OK, the world has changed a little more this week, when Google unveiled a USB thumb drive-like gizmo (a.k.a. dongle) called Asus Chromebit that plugs into any HDMI-equipped screen and – voila, you’re looking at a computer.
Well, not today, but sometime this summer.
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You can run any software you would use on your personal computer: word processors, browsers, email, spreadsheets, and video.
The Chromebit will run the same Rockchip 3288 processor as Asus Chromebooks, and will connect to the internet via Bluetooth 4.0 and 802.11ac Wi-Fi.
It will come with 2GB of RAM, a 16GB SSD, and its own USB 2.0 port to connect accessories.
Intel has already announced its own Intel Compute Stick, a $150 HDMI dongle that will come with full Windows 8.1 on board.
According to Gizmodo, some Chinese companies have been selling Android HDMI dongle-computers for almost a year now, using the Rockchip RK3288 processor.
The Google Chromebit is amazing, though: it looks like one of those cute, 70s bic lighters, it comes in three colors, and has a smart swivel you can plug into almost any HDMI socket without an extension converter.
Enjoy.