Asus Chromebit

It's only $85 ; Mostly stableperformance ; Easy extensibility via USB ; Chrome OS has matured over the years

Finicky setup process ; Weak at multitasking ; Relatively short power cable

ASUS' new Chromebit strives to squeeze the power of the internet into a single, relatively cheap HDMI dongle. Basic tasks like email, web browsing and word processing is a cinch, and the Chromebit is pretty good at handle 1080p video streams too....

Pocket-sized design ; Good connectivity ; Quick performance ; Streams 1080p video smoothly

Runs hot

At the end of the day, there are two important factors that set the Asus Chromebit apart from other competing mini computers. The first is the Mali GPU, which helps pick up the slack in video playback, light gaming, and quick tab switches — an area...

Costs less than $90. Simple to set up and use. Same size as a large USB stick. Plugs directly into an HDMI port in a monitor or HDTV. Operates quietly.

Only 16GB of local storage and 2GB of RAM. Requires bundled HDMI extension cable in tight quarters. Lacks SD slot. Keyboard and mouse not included.

Conclusion The Asus can be a versatile and convenient media-streaming device if you consume your music and video content from within a browser. And unlike other media streaming devices, the also works as a PC, allowing you to access your files on...

If you fit the category described above, it’s certainly a great buy. And at this price you would be hard-pressed to find anything better.

Inexpensive and pretty useful for what you get ; Well-built. You could definitely drop this thing a few times with no problems ; Includes HDMI extender, which you'll probably need to attach this thing to most displays ; CPU performance is good enough...

You'll probably lose the cap that covers the HDMI port ; No option to cut down on cable mess by powering the stick with your monitor or TV's USB port

Consider the Chromebit a cheap way to turn a TV or old monitor into a limited sort of computer—if you want to make an old TV into a basic sort of "smart TV" and you care about having a good browser more than you care about streaming video, it's a good...

When it comes down to it, we're not talking about an expensive computer purchase here. At $85 the Chromebit is a pretty inexpensive device, and even cheaper if you factor in the "Chrome Goodies" like free movie rentals and 100GB of Google Drive space...

A cheap and easy way of turning an old monitor into an all-in-one PC, the Asus Chromebit makes up for a somewhat limited desktop experience with great performance and ease of use.

Portable form factor ; Easy setup ; Upcycle existing displays

Single USB port ; Can't run desktop apps ; Limited storage

The Chromebit is a compact, versatile HDMI dongle that transforms your existing display or TV into a Chrome OS-powered all-in-one. Chrome OS's lighter footprint makes better use of the limited hardware resources on the Chromebit, making it a better...

On the face of it, the Asus Chromebit is a good-value device. £80 for a relatively capable PC is a bargain however you look at it, although it's not as cheap as I would have expected for such a low-powered device that isn't lumbered with an expensive...