AOPEN have announced two new Chrome OS devices, the Chromebase Mini and Chromebox Mini. The new computers were designed for the enterprise and display markets and have similar hardware specifications but serve different purposes. Both devices run Google’s Chrome OS, meaning customers benefit from minimal maintenance and high performance on a relatively low-end hardware. The Chromebase Mini is an all-in-one weatherproof system which looks like a slightly bulkier Chrome OS tablet. It has a 10.1-inch multi-touch display boasting a resolution of 1280 by 800 pixels and is powered by the ARM Cortex-A17 chipset believed to be manufactured by Rockchip. The CPU is backed by 4GB of system RAM. The device comes with 16GB of internal storage and a 1080p camera complete with a dual microphone and stereo speaker setup. The Chromebase Mini also includes high-performance Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 radios for networking. AOPEN’s press release highlights that the Chromebase Mini is “ideal for high-traffic enterprise environments including digital signage, POS (point of sale), self-service kiosks, digital corporate communication, and AV room control.” AOPEN are selling a number of accessories for the Chromebase Mini including wall mounts and adapters for a number of different payment solutions.
The AOPEN Chromebox Mini offers similar hardware specifications as it’s also based on the quad-core ARM Cortex-A17 chipset with 4GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage, as well as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth adapters. This device is designed in a fanless, non-venting hole chassis, which the company claims is the smallest currently available on the market. As with similar products, the Chromebox Mini features zero moving parts, and AOPEN believes the device could be used by businesses as a desktop replacement, host IoT applications, or power digital signs and kiosks.
As the Chromebase Mini tablet design is weatherproof, it does not need mounting in a waterproof specialist kiosk. In terms of functionality, the Chromebase Mini looks very much like a resistant tablet device and could be used to replace the expensive and more fragile Apple iPad in stores. Both devices have been designed for reliable constant use. In the words of Stephen Borg, AOPEN’s Global Chief Digital Officer, “AOPEN designed its new Chrome OS device line to empower the customer by servicing a wide range of verticals and needs. They are fully enterprise-ready in terms of product longevity and reliability, ease of large deployment, remote access, and service.” Naturally, both the Chromebase Mini and Chromebox Mini are fully compatible with Google’s Chrome Device Management control software, meaning content and updates can be pushed to the devices via the Google cloud service.
