Samsung Chromebox 1st Generation (2012)

Samsung Chromebox 1st Generation 🥇First Desktop Computer to Use Google ChromeOS The Samsung Chromebox (Series 3), released in May 2012 alongside the second-generation Chromebook, was the world’s first dedicated desktop computer running Google’s cloud-centric ChromeOS. Designed as a compact, silver "mini-PC" reminiscent of the Mac Mini, the first-generation model (XE300M22) was powered by a 1.9 GHz Intel Celeron B840 processor and featured 4 GB of RAM, which was considered quite robust for an operating system that primarily lived inside a web browser. It was built to be a silent, low-maintenance "thin client" for schools and offices, boasting six USB 2.0 ports and dual DisplayPort outputs capable of driving two 30-inch monitors simultaneously. While critics at the time were skeptical of a $329 desktop that lacked local storage—relying instead on a tiny 16 GB SSD and Google Drive—the Chromebox 1st Gen proved to be a reliable proof-of-concept for the "Chrome-for-work" movement. It offered a virus-free, "instant-on" experience that updated itself automatically, carving out a niche for users who wanted a clutter-free workstation dedicated entirely to web applications and Google’s burgeoning ecosystem. Donated by: John Babina III