Google’s New Pixelbook Takes on Microsoft’s Surface & Apple’s Macbooks

A Chromebook may decidedly come with lesser functionality when compared with a Windows machine, but its user base is increasingly becoming full of loyalists who would fight to defend it.

Google is outing an annual high-end machine for this audience, and this year the bar is set higher in ways more than one.

Surface-Pixelbook?

The new Pixelbook comes with a powerful processor, a Surface-inspired 2-in-1 design and a high price-tag which makes it an aspirational item.

The design features a detachable touchscreen which allows up to four different usage orientations. The keyboard is backlit, while the trackpad features new algorithms to recognize commands and gestures with higher accuracy.

The screen comes with a 12.3-inch IPS LCD display and 2400 x 1600 resolution. The touchscreen supports the new $99 Pixel Pen accessory – developed by Wacom – which supports up to 2000 levels of pressure sensitivity and a 10 ms response time.

Under the hood, you get either a Core i5 or a Core i7 processor, of unknown generation. There’s 8 GB RAM, as well as 128, 256 or 512 GB of SSD storage.

Comes With Google Play Services and Assistant Suppport

For connectivity, you get 2 USB-C ports as well as Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth and a HD webcam. The Chromebook comes with Google Play services pre-installed, which will allow you to use Android apps from the laptop.

It also comes with the Google Assistant, supporting the “Ok Google” command. Battery life is rated at 10 hours. Fast-charging is supporting, providing 2 hours of use in just 15 minutes.

Pricing starts at $999 for the entry level model, with the 256 and 512 GB models retailing at $1249 and $1649, respectively.

For that price, we don’t expect the model to bring the ChromeOS platform to the mainstream, however, we have a certain idea of what Google’s vision is for the Pixelbook line.