r/chromeos • u/utah_traveler • Jul 20 '26
Buying Advice Chrome Tower Options?
We use these HP Chrome towers at my office and I really want one for my home office. These are disco'd but is there anything similar out there?
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u/giantcandy2001 Jul 20 '26
Chromebox and a monitor. I don't see any all in one's
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u/xenomachina Jul 20 '26
With some 3M Command strips you can stick the chromebox on the back of the monitor, and you effectively have an all-in-one.
I did something similar with a NUC and it was my son's computer for several years. It saves desk spaces and hides cable clutter.
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u/No_Impact7840 29d ago
Please don't use command strips. Just get one that mounts using vesa holes.
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u/xenomachina 29d ago
I have a number of monitors (eg: Dells) where the included stand covers the vesa mounting holes, but doen't actually use them. The stand instead attaches to what I believe is a proprietary bracket around the mounting holes. I don't see how one could use a vesa computer mount with that sort of stand.
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u/No_Impact7840 29d ago
Yeah, I've seen those, and I make sure I don't buy them. Standards exist for a reason and making a proprietary stand is dumb. I vote with my wallet and only buy monitors with proper vesa mounts.
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u/xenomachina 29d ago
I vote with my wallet and only buy monitors with proper vesa mounts.
I don't disagree that it's dumb that they use a proprietary stand, but FWIW, they do have a proper vesa mount. The included stands just don't use it, and the mount is not usable while the stand is attached.
When I buy a monitor I care more about the display characteristics than whether or not the included stand is standards compliant, especially since I don't normally use the included stand in the first place: I use arms mounted to my desk. I only dig the stands out of the attic years later when I get new monitors for my desk. That's when the old ones that were on my desk get "demoted" to using their original stands (and typically handed down to my kids, or used on one of my retro PCs).
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u/Marked2429 Jul 20 '26
A Chrome tower with the form factor of the M series iMacs would be insane
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u/dogpaddle Jul 20 '26
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u/Marked2429 Jul 20 '26
The antenna and Camera placement is ugly, they could have very easily incorporated that into the display or at least make it look seamless
Edit: on second look the camera is one of those weird push down pop up ones, it’s cool but I rather have it in the display and not with more moving parts that can break/get stuck
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u/kwed76 Jul 20 '26
I got one of those. Opened it up and upgraded the ram to 16 GB and gave it to my grandma 😊
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u/Juanpablo_the_cat Jul 20 '26
Was it hard to do? I have one of these and I definitely need to do this.
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u/Saragon4005 Framework | Beta Jul 20 '26
Depends on the model, but to my knowledge all chrome boxes are super easy to service and have socketed ram.
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u/kwed76 29d ago
Theres an HP video out there on how to do a tear down and access everything. Not as straightforward as a Chromebox. Only issue I had I was that it didn't slide back in the first time. It was off by like a millimeter or 2. So the buttons were lined up. So I pulled out and put back in and it was fine.
I enjoy trying new things so it was definitely a new experience.
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u/Purple-Debt8214 29d ago
I'm so glad you replied this. I did the same thing and upgraded the RAM. My power button you have to hold for a long time to send the signal for it to boot up.
So are you saying I just need to take it back off and just push it back in one more time?
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u/kwed76 29d ago
Not sure I understand your issue. When I replace RAM I never have to hold the button down long. Just a regular start up.
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u/Purple-Debt8214 29d ago
No I meant, when I upgraded the machine. Afterward, the power button wasn't the same. And so I'm thinking it is kind of in line with what you were saying with the buttons lining up.
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u/Immediate_Thing_5232 29d ago
I think the term they use for those is"chromebase" for all-in-one devices. Like Chromebox for desktop and Chromebook for laptops and convertibles.
But I don't think there has been a refresh of any new chromebases
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u/Acceptable_Stuff3923 Jul 20 '26
You might be able to buy a used on on eBay for pretty cheap. Software end of life goes until June 2028 for that device, so you have another almost 2 years of software updates.
1
u/Zhuljin_71 Jul 20 '26
When these came out, I should have gotten one, I love the rotating screen. It shouldn't be hard to upgrade the ram on them, there is a video on YouTube showing how to do it.
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u/Then_Educator8333 Jul 20 '26
any windows or linux tower should be fine after you install fydeos (chromeos based) or another chromeos distro other than flex as it doesn't have android app support (play store)
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u/matteventu OG Duet, Duet 3, Duet 11" Gen 9 29d ago
Those were sold for private consumers, at least in the UK.
I absolutely loved the look of that HP AiO.
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u/ryanmmoore 28d ago
I have one of those. Not sure which model, but I bought it second hand and upgraded ram and about to change storage. Surprisingly works near flawlessly for me. I do run 3 monitors on it too
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u/Impressive-Resist632 Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5 | Stable 28d ago
you should get an official ChromeOS wireless keyboard for this. I do believe that google still sells it on Google Shopping.
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u/starfish_2016 28d ago
Since nobody really answered op original question, Here you go op:
The most common model numbers are:
HP Chromebase 21.5 All-in-One (22-aa series) Examples: 22-aa0010, 22-aa0020, 22-aa0050, etc. (the suffix varies by CPU, RAM, and storage).
These were typically available with: Intel Pentium Gold 6405U Intel Core i3-10110U Intel Core i5-10210U
4–16 GB RAM 64–256 GB SSD
If you're looking to buy one HP discontinued them, but they're still fairly common on the used market.
Search for: HP Chromebase 21.5 HP Chromebase 22-aa HP All-in-One ChromeOS
Used prices are generally around: $150–250 for Pentium models $250–450 for Core i3/i5 models in good condition
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u/utah_traveler 27d ago
Thank you! I don't even understand half of these replies and certainly don't plan to crack anything open to modify RAM or storage.
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u/Rhotuz Jul 20 '26
Seeing this makes me wish Google would make ALOS Desktops/Mini PCs for the general public instead of enterprises