Google and its OEM Acer have launched a new product for the enterprise that should simplify the all-important aspect of conducting video conferences — the 24-inch Chromebase for Meetings.
Google and its OEM Acer have launched a new product for the enterprise that should simplify the all-important aspect of conducting video conferences — the 24-inch Chromebase for Meetings. This comes two years after Google and Acer also teamed up for another “for Meetings” machine, the Chromebox for Meetings, and serves as another key element of the search giant’s Chrome for Work initiative.
At a price tag of $799, the Chromebase for Meetings isn’t cheap at all, but it stands out as the first Chromebase designed with baked-in video conferencing features. But focusing first on the basics, its specifications include a 24-inch, 1080p display that Acer claims is the largest display for Chrome OS devices. Viewing angles up to 178 degrees are also supported, while the 24-inch monitor can be tilted from 5 to 30 degrees, allowing users to choose the optimum angle for their video conferences. Additionally, the Chromebase for Meetings is the first of its kind to be powered by an Intel Core chip. Basic features include four microphones, two stereo speakers, and a video conferencing camera.
All in all, the Chromebase for Meetings is a vast improvement over the Chromebox for Meetings, as it’s an all-in-one machine that caters to enterprise customers who want a video conferencing tool for small spaces. The Chromebox, on the other hand, is meant mainly for those who have larger spaces for meetings, but it does not come with its own screen.
Moving on to the Chromebase’s main features, the machine supports Google Hangout meetings for up to 25 people, even those who do not have a Google account. Participants without a Google account only have to accept an invitation in order to be looped into the meeting.
The Chromebase for Meetings is now available in five countries – the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Ireland – at a price of $799. This price includes one year of management and support, which adds up to $250.