Chrome Remote Desktop is one of the most popular remote access applications available for free. It’s quick to set up, it’s easy to use and provides a stable connection between remote computers.
Chrome Remote Desktop is more than enough if all you need is connecting to your own devices now and then, or helping a family member or a friend with a quick computer fix.
Search the world's information, including webpages, images, videos and more. Google has many special features to help you find exactly what you're looking for. Locally, I set the remote computer to 1920 x 1080, but when I am accessing it remotely (via Chrome Remote Desktop) from my laptop I want the resolution of the remote computer to be 1440 x 900. There is a 'Resize to fit' checkbox in the Session options side panel, but I don't think it's doing anything. Within Chrome, navigate to Google's Chrome Remote Desktop web app and click the circular blue arrow icon inside the box labeled 'Set up remote access.' (If you see a blue button labeled 'Turn On.
But what if you’re starting out an IT support business of your own and need to assist a larger number of remote users outside your network? Will Chrome Remote Desktop suffice?
Let’s dive in and consider some of the key pros and cons of using Chrome Remote Desktop.
Pros
It’s free. Like any of other proprietary remote desktop services, Chrome Remote Desktop comes free of charge. You don’t have to spend a single dollar on a commercial tool if your needs are limited to accessing your own devices on-the-go or remoting into a friend’s computer.
It’s quick to set up. You don’t have to be tech savvy to run Chrome Remote Desktop on your computer. If you have Chrome browser installed on it, then you’re almost all set.
Cons
No built-in chat. Built-in text chat is one of the key features of a great remote support application, as you’ll obviously need to exchange messages with the remote user in real time to avoid any miscommunication. Sure, you can use Google Hangouts for that, but that’s far from being convenient.
Chrome browser is required. If you’re not a fan of Google Chrome, which is believed to be quite resource-consuming, then Chrome Remote Desktop isn’t for you, as it doesn’t work with any other browsers. Besides that, you’ll need a Google account to use the application.
No (drag-and-drop) file transfer. There are many situations where you might need to send a file to the remote computer. While many third-party remote desktop tools, such as FixMe.IT, allow you to drag and drop files onto the remote desktop in the same way you move files on your own screen, Chrome Remote Desktop fails to do the same.
Inability to reboot the remote machine and automatically reconnect. This is another vital feature to have when it comes to supporting users remotely. It allows you to reboot the remote computer even in the user’s absence and automatically reconnect without having to end the active session. Read this post to learn more about the benefits of using remote reboot.
No multi-monitor support. In fact, Chrome Remote Desktop does allow to view multiple remote monitors on your screen. The bad news is that all of the remote monitors of the machine you’re connected to will be crammed into your display, and you won’t be able to conveniently navigate between them.
No multi-session handling. Chrome Remote Desktop simply can’t handle dozens of simultaneous connections with different network settings, which makes it unsuitable for viewing/controlling multiple devices. Techinline’s FixMe.IT, in turn, allows you to run an unlimited number of concurrent sessions and easily switch between them in the process. Besides that, FixMe.IT lets you open multiple remote desktop windows and even transfer files between different remote machines.
Conclusion
Whether it’s accessing your own devices on-the-go or sharing your screen with a friend or family member, Chrome Remote Desktop is a great tool that’s free and easy to use. However, if your goal is to deliver high-quality remote tech support, you’d better consider third-party applications such as FixMe.IT. Chrome Remote Desktop is simply not that feature-rich to serve as a full-blown business tool.
Visit our website to learn more about the FixMe.IT remote desktop application and its features. Join us on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn to get all the latest product and blog updates as they happen.
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An important note to begin with. Although the Google Chromebit is a great, affordable and easy to set up device, we do not recommend buying it for digital signage for a few reasons and the main one being the Google Chromebit will no longer be receiving software updates. This means it'll be outdated with any modern apps or software and may not be able to run them at all in the future. A good alternative would be the Amazon Fire TV 4K stick or the Azulle Access 3 if you prefer a Windows operating system. For more information about the Chromebit check out this article here.
But if you've already purchased the Google Chromebit and are looking for a deeper dive? Then here's everything you need to know.
What is a Google Chromebit and what does it do?
Google Chromebit is a powerful HDMI stick running Google ChromeOS and made by ASUS. Despite its small size (the Chromebit weighs in at just 75 grams), when placed in the HDMI port of a device such as a TV, the Chromebit turns that screen into a personal computer.
In actual fact, the Chromebit turns the device into a desktop version of the Chromebook laptop.
Why is this useful? Well firstly, it makes a dumb screen or TV monitor smart. So rather than splurging on an Android or Smart TV, or an actual laptop, you can simply buy a cheap TV monitor, then use the $85 Chromebit device and what do you know, you get a full computer for a fraction of the price.
