ASUS Chromebit turns any TV or monitor into a Chrome OS PC

Make your TV smart with the Chromebit. Photo: ASUS

Make your TV smart with the Chromebit. Photo: ASUS

If you have only basic computing needs, you might not need a pricey laptop or a powerful desktop. For just $85, you can now turn any old monitor or TV into a personal computer powered by Google’s excellent Chrome OS, thanks to the new ASUS Chromebit stick.

Just like the Chromecast, the Chromebit is a small dongle that plugs into any HDMI port. It packs a Rockchip ARM processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, a USB port, and Bluetooth 4.0, which allows you to connect a wireless keyboard, mouse, and other peripherals.

In an instant, the Chromebit turns your TV into a Chrome OS-powered PC, with access to the ever-growing catalog of web apps available through the Chrome Web Store and browser. You can watch YouTube videos, listen to Google Play Music, or get real work done inside Google Docs and Sheets.

Its affordable price tag makes the Chromebit an ideal alternative to a traditional PC, and even other Chrome OS devices like a Chromebook or Chromebox, despite offering the same functionality.

Chromebit will be available in the U.S. soon from Amazon, Fry’s, and Newegg. It’s also coming to Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, and the U.K.