming experience that will suit only the very old and the very young, since both age categories are usually content with very little. As a productivity tool, it is only as good as the peripherals that support it.

If you’re considering a Chromebit, spend a few minutes deliberating whether a Chromecast or a desktop tower will suit your needs better. The browser-on-stick is cheap and does what is says on the tin quite well, but it will never replace a full PC and neither is it the cheapest and best way to turn your dumb display into a smart television. However, if your requirement fits a few narrow use cases, it will do a great job.

Price: Rs 7,999

Love: Simplicity, Ease of use

Hate: Limited use cases

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