An HP Chromebox aimed at business video conferencing is coming this Spring

By Konrad Krawczyk February 7, 2014

hp chromebox aimed business video conferencing coming spring release date — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Though Asus and Google have already revealed their own Chromebox, which is aimed at making video conferences easier for businesses to pull off, Asus won’t be the only PC manufacturer partnering with Google to produce such rigs. HP will be making its own business-focused Chromebox for Meetings PCs as well, and though an exact release date for the HP Chromebox has yet to be revealed, they should hit the market by this Spring according to an official HP blog post.

While HP will be releasing a business-focused Chromebox for meetings, they’ll also be releasing a budget-friendly version of its Chromebox geared towards people who just want a PC that’ll handle simple tasks with ease. Detailed specs have yet to be revealed, but HP confirmed that Chromebox for Meetings will include an Intel Core i7 Haswell processor, which is what the Asus Chromebox for Meetings PC is equipped with.

MORE: Why 2014 May Be a Great Year for Google Chrome OS

Other specs include HDMI, DisplayPort, quad USB 3.0 ports and Bluetooth connectivity. The HP Chromebox is also VESA mountable and will ship in one of four colors: Smoke Silver, Ocean Turquoise, Snow White and Twinkle Black. Regardless of which HP Chromebox configuration you get, it seems as if they”ll all be powered by an Intel Haswell chip either way.

It’s unclear how much any version of the HP Chromebox will cost, but if the prices of Asus’ version are any indication ($179 for the entry level, $999 for Chromebox for Meetings), it’s a safe bet to expect HP Chromebox and HP Chromebox for Meetings to sport similar price tags once they begin shipping this Spring.

What do you think? Sound off in the comments below.

Konrad Krawczyk

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Konrad covers desktops, laptops, tablets, sports tech and subjects in between for Digital Trends. Prior to joining DT, he…

Computing

What is Microsoft 365? Here’s the cloud software suite, explained

Microsoft Office free apps.

Microsoft 365 is the brand’s suite of cloud-based productivity apps that can be used for word processing, group collaboration, data analysis, presentation development, storage, and email. Many may be familiar with Microsoft Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneDrive as separate applications at one point; however, many high-performance users may utilize more than one of these programs for work, hobbies, or their everyday lives.

This could serve as a reason to consider Microsoft 365, to get more comprehensive access to the brand’s app library. Here is a look at what you need to know about the Microsoft 365 productivity suite.
Microsoft 365 paid subscriptions

Computing

France’s cyber unit preps for potential cyberattacks targeting Paris Olympics

A hacker typing on an Apple MacBook laptop while holding a phone. Both devices show code on their screens.

Organizers at the Paris Olympics are expecting a wave of cyberattacks to target the Games when the sporting extravaganza kicks off in earnest this weekend.

Researchers have noted that some attacks have already started, with Russia-affiliated hackers suspected to be behind the nefarious efforts, Bloomberg reported on Thursday.

Computing

Gamers are flocking to return Intel CPUs — and some are permanently damaged

A hand holds the Intel Core i9-12900KS.

Intel's troubles with instability on 13th-gen and 14th-gen CPUs continues to escalate, and a new report suggests that gamers are returning these CPUs at a much higher rate than retailers expect. An anonymous European retailer says they've seen four times as many returns for 13th-gen and 14th-gen CPUs compared to 12th-gen, according to a report from French outlet Les Numeriques.

Returns have only ramped up recently, however. The retailer says that in the six months following the release of all three generations, the return rates are nearly identical. Looking at the rate now, however, 13th-gen CPUs are being returned four times as often as 12th-gen, while 14th-gen CPUs are being return three times as much. Given what we've learned about Intel's instability issue, this suggests that the processors do, indeed, degrade over time.