The Chromebit was developed in 2015 and looks a little like the earlier Chromecast. However, there are many differences between the two. While the Chromecast is primarily used for sharing images and video files to screens, the Chromebit is a self-contained computer offering much wider functionality.
Specification of the Google Chromebit
Uses for the Google Chromebit:
Share presentations to screen
Listen to music through an app like Spotify
Share photos to a TV screen
Access emails
Play games
Benefits of the Google Chromebit
Some of the key benefits of the Google Chromebit over similar media devices include:
Ability to connect to the internet over Wi-Fi
Ability to connect to a keyboard and mouse over Bluetooth (giving you a true “computer” setup wherever you are)
Access to the Chrome Web Store where you can download a ton of useful apps for working or entertainment
Each Chromebit comes with 100GB of Google Drive space for documents, photos, and other files, which means you can easily access your files through it
How to set up a Google Chromebit
The Google Chromebit is one of the easiest “plug and play” media devices on the market. All you need to carry with you to set it up is the Chromebit itself and its power adaptor. This means once you plug in and log in, you’re ready to go.
Here’s how that works:
1. Add power
Plug the power adaptor into your Chromebit and plug the other end into a power outlet. The Chromebit doesn’t have a power button so it’s always on until you unplug it.
Google Cloud Console
2. Attach to your TV’s HDMI port
Plug the Chromebit into the HDMI port on the back of your TV, or use a HDMI extender if you don’t want it plugged directly into the screen.
Navigate to the corresponding HDMI channel on your TV screen.
3. Connect to WiFi
Select your WiFi network on screen and enter the password.
4. Log in to Google
You’ll need a Google account to use the Chromebit, so enter your log in here (or create a new one).
5. Pair with a keyboard and mouse
The Chromebit only contains one USB port so if you want to add a keyboard and mouse, it’s best to go to Bluetooth. On setup the Asus Chromebit will offer you the option to pair with any devices you have ready and switched on.
Using Chromebit kiosk mode
The Chromebit offers access to kiosk mode which can be really useful for certain use cases. For example, if you want to set up a digital signage display using your Chromebit this allows you to bypass the Chrome Device Management Console, to work directly with apps such as ScreenCloud without any additional fees.
Read our full guide for details on how to set up kiosk mode.
How to reset a Chromebit device
If you’ve bought a second-hand Chromebit, or are swapping the use of your one, you may need to wipe the settings from the device. You can do this using the steps below:
1. Turn off the Chromebit by removing the power cord.
Remember - the Chromebit doesn’t have an on/off button so the only way to shut it down is to fully remove the cord.
2. Press the recovery button
Put a paperclip or something small into the recovery button hole and simultaneously reattach the power cord to turn on the Chromebit at the same time. The recovery button is the small hole located on the left-hand side of the back of the device.
3. Press Ctrl + D
If you are using a laptop or PC, press Ctrl + D. If you are using a TV screen, you may need to set up a keyboard before trying to wipe your device (see how to do this above in setup).
4. Press the recover button
Once again, put a paperclip or something small into the recovery button hole. The device should now reboot and you should see a red exclamation point.
5. Press Ctrl + D
Press Ctrl + D again. The Chromebit should now reboot, clearing all local data. This can take up to 10 minutes.
What can you do with your Asus Chromebit?
Need some inspiration on what to do with your Asus Chromebit once setup? Here are a few use cases:
1. Work from anywhere
The Chromebit is a great way to set up shop from wherever you are. If you work online, through cloud-based systems, you can effectively log onto any screen and use it as a PC. Just remember, the Chromebit does have limited capabilities so if you’re a ten-tab kind of person, you may find things slow.
2. Listen to music
There are a few different ways to listen to music via the Chromebit. You can download apps such as Spotify from the Chrome Web Store. Chromebit also gives you access to any webpage, so you can type in youtube.com and have your favorite playlists playing in seconds.
3. Setup Chromebit signage
As aforementioned, we do not recommend purchasing this device for digital signage. However if you already have one, no problem! Check out our full guide to using the Chromebit for digital signage.
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4. View photos
The Chromebit gives you access to Google photos, so providing this is where you have your images saved, you can easily pull them up onto the big screen.
5. Stream videos
The Chromebit allows you to stream videos and download movies from Google Play Movies & TV.
Google Chromebit question buster
Does the Google Chromebithave to be plugged in to work?
You the Google Chromebit needs to be plugged into a screen or device to work and requires the power adaptor to work at full potential.
Does the Chromebit have Bluetooth?
Yes, the Chromebit is Bluetooth enabled. Read the Asus guide to learn how to use Bluetooth to pair a wireless mouse and/or keyboard to your screen to use alongside the Chromebit.
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