Acer Chromebase desktop with touchscreen revealed

(Reuters)

Just days after Google Inc. launched its cheapest Chromebooks yet, low-cost computer maker, Acer has unveiled the first all-in-one Chrome-powered desktop called Chromebase with a touchscreen.

Google has been collaborating with Acer, which is known for its durable and reliable hardware, to build new hardware products and popularize Chrome OS over different platforms. Just a few days ago, Asus had announced the Chromebook Flip and the Chromebit, a stick-sized Chrome OS computer, and had earlier launched one of the biggest display Chromebooks in the form of the Acer Chromebook 15.

Acer has now unveiled the Chromebase, an all in one PC that runs on Chrome OS and features a full HD resolution (1,920 x 1,080 pixels) 21.5-inch touchscreen panel. According to Acer, the screen offers 178-degree viewing angles and supports 10-point multitouch.

The Chromebase's spec sheet provides limited information and states that it is powered by Nvidia's powerful Tegra K1 ARM-based processor, but there is no mention of the processor's clock speed and whether it is 64-bit or 32-bit. It has two built-in 3W audio speakers, HDMI output, USB 3.0, and USB 2.0 ports, and offers 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0, along with a built-in HD webcam for Google Hangouts video chats.

The Chromebase can be configured with up to 4GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage, but will come with 100 GB of Google Drive storage for two years. According to Acer, the Chromebase boots up in 10 seconds and "has multiple layers of security built-in with automatic system updates." Similar to all Chrome-based machines, the Chromebase supports multiple users and their unique settings, documents, and files.

Acer has not disclosed any pricing details for the Chromebase, which is slated for release in the second quarter of the year in North America and Asia Pacific.

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