Reddit reviews ASUS CHROMEBOX-M004U Desktop
We found 46 Reddit comments about ASUS CHROMEBOX-M004U Desktop. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
ASUS Chromebox is the world’s smallest Chrome device, measuring just 4.9" L x 4.9"W x 1.65"H.1.4 GHz Intel Celeron 2955U Processor2GB DDR3 RAM, 16 GB SSD HDDIntel HD graphicsGoogle Chrome OSMax Memory: 4 GB1.4 GHz Intel Celeron 2955U Processor2GB DDR3 RAM, 16 GB SSD HDDIntel HD graphicsGoogle Chrome OS
Thought it was a typo also, but apparently it's a thing
Chromebooks will be the best option for them. When my mom was using a Windows machine, she always had issues and questions. I got her an Acer R11 Chromebook and her computer experience has been much better. Also, Chromebooks have long life cycles before the need to be upgraded if you choose to.
If they want a larger screen, try the Acer Chromebook 14. I am not familiar with Chromeboxes, but I think Acer still makes the Chromebase, and ASUS makes a Chromebox as well. Check the links I posted:
https://www.amazon.com/Asus-CHROMEBOX-M004U-ASUS-Desktop/dp/B00IT1WJZQ
https://www.amazon.com/Acer-DQ-Z0EAA-001-CA24I-CN-CA24I-Cn-Intel-Non-Touchscreen/dp/B01G26U492/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1511994929&sr=1-2&keywords=chromebase
Good Luck.
http://www.amazon.com/Asus-CHROMEBOX-M004U-ASUS-Desktop/dp/B00IT1WJZQ
this is what you want. $160, you can install Ubuntu on it and plug an external drive into it. cheapest HTPC you can get.
OR
like others have said, just get a Chromecast and stream using Plex. this is the cheapest option but would be taxing on your laptop. I recommend a separate device for streaming.
You could get a Chromebox and install linux on it, seems to run pretty well. For a bit more money and keeping the small form factor, look into a Nuc or a Brix, where you can also install Windows.
asus chromebox
http://www.amazon.com/Asus-CHROMEBOX-M004U-ASUS-Desktop/dp/B00IT1WJZQ
It's pretty easy to get linux on it, but you could make a chrome app or something too...
As a bonus the wifi, ssd, and ram are all removable.
Get a Chromebox or Chromebit.
http://www.amazon.com/Asus-CHROMEBOX-M004U-ASUS-Desktop/dp/B00IT1WJZQ
How does this compare to an Asus Chromebox? Can install Linux on these things without much trouble.
Have you look at a Asus Chromebox?
https://www.amazon.com/Asus-CHROMEBOX-M004U-ASUS-Desktop/dp/B00IT1WJZQ
You can easily install a Linux distro bare-metal on it and it can easily handle a VPN connection. The capacity of the SSD is only 16GB but you can add all the storage you want with external HDDs on the four USB 3.0 ports.
Chromebox would likely be sufficient.
http://www.amazon.com/Asus-CHROMEBOX-M004U-ASUS-Desktop/dp/B00IT1WJZQ
Edit: link
Just a head up its on amazon as well same price. here
Take a look at the ASUS Chromebox m004u. Has a Dual core Celeron with 2 GB of RAM, 16 GB SSD (m.2) storage, and USB 3.0 support. You can get them used/refurbished for around $140. $160 new. I've seen it go as low as $110.
One caveat: It comes with ChromeOS installed. It requires a bit of work to load a different OS (open it and remove screw, put into developer mode, and replace BIOS with Coreboot). The Kodi (formerly XMBC) wiki has a nice document that covers how to do all of this.
Extra bonus thingy: If your TV isn't wall mounted and it has VESA screw holes you can mount an m004u to the back of the TV.
Well I'm on the same boat on you, but ASUS just released this pretty awesome device, I'd recommend waiting it out and seeing if it's possible to run Openelec on it.
I just used this one and haven't run into any limitations yet, even with the stock amount of ram.
I'll tell you now, you will be getting a lot of built it your self comments on here which in most cases will be the right way to go but there will be prebuilds on sale which may be worth it to get.
