LG Chromebase

It's not a new product by any stretch of imagination. It's just became unpopular somehow, right from the start: 2 GB RAM only and 16 GB SSD only for $350? Pfffrt... However, an IPS 21.5" 1920x1080 display with HDMI IN is sure nice, but that's it. Nobody needs a $350 monitor for their NUCs and other mini PCs.

However, the myth about a non-upgradeability of LG Chromebase has started to crumble, if ever so slowly. First and quite narrowly targeted hack came from a Chromebase disassembly by Ian Rawlings:

 He just put 8 GB RAM stick instead of stock 2 GB and was so impatient to see the result that he forgot to check how upgradeable the mSATA disk was. Some commenters muse it should be just fine.

However, LG Chromebase's Celeron 2955U looks soldered though. Besides, it would be pretty hard task to replace the whole mobo for something more decent (say, barebones based on Core i5, i7 processors).

But even with that Celeron 29955U so-so, good-for-ChromeOS-only, processor, adding RAM and augmenting SSD means you can build a decent Linux system out of this Chromebase.

These days the perceived unpopularity of Chromebase starts working: a $350 all-chrome-in-one shows at Amazon at $299. Used LG Chromebases are non-existent things on eBay and on SFBay Craigslist and that hints people use them as extra monitors at least when tired and done with ChromeOS.

Then, I've seen 2955U-based Chromebooks with patently bad screens for about the same. OK, maybe $249 would be a better estimate for all these Chromebooks, but if the trend of ignoring LG's Chrome-in-One machine continues I think I can see $249 LG Chromebases at Christmas time. Anybody wants my spare stock keyboard+mouse from it? I plan to use some Logitec BT products instead of stock crap.