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Comment by bdcravens | Hacker News Reader

The "high-end" configuration (12th-gen i5, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD) is $675.

https://shop.asus.com/us/90ms02n1-m002u0-asus-chromebox-5.ht...

edit: I originally read it as 4GB (listed as "4G DDR4 Memory x 2", not 8GB)

To me this is marketed towards enterprise, who wouldn’t flinch at paying even $2000 per computer. They would gladly pay it instead of the enterprise subscriptions to “antivirus turned bloatware” like Sophos or McAfee. The included wireless charger means they don’t have to buy a desk charger for all their employees (which they may feel the need to do if they give employees a company phone).

We are just really happy if employees stop plugging their phone into their computer to charge. We can give out USB condoms but we cant make people use them!

As for the price, when you need to buy hundreds of units you start to value certain other services, like combined packaging. Last time I bought desktops they were just shrink wrapped to a pallet. When I buy chromebooks they come a dozen to a box. Best Buy isnt gonna do that.

> We can give out USB condoms but we cant make people use them!

I don't work in BigCo IT, but shouldn't you just change the OS configuration to ignore the phone? Or is it also about training them to use safe charging practices for when your OS policies aren't there to force them?

Our systems do not permit usb storage devices, but you can configure a badUSB to be read as a simple generic mouse/keyboard. On high value devices we will hotglue unneeded ports but on the general class of computers you just have policy and guidance.

We also have some computers that just can't tolerate any kind of USB policy because of the devices that need to be plugged into them. Maybe they are used by EEs for prototyping or the thingy('s manufacturer) in use is ornery about it. Eventually people need to be trusted to use their stuff properly and can't have their hand held for every little thing.

ASUS marketing team is horrendous. That link shows 4GB x 2.

Why x 2? Why not 8GB?

It's still expensive with 8GB.

Because they install two 4GB sticks of ram to reach a total of 8GB. It's important to make this distinction because 2x4GB is faster than 1x8GB, but it doesn't allow for a trivial upgrade by just sticking in another stick as you'll probably need to replace both instead.

Possibly dual channel RAM so 2 x 4GB is faster than 1 x 8GB in that case and cost-wise is probably the same.

Good catch. In 20+ years of looking at configs online and in print, this is first time I've seen the total amount not presented.

Yikes. I'd expect something in the 3 to 400 range here.

For that price, you can get a machine with 4x the memory AND storage, with a processor that runs circles around it to boot, and more I/O options...

https://store.minisforum.com/products/minisforum-um790-pro

The base model is $300. The mobile CPUs are pricy. I was also a little intrigued by the IO, Thunderbolt 4, 4 displays, etc.

That said, at like $700...you can get an M2 16GB Mac Mini..which, holy hell thats a hardcore beatdown.

$800 for a Mac mini 16GB for me with a 1 year warranty.

I had a previous gen chromebox. I bought it for $180 and ended up doubling the storage and upgrading the ram to 16GB and installed ubuntu TLS when chrome OS hit end of life. It was used for almost a decade.

Was plenty fast for normal browsing, youtube/netflix full screen, and other normal/light web usage.

It does say 4GB x2 so 8GB, but still. Hopefully its one of those products that are 50% off every second month.

$1000AUD - What a rip off!

For an extra 50% you could get a whole M2 MacBook Air.

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