Chromebox 3010by Dell

TECHWALLA
VERDICT
Clearly above average. Only a couple of issues keep this from being best in class.
81 %
TECHWALLA SCORE
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PROS

  • The high-end version of the Dell Chromebox is one of the more powerful Chromeboxes available with its Intel Core i3 CPU and 4GB of memory.
  • Dell includes four USB 3.0 ports, HDMI, DisplayPort, Ethernet, headphone port, and a media card reader. Wi-Fi is built in.
  • Chrome OS is a simple, secure operating system that's always up-to-date.

CONS

  • The low-end version is slow. If you want to stream media from multiple sites and use many browser tabs, you'll notice its lack of speed.
  • Dell doesn't include a keyboard and mouse, which costs you $20 extra. You'll have to provide your own display.
  • With Google's Chrome OS, you can't run desktop programs; you are limited to Web apps. If you ever need a Windows desktop app, you'll have to use another computer.
Dell's Chromebox is a small PC running Google's Chrome OS, which is basically the Google Chrome browser along with a few extras. Unlike a Chromebook, which is a complete laptop, this small desktop PC requires a display, keyboard, and mouse. It's available in several configurations. The less expensive model is a lightweight, inexpensive PC, while the high-end model is more capable and targeted toward businesses.
Name Chromebox 3010 Chromebox CB1-014 Mac mini (2014) Chromebox M004U Pavilion Mini
Manufacturer Dell HP Apple Asus HP
Techwalla Score
81%
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List Price $500 $179 $500 $180 $320
100%

Great piece of electronics for the non-computer savvy.

Great piece of electronics for the non-computer savvy.

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80%

The new Dell Chromebook is powered by a 1.7-GHz Intel Haswell Core i3-4030U processor, and that truly makes a difference when you compare it…

The new Dell Chromebook is powered by a 1.7-GHz Intel Haswell Core i3-4030U processor, and that truly makes a difference when you compare it to less-powerful CPUs. With 12 Chrome tabs open, I was able to answer emails, play videos and listen to music, and the Chromebox didn't hiccup at all.

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75%

Internally, the Chromebox sports modest specifications with parts like a 1.3GHz Intel Celeron 2955U processor and an integrated Intel graphi…

Internally, the Chromebox sports modest specifications with parts like a 1.3GHz Intel Celeron 2955U processor and an integrated Intel graphics card. Both provide performance closer to mobile or entry-level PCs than a full-power desktop.

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70%

You won't be able to use Windows programs like Office 2013 on a Chromebox, but you will be able to use the Web interface of both Google Docs…

You won't be able to use Windows programs like Office 2013 on a Chromebox, but you will be able to use the Web interface of both Google Docs and Microsoft Office 365 in Chrome online.

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