Samsung Updating Google ChromeBooks, Unveils ChromeBox

Samsung, one of the companies that first jumped on board to produce ChromeBooks, is improving on its design and also launching something completely different: the ChromeBox. Are there channel implications? Oh, yeah.

Both Engadget and 9to5Google noticed that Samsung had a bevy of Chrome-based devices on display at CES 2012. The new Series 5 ChromeBook isn’t anything remarkably special beyond a speed bump (2GB of RAM, 16GB SSD and a faster Celeron-based CPU) and a new matte aluminum shell. But the ChromeBox, a device few remember Google teased us with in 2011, has finally arrived.

The diminutive black and chrome rectangular box comes with the same guts at its cousin ChromeBook, but also is outfitted with dual DisplayPort out, DVI-out and six USB ports. Samsung has priced the unit at about $400, which actually puts the ChromeBook on par with some upper-end thin-client devices. And if you’re following along at home, you’ve already started thinking about how Google and Samsung potentially could reinvent the virtualization scene with cloud-based thin clients. With partners already reselling ChromeBooks for business purposes, this idea isn’t too far-fetched.

No, you won’t see Google and Samsung edging out Wyse or HP on any thin client marketshare throw-downs, but considering the price, ease of use and relative security (through obscurity/Linux),  you’ve got yourself a pretty convincing sale for the entire spectrum of the education vertical. Classrooms, libraries or computer labs could be outfitted with ChromeBoxes. Most educational institutions wouldn’t have to buy new keyboards, mice or monitors. And with Google behind the scenes, the IT resources needed to maintain these boxes would be relatively small.

If Google is already letting partners resell ChromeBooks, there’s no doubt in my mind that Google will induct ChromeBoxes into the mix. When it does, we’ll be sure to give you a deep dive on both the product and where Google sees them cropping up in the industry and channel.