Acer America has unveiled its new Acer Chromebox CXI line based on its C7 Series Chromebook for customers in North America. The CXI series is designed for education, SMBs, and budget-conscious users who don’t require a mobile platform and who are either invested in or want to use the Google Chrome ecosystem.
The Acer Chromebox CXI boasts an 8-second boot up time and features a16GB solid state drive housed in a .6-liter (6.51 x 5.12 x 1.3 inch) chassis that stands upright and is VESA mountable. The new Chromebox CXI is powered by an Intel Celeron 2957U processor based on the Intel Haswell microarchitecture, and supports up to 4GB of DDR3 1600Mhz memory and Intel HD graphics.
Additionally, the CXI provides wireless connectivity via 802.11a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, and Gigabit Ethernet. Four USB 3.0 ports include two with power off charging for smartphones and tablets. Users can also access other media and files through the SD card reader that supports up to a 32GB SD card.† The Chromebox CXI pushes video and content to external displays and HDTVs via HDMI and DisplayPort, and a combo audio jack is provided for connecting a microphone and headset, while a LAN port enables a wired network connection. The system comes bundled with a VESA mount kit and a Google approved USB keyboard and mouse.
The Powerwash option enables IT to clear all local user data stored in the Chromebox CXI by resetting it to its original factory state. Using this feature, all data stored on the Chromebox such as downloaded files, photos, owner permissions, and saved networks, will be deleted for all accounts. After clearing this data, the IT professional is guided through the initial setup again. Resetting the device doesn’t affect the accounts themselves, or any data synced to these accounts.
A fleet of Chromeboxes can be controlled via the Web-based Google Management Console, which makes it possible to deploy an app from one to thousands of Chrome-based devices with a click of a button. The OS and all downloaded applications are automatically updated every six weeks. The Chromebox CXI comes with pre-installed web apps and over 30,000 additional apps, themes, and extensions on the Chrome Web Store.
After the user signs into Chrome with a Google account on the CXI, they are signed into Google services. Their bookmarks, history, and settings are synced across all of their devices and computers running Chrome. Once logged in, they can surf the Internet with the Chrome browser, read and send emails from Gmail, search the web with Google Search, create documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and more with Google Drive, as well as watch videos from YouTube, etc.†
Security features, including data encryption and verified boot, help defend the Chromebox CXI from online threats, malware, and viruses. Every time the Chrome OS boots, it checks the integrity and validity of system files. If it detects any anomaly or unauthorized change, the system will restore from a prior backup. Individual user’s data is encrypted automatically and protected by the Chromebox’s TPM 1.2 chip, which generates and stores secure cryptographic keys, enabling IT professionals to read data from a stolen Chromebox.
The new Acer Chromebox CXI is Citrix certified to deliver virtualized remote desktops and applications through a single platform and can effectively be a thin client.
Available late September at leading retailers and resellers in the United States and Canada, the Acer Chromebox CXI-2GKM with 2GB memory will have a MSRP beginning at $179.99 U.S./$199 CAD and the Acer Chromebox CXI-4GKM with 4GB memory will have a MSRP of $219.99 U.S./$239 CAD.†
