LG to Deliver Chromebase Desktop Chrome OS Computer at CES

It was all the way back in 2011 that the first Chromebooks--portable computers based on Google's cloud-centric Chrome OS--began to arrive. Acer and Samsung were among the first hardware manufacturers to make Chromebooks, and Samsung has followed up with its Chromebox, which functions like a desktop computer that runs Chrome OS. Now, giant hardware maker LG is riffing on that same idea with an all-in-one Chromebase desktop computer (shown) running Chrome OS, to be launched at next month's Consumer Electronics Show (CES).

The hardware specs on the Chromebase are reasonably good. It comws with a 21.5-inch widescreen Full HD IPS display and a space-saving design that is reminiscent of some of Apple's hardware designs. Here are other specs:

Processor: Intel Celeron CPU- Operating System: Chrome OS- Display: 21.5-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS- Memory: 2 GB - Storage: 16GB iSSD- Ports: HDMI-in, USB 2.0 x 3, USB 3.0 x 1, LAN- Accessories: Keyboard, Mouse, Cable Organizer- Webcam: 1.3 M 720 HD

Strangely, though, LG is playing up the Google applications side of the story. The announcement touts the following:

"The LG Chromebase allows users to write emails and documents, read the latest news and Ebooks, edit videos and photos and play entertaining games. The streamlined platform makes almost any task effortless and is the perfect device for taking advantage of Google products such as Gmail, Drive, Search, Maps, YouTube, Play or Google+ Hangouts."

Er, can't you run all of these Google applications on pretty much any decently equipped computing device? Presumably, price is going to be a big selling point for the Chromebase, although LG hasn't released pricing yet. 

It remains to be seen whether these desktop variations on the traditional Chromebook have a future, but Chromebooks have gained some traction in schools, where low prices have been an attraction. Especially as students get used to the Chrome OS interface and the cloud-centric conventions of the operating system, some desktop systems based on Chrome OS could make sense.