Liliputing

  • How To…
  • Mini PCs
  • Reviews
  • Deals
  • Shop
  • About
    • About Liliputing
    • Contact us
    • Advertise on Liliputing
    • Support Liliputing
    • Privacy Statement

Google Pixelbook review roundup: An expensive Chromebook worth buying?

10/26/2017 at 12:37 PM by Brad Linder 9 Comments

When Google launched the first Chromebook Pixel in 2013, a lot of people scratched their heads. It was a laptop with some pretty phenomenal hardware (albeit not enough built-in storage space) that ran an operating system most people associated with dirt cheap netbook-like laptops.

I quite liked it, but acknowledged that the $1299 price tag made it a tough sell for anyone but Chrome OS diehards… or maybe folks who planned to install Linux on the machine.

But Google doubled down and released an updated model with even better specs in 2015. By then Chrome OS had evolved a bit… but the Chromebook Pixel still looked like a tough sell when you could buy a MacBook or premium Windows laptop for the same price.

Now another two years have passed and Google’s new Pixelbook is set to hit the streets next week. It’s got some of the best hardware to date, including a convertible design that lets you use the notebook like a laptop, plenty of RAM and storage, and most importantly, the latest version of Chrome OS which makes the new laptop a lot more useful at launch than any of its predecessors.

The early reviews are in, and while the Pixelbook still isn’t a laptop for everyone, it could have wider appeal than any previous high-end Chromebook from Google… you know, if you can get past the $999 starting price.

Chrome OS has always been designed as a desktop/laptop operating system. But up until recently it’s also been a very browser-centric OS that relied on web apps and cloud storage.

Over time Google started to add support for some apps that work offline. But things really kicked into high gear when Chrome OS gained support for native Android apps, giving you access to millions of third-party apps and games that you can download.

In addition to having a high-quality keyboard and premium design and specs, the Pixelbook has 12.3 inch, 2400 x 1600 pixel touchscreen display with support for pen input and a 360-degree hinge that lets you hold the 2.4 pound Chrome OS notebook like an Android tablet.

Chromebook Pixel laptops have always had ample RAM, but for the first time Google is also offering the kind of storage we’ve come to expect from a laptop. The entry-level model has an Intel Core i5 Kaby Lake processor, 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The top-tier model (priced at $1649) has a Core i7 CPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD.

The Pixel Pen is sold separately for $99.

There’s also a Core i5/8GB/256GB model for $1199, but this is one of those cases where you probably don’t need to pay for the extra storage unless you really need it. 128GB is already more than you get on most Chromebooks. And the Core i7 processor might be overkill (although it does seem a little odd that Google is putting out a laptop with top-tier specs in late 2017 but the company didn’t opt for  newer 8th-gen Intel Kaby Lake Refresh quad-core processors).

As Gizmodo points out, the Pixelbook still isn’t aimed at power users that want to tweak their PC settings or play bleeding edge games. It’s designed for folks who view a computer as a portal to the internet… and in that light, it’s a pretty nice portal that does most of what you need and little of what you don’t.


If you don’t mind the relatively big screen and heavy weight, the Pixelbook may also be one of the best Android tablets you can buy, since you get the option of using a full Chrome web browser and a keyboard when you need it.

The Pixelbook isn’t for everyone. It isn’t even for all Chrome OS fans. Think of it like the Kindle Oasis of Chromebooks: a premium machine for folks that are already sold on the concept and who are looking for a better experience than you get from entry-level hardware.

And if you like the hardware but still aren’t sold on Chrome OS, I suppose you can always just install Linux.

