9 business-worthy Chrome for Work devices

Chromebooks have been around for a while, but they haven’t received nearly as much business press as hybrid devices like the Surface Pro 4 or iPad Pro. But while they may be flying under the radar, Google has an entire lineup of Chrome-based devices aimed at business users. While these devices might not get as much enterprise-worthy buzz, they are well-equipped for both casual and power users alike. They run the gamut in terms of design and configuration, which means there is likely an option for you — whether you want a desktop, tablet or notebook experience. Here are nine Chrome for Work devices you’ve probably never heard of aimed at the enterprise.

The Acer Chromebase will remind you of those all-in-ones that were slated to be the future of the desktop just a few years ago. It features a 21.5-inch touchscreen display, 4 GB of memory, a 16GB hard drive and an NVIDIA Tegra K1 processor. The all-in-one display features two USB 2.0 and 1 USB 3.0 ports, a built in HD webcam and microphone, a microSD memory card slot, two speakers and, of course, the Google Chrome Operating system. It combines the convenience of a low-profile desktop setup with the minimalist nature of the Chrome OS, along with security measures — including automatic security updates. The device starts at $379.99 and for businesses that adopt this device, this price includes the first year $50 management fee, but consumers will avoid paying that fee.

The Acer Chromebase for meetings is another all-in-one option, but it’s specifically tailored to video conferencing — it features a 24-inch LED touchscreen display, with an HD camera and 4 microphones for ultimate audio and video clarity when conducting virtual meetings. It has an Intel Celeron dual-core processor with Google video acceleration — to further improve the virtual meeting experience. The device comes with 4GB of memory, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, an HDMI port, three USB 3.0 ports and one USB 2.0 port as well as an SD card reader. The device starts at $799, which includes the first year of the $250 annual management and support fee.

If you want the convenience of the Chrome OS, but without buying an actual notebook or desktop set-up, then the Lenovo Chromebox might be the answer. It’s a small, portable desktop computer that you can easily hook up to an external display. It features four USB 3.0 ports, as well as an HDMI port, Display Port and Ethernet port; you can configure the device with either 2GB or 4 GB of memory, a 16GB hard drive and you can choose between an Intel Celeron 3205U and Intel Core i3 5005U processors. The device starts at $249.99 if you buy direct from Google — which includes the first year’s $50 management fee — but at the time of this writing, Amazon has the device for as low as $160 for the 2GB model.

Whether you run a small business or work from home and need a reliable way to video chat with colleagues, the ASUS Chromebox for Meetings will do the job. It’s a set that comes with a Chromebox, housing a 5th generation Intel Core i7 processor, 4GB of RAM, 4 USB 3.0 ports, Ethernet and Wi-Fi. In addition to the Chromebox, you’ll also receive a 1080p HD camera, microphone and speaker, as well as a remote control. If you run your business on Google Apps, it’s a seamless way to integrate your Calendar, Hangouts and Google Docs into your video chats. It also works through Microsoft Outlook, so you can invite guests and share your screen with your colleagues running on Microsoft. The ASUS Chromebox for meetings package starts at $999, which includes the first year’s $250 annual management and support fee from Google.

The HP Chromebox for meetings is a similar package to the Acer Chromebox for meetings; it includes everything you need to get up and running for quality video conferencing. It comes with an HP Chromebox, which features an Intel Celeron or Intel Core i7 processor, 2GB, 4GB or 8GB of memory, a 16GB HD — with the option to go with an SSD, an HDMI port, a Display Port, four USB 3.0 ports and an SD card reader. You’ll also receive a 1080p HD camera, a remote control as well as a microphone and speaker combo. The package starts at $999, which includes the first year’s $250 annual management and support fee for businesses.

For the person who really means it when they say "I travel light," the Chromebit is a tiny stick device that runs the Chrome OS. It measures just over 4.8 inches by 1.2 inches and is just over .65 inches thick, and it won’t add any weight to your carry on either, weighing just .16 pounds. For such a tiny device, it packs 2GB of RAM, a 16GB hard drive, a Rockchip 3288 processor, a quad core GPU and Wi-Fi. The performance might not blow you away compared to other more powerful Chrome devices, but it’s the smallest Chrome device you can buy — and the price reflects that. You can currently pick up the Chromebit for just $109, which includes the $24 Single App Chrome Device Management License for businesses.

The AOPEN Chromebox is a commercial Chrome device designed for powering digital displays, kiosks, point of sale systems, transportation systems and systems built to run busy retail environments. It features an Intel Quad Core N2930, 4GB of memory, a 32GB SSD with fanless design as well as Ethernet and Wi-Fi. The design is meant to be not only ultra-slim but also rugged, so it can stand up to long-term use in commercial environments. It starts at $399, which includes the first year’s $24 single application management fee for businesses; you will also pay a $50 annual management license if you are going to use it outside of signage and kiosks.

If you decide to equip your business with an AOPEN Chromebox, then the AOPEN Chromebase will be a natural fit. It’s a commercial grade multi-touch device that will let you manage POS systems, or whatever you decide to use your Chromebox for. The 22-inch device features a waterproofed toughened glass screen, tamperproof cables and mounting, low power consumption, built-in commercial ports, long range Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 3.0 and 4.0. It starts at $999, which includes the first year’s $24 single application management fee, and like the AOPEN Chromebox, you will need to pay the $50 annual management license for use outside of signage and kiosks.

If all-in-ones and desktop box sets aren’t your thing, then you can also choose from a number of more typical notebook designs that are aimed at the enterprise. There are three new devices are specifically designed for work: the HP Chromebook 13, Dell Chromebook 13 and Acer Chromebook 14.

The HP Chromebook 13, which starts at $549, features a 13.3-inch full HD IPS display, a 32GB hard drive, an Intel Pentium m3, m5 or m7 processor, a choice between 4GB, 8GB and 16GB of memory and an 11-hour battery life.

The Dell Chromebook 13 starts at $479 and features a 13.3-inch full HD IPS touch display, a 16GB or 32GB hard drive, 4GB or 8GB of memory, an Intel Broadwell-U Celeron i3 or i5 processor and a 12-hour battery life.

The Acer Chromebook 14 is a rugged device for business that features a 14-inch full HD IPS display, a 16GB or 32GB hard drive, a 6th Generation Intel i3 or i5 processor, 4GB or 8GB of memory and up to 12 hours of battery life; this device starts at $399.

All three are aimed at the enterprise, with the option to get higher configurations for power users — but all of them also include a $50 management fee if you buy it for your company.