Google's Chrome OS is typically found in inexpensive Chromebook laptops, and occasionally a Chromebox desktop as well. At next month's Consumer Electronics Show, however, LG will put it into a desktop computer monitor. The company has just announced the Chromebase, a 21.5-inch all-in-one computer that runs the minimal OS, with an unnamed Intel Celeron processor, 2GB of memory, and 16GB of solid state storage housed underneath the monitor's 1080p IPS display.

While the computer comes with its own keyboard, mouse, speakers, webcam, USB ports and networking, it sounds like it can also still act as a monitor for another PC, thanks to an HDMI input around back. Theoretically, you could use Chrome OS as a quick-booting operating system for simple tasks when you don't want to fire up the full setup. It's an idea we've seen a number of times before, including with Android-based smart monitors at CES last year.

Individual users aren't LG's primary target

It's worth noting that individual users aren't LG's primary target with the Chromebase, though. In a press release accompanying the announcement, LG writes that it expects the Chromebase to be especially well received in schools, hotels, and call centers, among other businesses. One of the main selling points of Chrome OS is that you can log into any Chrome OS computer and have your content waiting for you, because it's all stored in the cloud. That could come in handy for students and hotel guests, because those terminals could be totally interchangable.

LG doesn't say when we can expect the Chromebase to arrive or how much it will cost, but we'll be sure to check it out next month.