Google’s latest Chromebook is the first to feature built-in support for Google Assistant, the first to support pen input, and the first to feature a convertible design that lets you flip the screen back 360 degrees to use the computer as a tablet.
It’s called the Google Pixelbook, and it comes with up to an Intel Core i7 processor, up to 16GB of RAM, and up to 512GB of solid state storage.
Prices start at $999Â for a model with a Core i5 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage.
You can use the Pixelbook in laptop, tablet, or tent modes. In laptop mode, not only can you use your voice to interact with Google Assistant, but there’s also a dedicated Assistant button that you can press to start typing.
If you spend an extra $99 for the Pixel Pen, you can use it to circle content on the screen to bring up more information in Google Assistant. The pen uses Wacom technology, supports more than 2,000 levels of pressure sensitivity and 60 degree of tilt detection. With 10ms of latency, it’s also one of the most responsive digital pen experiences available.
Google’s Pixelbook features a USB Type-C port that’s used for data and charging, and Google says you should get up to 10 hours of battery life. There’s also fast charging support: you should get up to 2 hours of battery life from a 15 minute charge.
The notebook has a 12.3 inch, 2400 x 1600 pixel display, an aluminum unibody chassis, stereo speakers, 4 microphones, and the Pixelbook measures 11.3″ x 8.7″ x 0.4″ and weighs 2.4 pounds.
It also has a 3-axis gyroscope, a magnetometer, a backlit keyboard, a 720p60 webcam, and a 3.5mm audio jack.
It goes up for pre-order in the US, UK, and Canada today and it should be available in stores October 31st. The laptop will be available from the Google Store and a thousand retail locations including Best Buy.
I remember the original pixel… very exciting. The next one… wow! This one… not so much. I like the increased storage. I guess, I’ll need to wait for more detailed specs.
I think part of my disinterest has to do with the Pixel’s difficulty getting Linux to run – plug-n-play. It always takes a long time and stuff like sound, hibernation or something else causes problems for a long time.
So I see this new Pixel not as a laptop anymore but a closed and proprietary box running a surveillance browser and dangerous mobile apps.
That’s a lot of money for just browsing…
I wonder if you could load WIN 10 on it
I assume the chipset is a generic one from Intel, and that loading Win10 or Linux would be trivial. I would be surprised if it wasn’t already used in a MacBook.
Also, you would probably have to get the 512GB version.
Which would be very small amount of storage if you planned on partitioning it, so that each OS has its own slot for multi-booting (eg/ ChromeOS, Windows 10 Pro, macOS, Android).
The bigger challenge would be to have all the hardware working, eg webcams, lid status, gyro, pen, etc etc
perhaps that should be 2400×1600 ?