Pros & Cons
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- Affordable.
- 1080p touch screen.
- Articulating stand.
- Simple to set up and use.
- Quick performance in testing.
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- Limited number of USB ports.
- Only 16GB of local storage.
- Wired mouse and keyboard.
Acer Chromebase DC221HQ bwmicz Specs
| All-in-One Screen Size | 21.5 |
| All-in-One Screen Type | 1 |
| Graphics Card | Nvidia GeForce 130 M |
| Operating System | Google Chrome OS |
| Optical Drive | external |
| Processor | Nvidia Tegra K1 |
| Processor Speed | 2.1 |
| RAM (as Tested) | 4 |
The Acer Chromebase DC221HQ bwmicz ($329.99 as tested) provides a large display and speedy hardware for Google's Webcentric operating system. This Chrome-OS-based all-in-one desktop, one of only two we've seen so far (the other is the LG Chromebase), is easy to use and packs a 1080p touch screen and quick performance at a low price. Our Editors' Choice for entry-level, all-in-one desktop PCs remains the Lenovo C260 Touch, which offers a quad-core Intel CPU, a 500GB hard drive, and full Windows support, but Acer's Chromebase is a capable and affordable alternative for $150 less.
Design and Features
The Chromebase DC221HQ is a sleek, white all-in-one with a speaker grille stretched along the bottom of the frame. The articulating stand lets you tilt the display until it's almost horizontal, allowing you to interact with the touch screen easily. If you pull the screen back toward you, the spring-loaded stand will prop itself back into an upright position.
View All The 21.5-inch, LED-backlit touch screen has a 1,920-by-1,080 resolution. A sharper In-Plane Switching (IPS) display without touch capability, as seen on the LG Chromebase, may have been a more appealing tradeoff. Touch support is useful for some applications, but it's not a must-have for the Chrome OS.
The display is fairly reflective, but image quality is good. You can actually use the Chromebase as a standalone monitor once the system outlives its usefulness, thanks to the HDMI port on the back. There are also two USB 2.0 ports and an Ethernet port. A rear panel pops off to reveal a USB 3.0 port, as well as an SD card slot, and the audio jack, which is somewhat inconveniently placed for headphone use.
Final Thoughts
Acer Chromebase DC221HQ bwmicz
A solid value for an entry-level all-in-one desktop with a large touch display, the Acer Chromebase DC221HQ bwmicz is a good alternative to a Windows PC if you're looking for simplicity.