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What Is It? – Is it me, or does it seem to you that everything in technology also has to be something else: your cell phone is also a camera; your tablet can become a laptop; and even your refrigerator can now be used as a tablet. So may I present the Asus Chromebit CS10, a little device that can turn your TV set into a computer. About 4-1/2 inches long and the general shape of a small candy bar, the Chromebit plugs into an HDMI port on your television – in case it’s a tight fit they include a short cable – and it transforms your TV into a Chromebook computer, which runs Google’s Chrome operating system and all things Google, from Gmail to the Chrome browser, YouTube, Google Docs, etc. As with all Chromebooks, you’ll need to have, or sign up for, a Gmail or Google Apps account to login and use this device, and you’ll need working Wi-Fi. The Chromebit is built with 2 GB of RAM plus about 16 GB of storage space, but you’re supposed to use Google Drive for your “real” storage and the Chromebit includes 100 GB of free space there, at least free for the first two years. The Chromebit has built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth but is not self-powered, as you have to plug in a supplied power adapter. There’s also a USB port on the other end of the little stick, which you may need. While Chromebooks come with many Google apps, you can download and install many other apps, including Microsoft’s free Office Online apps, such as Word and Excel, popular programs like Spotify and Dropbox, plus most apps that run on Android phones and tablets.
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Is It 50+ Friendly? – While you may have a big screen TV, don’t expect to be able to sit 10 feet away in your recliner and use it like a computer. That may work for watching videos, but navigating the Chrome OS screen will likely require you to sit a lot closer. Text on a website can be made larger or smaller, as you can with browsers, by holding down Control and tapping the plus or minus keys.
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Frustration Factor? – Unless you have a rare touchscreen TV, you’re going to need a keyboard and mouse to work your TV set as a computer when the Chromebit is plugged in. That means you need to have on hand, or likely to purchase, a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse (or maybe a keyboard with a built-in touchpad), or a keyboard and mouse that connect with a dongle receiver that goes in the Chromebit’s USB port, or if you want to use a wired keyboard and mouse, you’ll need to get a small USB hub to plug into the Chromebit, as there’s only one USB port. Also, when I first plugged in the Chromebit, I couldn’t get to everything on the screen, the aspect ratio was “wrong,” so I needed to go into the TV’s settings with its remote, to find an aspect ratio that correctly displayed the “Chromebook” desktop. With only 2 GB of RAM, the Chromebit does not create a high performance computer out of your TV.
Is It Worth It? – The Asus Chromebit CS10 is less than $85 at Amazon.com, but of course you’ll need a keyboard and mouse, so maybe add another $30 or so for that. The Asus is not the only computer-on-a-stick, others run Windows 10, but all beg the question: just who is this supposed to be for, especially when there are inexpensive laptops for barely $100 more, and a lot more portable than your TV set. The Chromebit was easy to use, and I ran some YouTube videos, but most smart TVs already have that capability, and other applications, built-in or downloadable.
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