Why Chromebit Digital Signage Is A Bad Choice

Often we see new digital signage users making the same old mistake: they buy the cheapest digital signage player they can find, only to later regret their decision when they realize it doesn’t offer the digital signage features their business needs to begin with.

Update: With the release of our new TelemetryOS we are now recommending TelemetryOS devices as the primary choice for new digital signage deployments. 

TelemetryOS is our proprietary operating system and the TelemetryTV media player is a secured, optimized and customized platform. TelemetryOS is easy to use, manage, and scale. This will be our primary platform going forward and will receive the most features and attention.

Google Chromebit

The Google Chromebit is one of the most common devices we see being considered and used for digital signage. With the upcoming end of life date for the Chromebit (November 2020), and it’s lack of processing power, it’s definitely not an option we recommend using as your digital signage player (see the list of best digital signage players).

Don’t get us wrong, the Chromebit isn’t a bad device. It’s just not cut out for commercial digital signage use. It’s massively underpowered, has almost no storage, very hard to secure against theft and can’t sufficiently handle most apps and features needed to run digital signage effectively.

In short, the Chromebit is an extremely limited consumer media device with very limited support outside the US and an end of life date that is fast approaching.

On the bright side, however, there are numerous great digital signage players for 2020 that are a bit more expensive, but way better when it comes to overall performance. And a few extra bucks for a wildly better device is a trade-off we’d take any day of the week.

What does the Chromebit end of life policy mean?

For Chrome devices to continue to be fast, reliable and secure they require regular Chrome OS auto updates. When a Chrome device reaches it’s specified end of life date it will no longer continue to receive the latest Chrome OS updates which are vital because Chrome OS is the operating system that your Chromebit needs to function correctly. 

Better Alternatives

We recommend TelemetryOS over Chrome

With TelemetryOS we have taken all of the best features from Chrome, Android, Windows and Linux and combined them into one digital signage platform. We believe TelemetryOS will be the most sophisticated digital signage platform on the market.

Key Features of TelemetryOS

• Kiosk mode
• Serial port commands
• 4k support
• 4 screen video wall support
• USB provisioning
• 5 yr lifespan
• $0 annual costs
• Electron app build
• Static IP
• Remote management

More than that, though, they are far easier to set up than Chrome devices thanks to their automatic USB provisioning. TelemetryOS USB provisioning allows digital signage adopters to use the same USB stick to quickly and easily pair multiple screens and media players in mere minutes.

While adding new displays and media players to an existing Chrome digital signage network is no sweat, initially setting up a Chrome device is not a simple task at all.

For those without a wealth of technical know-how, the process can be extremely complicated and tricky, and it doesn’t help that ChromeOS devices only offer limited support outside the US.

Best Chrome digital signage option: Chromebox CBX2

If your organization is committed to using Chrome devices, the Chromebox CBX2, like most other media boxes, packs significantly more processing power, storage, and durability than plug-and-play sticks or all-in-one solutions. 

Here are just a few reasons why the Chromebox CBX2 stands out from other Chrome digital signage players:

• Streams 1080p and 4K content seamlessly
• Comes with 64GB eMMC internal storage as well as 4GB DDr4 RAM (8GB & 16GB Version Available)
• Has a huge number of input/output options—three USB 2.0 ports, three USB 3.0 ports, an HDMI port, and a USB C port
• Possesses favorable processing power compared to its market rivals

The standard model CTL Chromebox CBX2 starts at $259

How to get started

There’s many small businesses out there without a ton of resources that want to invest in digital signage. We understand the temptation of going for the cheapest option is strong. But trust us when we say that shelling out a little bit more money goes a long way in today’s digital signage market.

There’s a world of difference in what your digital signage can accomplish between a Chromebit and say a Chromebox Mini or Nvidia Shield. So why not get more bang for your buck and spend that extra bit of cash? It’s absolutely worth it. For a complete breakdown make sure to check out our guide: how much does digital signage cost?

To get started with digital signage, sign up for TelemetryTV’s 14-day free trial to gain access to a wealth of apps, features, and templates that make crafting high-quality digital signage content a breeze.

And while you’re at it, check out our 6 tips for evaluating the best digital signage players!