This is the Asus Chromebox
It runs chrome OS which IS NOT WINDOWS, you are limited to 16GB total storage and 2gb ram and cannot even play borderlands. Pretty much this will run google chrome and anything you can do in it ONLY. The cpu is straight up shit there really isn't too many other ways to put it. It is the absolute lowest on the list for intel CPUs and is beaten by the cheapest new i3 by 255%. My phone can do more and blows this away in every way don't buy it.
I'll add more in another comment but I wanted to post what I wrote first.
Hell, $150 can get you this and it would still meet the needs of the average person.
It's not a great sale. I'll post any deals here.
EDIT: I'm done for now. I think my post got removed?
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Computer Accessories & Peripherals
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A dad box only to be used for browsing? Sounds like a chromebox to me. Here is a good one for ~$150:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IT1WJZQ
For the same price, you can get an Asus Chromebox, which makes a fantastic Openelec/XBMC machine.
Honestly, you're not going to be doing much gaming at this budget.
If you're just looking for a good living room computer to share with the family, buy the Asus Chromebox for $160 on Amazon.
You'll get more computer for the money + a nice small package.
To solve the problems we were having with my 82 year old mom, we got her a chrome box and large monitor. She can't mess it up if she wanted to.
I'm using openelec on an Asus Chromebox. Aside from a couple of bugs in openelec (bluetooth related), it's fantastic. The script to install took about an hour total; just make sure you follow the instructions carefully.
Agreed, absolutely love mine.
You may also consider looking at the Chromebox -
http://www.amazon.com/Asus-CHROMEBOX-M004U-ASUS-Desktop/dp/B00IT1WJZQ
A little bit more processing power, less money for an out the door setup. I don't have personal experience with them, but wiping the stock system and installing XBMC seems to be pretty trivial -
http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=ASUS_Chromebox
Amazon has it too. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IT1WJZQ
Also Asus' website has the preorder links for newegg, amazon, and tigerdirect.
No mention of the i3 version anywhere.
Alternatively, here is a "Chromebox". It has HDMI for up to 1080p, and is tiny! It's also only $179.
http://www.amazon.com/Asus-CHROMEBOX-M004U-ASUS-Desktop/dp/B00IT1WJZQ/ref=sr_tr_sr_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1394399089&sr=8-1&keywords=chromebox
ChromeBox owner here. Yup, been doing just fine with mine. In fact, it boots a little too quickly. See, I use Smart Lock and that means if my phone is unlocked, I can simply click on my user icon and log in. Problem is, I hit the power on the ChromeBox, and before I can run the pattern to unlock my phone (it's a simply 4-dot pattern too), the ChromeBox is already booted up and 'can't find my phone' because it wasn't unlocked quick enough!
While slightly annoying, it's amazing at how fast it boots.
[This is the guy I have]9https://www.amazon.ca/ASUS-CHROMEBOX-M004U-Desktop/dp/B00IT1WJZQ). While it struggles a bit with 1080p video, I don't really mind as that's not a big deal for me. I did upgrade the RAM from the stock 2GB to 8GB. Bluetooth works fine, so does WiFi.
It has 2GB of ram, but for the price ($179) you can't beat it: http://www.amazon.com/Asus-CHROMEBOX-M004U-ASUS-Desktop/dp/B00IT1WJZQ/
A $200 chromebook is all 95% of people need. You can do damn near everything online these days except for PC gaming.
You can also get $169 Chromebox that you can plug into a nice big 24" monitor if that's more your speed.
My kids walk right past our iPad and use the chromebook all the time.
this chromebox is $140 right now
If you buy it on Amazon, buy the 2gb model then buy an 8gb stick. It cost me a little more than the 4gb model.
To take it apart it has rubber feet, you pry them off and then it's 4 screws and you then have to get a little screwdriver or something under the lip of the case and the bottom will pop off, then wham bam slide the ram stick in and thank you ma'am.
Here's the ram I went with https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006YG8X9Y
Here's the 2gb model https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IT1WJZQ
208.17 for 10gb vs 194.99 for the 4gb model.
asus chromebox m400u
Could just buy a Chromebox and dual-boot linux on it.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IT1WJZQ/
This one: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IT1WJZQ/ref=pe_385040_121528360_TE_dp_1
For a remote I use flirc adapter (running as keyboard input) using my logitech harmony.
