Why are you comparing this to Android? Also, I've never heard of an Android set-...

GFischer · on May 31, 2012

I'm comparing them because the form factor and use case look to be exactly the same (heck, the UI looks very similar too, both being made by Google).

Examples of Android set top boxes (the first one has 4 GB):

They were featured recently by a local supermarket chain.

tomkarlo · on May 31, 2012

What, because they're square? By that measure, an Apple TV, Mac Mini and Airport Extreme are all in the same category.

GFischer · on May 31, 2012

From a consumer's perspective, isn't an Apple TV or a Mac Mini a substitute product? Especially at the 400 dollar price point of the Chromebox.

I mean, the sales pitch for the Chromebox is: surf the internet, stream movies and use some apps...

tomkarlo · on May 31, 2012

The Mac Mini - yes, the Apple TV - no. I don't think there's a lot of consumer confusion between set top boxes and desktop computers.

My point was it's like saying you don't understand why Apple sells the Mac Mini when the Apple TV is only $99.

dangrossman · on May 31, 2012

> Also, I've never heard of an Android set-top box.

Google TV (aka Logitech Revue, Sony Internet TV, LG Smart TV). They've been at your local Best Buy type store for years.

They're Android 3.0 STBs, or in the case of the Smart TVs starting to come out, built into the TV.

nl · on June 1, 2012

The "LG Smart TV" box isn't (usually) Android, it's LG's own Smart TV platform.

(LG has announced GoogleTV/Android support, and showed samples at CES this year but AFAIK isn't shipping them yet).

dangrossman · on June 1, 2012

The LG TV with Google TV (Android) has been available for ~5 months at least. Amazon started selling it in February.