Here are some of the first reviews of the Pixelbook:

  • 9to5Google
  • Android Central
  • Android Police
  • Ars Technica
  • Chrome Unboxed
  • Engadget
  • Gizmodo
  • Laptop 
  • PC World
  • TechCrunch
  • TNW
  • VentureBeat
  • The Verge
  • ZDNet

For the most part, reviewers seem to love the hardware and have mixed feelings about the software. But if you’re gung ho on Chrome OS and have a lot of spare cash lying around, it sounds like you’re likely to be pleased.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google
  • Reddit
  • Email

Leave a Reply

9 Comments on "Google Pixelbook review roundup: An expensive Chromebook worth buying?"

Login with
Facebook Google Twitter WordPress Yahoo! Disqus Reddit Stackoverflow GitHub
avatar
avatar
  Subscribe  
newest oldest most voted
Notify of
YCAU
Member
YCAU
Share On TwitterShare On Google
Click to flag and open «Comment Reporting» form. You can choose reporting category and send message to website administrator. Admins may or may not choose to remove the comment or block the author. And please don't worry, your report will be anonymous.

“It’s got some of the best hardware to date, including a convertible design that lets you use the notebook like a laptop”
Daaaaaamn, that’s a revolutionary feature!!! Being able to use the notebook like a laptop?! Microsoft and Apple better step up!

Vote Up5Vote Down  Reply
5 months ago
Wondercool
Guest
Wondercool
Share On TwitterShare On Google
Click to flag and open «Comment Reporting» form. You can choose reporting category and send message to website administrator. Admins may or may not choose to remove the comment or block the author. And please don't worry, your report will be anonymous.

It’s not on GalliumOS,org yet When it is confirmed to install core boot + linux, I am very interested. Sounds like a lot of hardware for the price!

Vote Up1Vote Down  Reply
5 months ago
Eagle
Guest
Eagle
Share On TwitterShare On Google
Click to flag and open «Comment Reporting» form. You can choose reporting category and send message to website administrator. Admins may or may not choose to remove the comment or block the author. And please don't worry, your report will be anonymous.

I think it’s a bit unnecessary to spend $999 on a Chromebook because for $500-$600 you can get an amazing Chromebook.

For $999 I would recommend a windows equivalent. You’ll have enough speed and power to do a lot of things comfortably at that price or a little less.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06WD61CF5/ref=s9_acss_bw_cg_cegwcacl_2d1_w?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=unified-hybrid-3&pf_rd_r=7JDD2W5DPA4XEV5XP8H8&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=8f3beb77-ea3e-4dfa-a35a-d86cc1aa711c&pf_rd_i=565108

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
5 months ago
Ch_Risf
Member
Ch_Risf
Share On TwitterShare On Google
Click to flag and open «Comment Reporting» form. You can choose reporting category and send message to website administrator. Admins may or may not choose to remove the comment or block the author. And please don't worry, your report will be anonymous.

Surely, a suitable equivalent would be something like the HP Spectre x360 13″.
https://www.amazon.com/2017-HP-13-AC013DX-Touch-Screen-Refurbished/dp/B071V7MXC3/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1509050817&sr=1-4&keywords=hp+spectre+x360

Similar-ish size, and similarly thin and light.

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
5 months ago
Eagle
Guest
Eagle
Share On TwitterShare On Google
Click to flag and open «Comment Reporting» form. You can choose reporting category and send message to website administrator. Admins may or may not choose to remove the comment or block the author. And please don't worry, your report will be anonymous.

That’s a really beautiful laptop.

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
5 months ago
riddick
Guest
riddick
Share On TwitterShare On Google
Click to flag and open «Comment Reporting» form. You can choose reporting category and send message to website administrator. Admins may or may not choose to remove the comment or block the author. And please don't worry, your report will be anonymous.

no

Vote Up-4Vote Down  Reply
5 months ago
RonP
Member
RonP
Share On TwitterShare On Google
Click to flag and open «Comment Reporting» form. You can choose reporting category and send message to website administrator. Admins may or may not choose to remove the comment or block the author. And please don't worry, your report will be anonymous.