To be fair, if this is true
> to be used for streaming videos and browsing the web
then what you actually need is this.
i'd probably get this:
https://www.amazon.com/Asus-CHROMEBOX-M004U-ASUS-Desktop/dp/B00IT1WJZQ
it will be be plenty powerful for your parents needs, and upgrading the ram and storage is extremely easy if needed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8aBOWOKAQo
could also just plug in an external hdd if lots of storage is needed.
Does she HAVE to have Word and Excel? If those aren't hard requirements, a Chromebox and Google Docs might serve her better and be simpler to administer.
For what it's worth, my wife runs a NUC (not sure of exact model) and plays WoW on it without issue.
> chromebox
Can you please give some examples?
e.g, http://www.amazon.com/Asus-CHROMEBOX-M004U-ASUS-Desktop/dp/B00IT1WJZQ
Doesn't have the optical audio! So no 5.1 here I guess...
I use this and I love it. It's cheap and u can upgrade the ram and hdd. ASUS CHROMEBOX-M004U Desktop https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00IT1WJZQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_YF1ezb4YE6JS1
$226.99 Free ship
Also $120 on Amazon and they probably will price match newegg
4GB of RAM may be enough right now, because of OS X and Memory Compression but, it likely won't be in the future. Unfortunately, Apple has soldered the RAM to the Motherboard on this new version of the Mini (http://www.macrumors.com/2014/10/20/mac-mini-2014-teardown/). This means you should get the most amount of RAM you can afford. I agree with you though, I don't know how to go back to a computer with just a HDD.
Take a look at some of the older MacMini's on Amazon like (http://www.amazon.com/Apple-Mini-MD387LL-Desktop-VERSION/dp/B007476KRY/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1413894026&sr=1-1&keywords=mac+mini) you can upgrade the RAM and install an additional SSD yourself at a later time pretty easily.
Or better yet, if you have such simple needs and are rather tech savvy and understand its limitations, it seems like you could be a perfect candidate for something like a Chromebox (http://www.amazon.com/Asus-CHROMEBOX-M004U-ASUS-Desktop/dp/B00IT1WJZQ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1413894367&sr=8-3&keywords=acer+chromebox).
If you are just using the web and streaming media, those computers are overkill. Take a look into Chromeboxes. Here's one that's tiny and $170. http://www.amazon.com/Asus-CHROMEBOX-M004U-ASUS-Desktop/dp/B00IT1WJZQ
The ChromeOS doesn't natively support media streaming (as far as I know), but you can run Ubuntu on it.
Asus Chromebox
Have one hooked up to my TV with HDMI. Using a wireless keyboard and mouse to control it. There are very few limits to what one can watch with this setup.
Found this information about compatibility with external drives: https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/183093?hl=en
ChromeBox.
You mean something like this?
They also make Chromebook desktop boxes that are not all-in-ones
I prefer the Asus Chromebox. It is 69$ more than the Amazon Fire TV but it has much better specs:
-Intel Haswell architecture instead of ARM CPU (good difference in term of performance)
-16 GB SSD internal storage instead of 8 GB
-Ethernet 10/100/1000 instead of 10/100
-Intel HD 4000 instead of Qualcomm Adreno 320
http://www.amazon.com/Asus-CHROMEBOX-M004U-ASUS-Desktop/dp/B00IT1WJZQ
For the same price you can get this box of awesomeness.
http://www.amazon.com/Asus-CHROMEBOX-M004U-ASUS-Desktop/dp/B00IT1WJZQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1453625207&sr=1-1&keywords=asus+chromebox
Boots fast, has 4 usb 3.0 ports, SD card slot, built in wi-fi, dual display, easy to upgrade ram and stock drive ($40 will max out memory to 8gb, upgrading stock drive isn't necessary, just use external HD). Supports every logitech device I connected to it with no drivers needed.
If you have a family member/friend that is hopeless using computers, but still wants to to surf, netflix/youtube, email, etc. this thing is perfect.