Google unveiled the first low-cost Chrome OS laptops with Rockchip’s ARM-based processors in March. At the same time the Hisense Chromebook and Haier Chromebook 11 went up for pre-order for about $149.

But if you’ve been holding out for a model from a company with a longer track record in the notebook computer space, now there’s another option: the Asus C201 Chromebook is available for pre-order for $169.

c201_02

The Asus C201 Chromebook has a Rockchip RK3288 ARM Cortex-A17 quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, a VGA camera, and an 11.6 inch, 1366 x 768 pixel display.

The laptop is 0.7 inches thick and weighs about 2.2 pounds, and Asus says it’ll last for up to 13 hours on a charge. It’s expected to begin shipping in May.

For the most part the Asus C201 Chromebook looks a lot like other Chromebooks with the RK3288 processor. But Asus does plan to offer a model with 4GB of RAM in the future.

Asus also has two other new Chrome OS devices on the way: the Chromebook Flip is a 2 pound, $249 2-in-1 convertible with a touchscreen display that folds back 360 degrees to let you use the laptop like a tablet, and the Asus Chromebit is a $100 TV stick that transforms any display into a Chrome OS computer.

via +Brent Sullivan

 

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12 replies on “Asus C201 Chromebook now available for pre-order for $169 (with Rockchip processor)”

  1. The Rockchip Quadcore gives good value and performance considering its low price in this affordable Chromebook.

    Rock and Roll baby!

      1. If there is s sufficiently good quality Linux desktop port for this, I will definitely buy one because my old Samsung Chromebook 1 is starting to show its age, and this looks like a good replacement to it.

        1. If any sort of accelerated video driver is a requirement, forget it.

          1. Actually my XE303 could nicely decode high profile H264 at ~500p from sw with half/third the processing resource (dual Cortex A15 rev1) as the RK3288 (Ubuntu 12.04 armhf).

            That said, hw accelerated video would be greatly appreciated.

  2. Coming to Australia? The value in these things is amazing: I’d want to set it up with linux, and use it as a home server and external drive: Easily configured (because it has a screen) and use little power…..

    Of course as a knock about device it’s probably good too 🙂

    1. Probably better for what you’re talking about (server if possible), because the screen at this price point is probably rubbish.

  3. Best affordable HEVC chip so this should be able to play HEVC too? with Chrome HEVC player?

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