It is a great laptop, but man the price, I run Ubuntu +Chrome on an old Dell e7240 $360 https://www.walmart.com/ip/Refurbished-Dell-Latitude-E7240-12-5-Laptop-Windows-10-Pro-Intel-Core-i7-4600U-Processor-8GB-RAM-256GB-Solid-State-Drive/52416520 you can then get an Acer R11 for $259 https://www.amazon.com/Acer-Premium-Convertible-Touchscreen-Chromebook/dp/B074T1HG9Y/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1509057466&sr=1-3&keywords=refurbished+acer+r11

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
5 months ago
Mason Barland
Member
Mason Barland
Share On TwitterShare On Google
Click to flag and open «Comment Reporting» form. You can choose reporting category and send message to website administrator. Admins may or may not choose to remove the comment or block the author. And please don't worry, your report will be anonymous.

I think they really miss the mark by not including a 4G LTE modem, like the iPad does. Love my cheap chromebooks, but with an always active internet connection, there’d be no looking back.

Vote Up3Vote Down  Reply
5 months ago
penguinx64
Guest
penguinx64
Share On TwitterShare On Google
Click to flag and open «Comment Reporting» form. You can choose reporting category and send message to website administrator. Admins may or may not choose to remove the comment or block the author. And please don't worry, your report will be anonymous.

I’m still using my 2012 Samsung 11.6 inch Chromebook. It is one of the original Chromebooks and it’s a great alternative to the lame Windows 8 and Vista laptops back in the day. It’s also a great alternative to a $1000 Ultrabook. But for $1000, I’d rather buy a Macbook Air.

Vote Up-3Vote Down  Reply
5 months ago
Facebook Gplus Twitter YouTube RSS Patreon

Latest News

Razer Blade Stealth 3 pound Kaby Lake-R notebook review

Razer Blade Stealth 3 pound Kaby Lake-R notebook review

PC gaming company Razer is a relative newcomer to the laptop space, having … [Read More...]

AMD launches 35W Ryzen 2200GE and Ryzen 5 2400GE chips with Vega graphics

AMD launches 35W Ryzen 2200GE and Ryzen 5 2400GE chips with Vega graphics

The first Ryzen processors AMD launched for desktop computers last year were … [Read More...]

Meizu 15, 15 Plus, and 15 Lite smartphones launch in China

Meizu 15, 15 Plus, and 15 Lite smartphones launch in China

Chinese phone maker Meizu has unveiled a new family of Meizu 15 smartphones. … [Read More...]

Deals

Deals of the Day (4-20-2018)

Deals of the Day (4-20-2018)

The Jackery Bolt is a portable battery with enough juice to recharge most … [Read More...]

Featured articles

Razer Blade Stealth 3 pound Kaby Lake-R notebook review

Razer Blade Stealth 3 pound Kaby Lake-R notebook review

PC gaming company Razer is a relative newcomer to the laptop space, having … [Read More...]

Google’s 5 years of support for older Chromebooks is starting to be a problem

Google’s 5 years of support for older Chromebooks is starting to be a problem

When Google announced a few years ago that it would offer at least 5 years of … [Read More...]

Dell XPS 13 (2018) review: Sleeker, faster, better (mostly)

Dell XPS 13 (2018) review: Sleeker, faster, better (mostly)

These days slim bezels are all the rage in smartphones and laptops alike. But … [Read More...]

Support Liliputing

Liliputing’s primary sources of revenue are advertising and affiliate links (if you click the “Shop” button at the top of the page and buy something on Amazon, for example, we’ll get a small commission).

But there are several ways you can support the site directly even if you’re using an ad blocker and hate online shopping.

Contribute via PayPal

  • donate monthly
  • donate once only
Select a Donation Option (USD)
Enter Donation Amount (USD)

Subscribe via Patreon

Become a Patron!

Disclosure: Some links on this page are monetized by Skimlinks and Amazon's and eBay's affiliate programs.

Login

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries RSS
  • Comments RSS
  • WordPress.org

Copyright © 2018 Liliputing · Go to top of page

sponsored
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.