I’m sure you’ve heard of Chrome OS and Chromebooks, but have you seen the new Chromebox?
As Google continues to push and upgrade their apps and services and with their latest release of Google Drive, Chrome OS is looking more and more like a game changer.
Even more than that, though, Chrome OS looks like an interesting solution for churches.
Chrome OS
There’s nothing really new, here, in the terms of Google having an OS. But they’ve been slowly crafting a product that’s looking better and better all the time. As their slogan says, it is ”The (always) new computer.”
What got my attention most recently, was the Chromebox.
Chromebox
Much like the Chromebook, but in a lightweight desktop version. The Chromebox will only cost you $329 and has a decent hardware set considering its target use:
- Intel® Core™ processor
- 4 GB RAM
- Built-in dual-band WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n
- Gigabit ethernet
- 6 USB 2.0 ports
- 2x DisplayPort++ Output (compatible with HDMI, DVI, VGA)
- DVI-I single link output (compatible with VGA)
- Bluetooth 3.0™ compatible
- Kensington™ key lock compatible
Sure, it doesn’t come with a monitor, but how often are desktop machines replaced while the monitor works just fine? Besides, when you consider the price of a cheap monitor, the price point is still low.
Chromebook
The Chromebook selection has broadened with three different models to choose from:
Acer AC700 ($300)
- 11.6″ (1366×768) display
- 3.19 lbs/1.45 kg
- 6 hours of continuous usage
- Intel® dual-core Atom Processor N570
- 2 GB RAM
- Built-in dual-band Wi-Fi and 3G modem (opt)1
- HD Webcam
- 2 USB 2.0 ports
- 4-in-1 memory card slot
- HDMI port
- Bluetooth 3.0™ Compatible
Samsung Series 5 ($349)
- 12.1″ (1280×800) display
- Starting at 3.06 lbs / 1.38 kg 1
- Up to 8.5 hours of continuous usage 2
- Intel® dual-core Atom Processor N570
- 2 GB RAM
- Built-in dual-band Wi-Fi and 3G modem (opt) 3
- Built-in Webcam3
- 2 USB 2.0 ports
- 4-in-1 memory card slot
- Micro-VGA port with VGA adaptor
Samsung Series 5 550 ($449)
- 12.1″ (1280×800) display
- 3.3 lbs / 1.48 kg
- 6 hours of continuous usage
- Intel® Core™ processor
- 4 GB RAM
- Built-in dual band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Gigabit ethernet, and 3G modem (opt)1
- HD Camera
- 2 USB 2.0 ports
- 4-in-1 memory card slot
- DisplayPort++ Output (compatible with HDMI, DVI, VGA)
- Kensington™ key lock compatible
Again, not too shabby.
As a Church Solution
If you consider the operations of the typical church office, the Chromebooks and Chromebox could be the perfect solution.
Google is doing a great job pushing the paradigm of computing from the computer to the cloud. The computer becomes more of a portal to your data and applications, making it less significant.
Imagine a church office with the full spectrum of Google Business Apps, Google Drive included, all running on Chrome systems. Even ChCMS’ are becoming web driven!
But what about those crazy, Mac-using-creatives?
All the church data and apps are running on the cloud. There’s no cliches or hiccups. Everyone is still on the cloud. Only the portal has changed.
The Google Chrome OS hardware may be the prefect, and most economical, Church office solution.
What do you think?
Learn more about Chromebooks and the Chromebox.
As awesome of an idea as this is, I think the non-techy folk will have a conniption in having to learn a foreign OS. We’re trying to slowly go Mac in our office and there’s already some unhappy people
I think this would push ‘em over the edge.
I don’t think that’d be an issue as ChromeOS is simple to begin with. If you use the Chrome browser, or any browser, this should be just like home.
Yeah, if you use Chrome you can use this thing. That said, I’ve got one of the original CR48′s and I would NEVER ditch my pc or Macbook for it. It’s fine for email and some Google Docs stuff, but you can’t do any real production on it. Those Atom processors look great on paper but I’ve never owned a machine with one that I enjoyed using. They are seriously underpowered.
Agreed. If you need to run anything that’s intensive, this won’t do. But, if your mostly doing secretarial stuff, this may be the perfect solution — don’t you think?
Perhaps, however, considering how web-centric the Chrome OS is, there’s hardly any difference. If you use the Chrome browser and any of the Google Apps, you’ll already know how to use the Chrome OS. Change is never easy, though, I totally agree!!! Making the switch from PC to Mac was hard at first, now I would never go back.
Anyone have any idea on if the chromebox can utilize a touchscreen monitor and label printer for check-in purposes?
These are good questions. Are you thinking about a ChCMS solution?
Yes. I think if it can accommodate a touch screen monitor it would be the perfect solution for ChCMS check-in. With most ChCMS going to the cloud this box is all you would need.
As far as printing is concerned, if you couldn’t print directly from this box you could utilize Google “cloud print” on your server, connect your label printers to your server through Apple Airport Expresses, and have the ability to access them through the Chrome browser on the ChromeBox.
Even a better option. If they will ever release the Chrome browser on iOS you could run check-in on ipads and print out labels through the same Google “cloud print” process.
Well … between the ports it offers, and the obvious that it can utilize the Google cloud printer, it should work in theory.