Acer’s commitment to ChromeOS is beyond doubt, so much so that if we exclude the Chromebook prototype made by Google in late 2010 that never made it to market, Acer was one of the first two brands to bet on this innovation . platform, launching a device of this type as early as July 2011. Since then, as is known, the brand has constantly renewed the offer of this type of device and is the forerunner of some related improvements with the same ones later adopted by other manufacturers.

When we talk about ChromeOS, we naturally think of Chromebooks, because these inexpensive laptops with a great performance-price ratio have become a must-have reference over the years in certain markets such as education and professionals with a high level of mobility. But of course, that doesn’t mean that Google’s desktop operating system has no place on desktop systems in many contexts.

Among the novelties that Acer presented at CES 2023, of course, ChromeOS also had its place, and part of it corresponded exactly to this, a desktop solution based on ChromeOS, which will change the opinion of many in this regard. on what can be done with this type of device, i.e. devices based on this operating system. A proposal that is summed up in two words, which we will develop below: Chromebox and add-on.

Acer Chromebox CXI5

As you could already imagine, this Chromebox CXI5 is an evolution of the CXI4 model presented by the company in 2020. So we have a compact desktop system with ChromeOS pre-installed, but in this new generation it represents an important qualitative leap in terms of the components it integrates. And it is that if the previous generation was “powered” by Intel Celeron processors, this time we can opt for an Intel Core i7 chip up to the twelfth generation (Alder Lake). This also means that in addition to the general version of the CXI5, there will also be an Acer Chromebox Enterprise CXI5, specifically aimed at the business market, which will feature Intel vPro.

In terms of connectivity, we can also confirm that the technology in the design of this system did not disappoint, as the four USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type A ports and two USB 4 Gen 3 Type C ports added to the two additional HDMI 2.1 connectors make the system capable of controlling up to four displays simultaneously. And if we talk about the network, in the wireless part we will have WiFi 6E, while its RJ-45 interface offers wired connectivity of up to 2.5 gigabits per second.

The Acer Chromebox CXI5 will be available in Spain from March and its price will start at 349 euros (excluding VAT). You can find more information about the universal model at this link and its Entreprise variant at this link.

Acer Add-In-One 24

An all-in-one computer, but with a modular design? Yes, and it is as good an idea as it sounds, because it allows us to extend the life of the screen, generally the part of the system that can last the longest, but we update the computer part of it, which is what we probably want to restore in a shorter time. Both in terms of economic savings and environmental responsibility, such a proposal deserves the highest recognition.

This is of course the case of this Acer Add-In-One 24, which combines the screen (on some models with a touch option) with the Acer Chromebox CXI5 (it is also compatible with the Enterprise version), so we can easily and safely on the back of the screen. This fastening is completely safe (both against the risk of falls and against unauthorized attempts to separate the screen and the Chromebox) thanks to the use of special screws designed specifically for this purpose by Acer.

The screen is built from a 24-inch FullHD (1920 x 1080 with 16:9 aspect ratio) IPS panel with an anti-reflective coating and integrates a 5MP 115-degree wide-angle webcam, dual microphones and dual 4-watt speakers, making it a very good choice. for all types of video conferencing, something that is exponentially enhanced with AI-based noise reduction modes. Also, for those who are more concerned about privacy, the webcam has an integrated camera shutter, so we can physically block the ability to take pictures whenever we want.

The Acer Add-in-One will be available in Spain from March and its price will start at 799 euros (excluding VAT). More information can be found at this link.