Google has announced the Chromebook Pixel, a touchscreen laptop with a high-resolution display, which is a blend of tablet and laptop technology, boasting heavyweight Intel chips and screens tailored for rich graphics.
Chromebook Pixel has a 12.85-inch LCD touchscreen with 4.3 million pixels and Gorilla Glass protection. The display has resolution of 2560x1700p, 239ppi pixel density, 178-degree viewing angle, 400nit brightness and 3:2 aspect ratio. Its 239 pixel density is the highest of any laptop and tops both of Apple’s MacBook Pro with Retina display computers.Chromebook Pixel runs on Google’s Chrome OS, which is centred on the internet and comes with applications like media player, file manager and browser-based document editor.
Inside, Google Chromebook Pixel is powered by a dual-core 1.8GHz Intel i5 processor that is coupled with 4GB DDR3 RAM, while the graphic card used in the laptop is Intel HD Graphics 4000.
Additionally, the Chromebook Pixel, which is made of anodized aluminum alloy, will be available in an LTE-enabled version, allowing it to connect to the fastest cellular network offered by Verizon Wireless of US, which is offering 100MB of free data for two years. Its touchpad is made from etched glass and the device weighs 1.52kg. It measures 11.7×8.8×0.6inches (lxbxh) in dimensions.
For memory, Chromebook Pixel has 32GB and 64GB SSD options, along with 1TB of free Google Drive storage in the cloud for three years. Users can also connect external hard drives and pen drives to this device. The battery capacity of the Chromebook Pixel is rated as 59WHr, which allows the device to run for five hours, as claimed by Google.
The new Chromebook Pixel has a front-facing camera that shoots videos in 720p resolution. Google says its full-range speakers are tuned for clarity and the three integrated microphones effectively cancel ambient noise.
The Chromebook Pixel is available for purchase now on Google Play. The Wi-Fi only version goes for $1,299 and is scheduled to ship next week, while the LTE-capable version costs $1,449 and will ship in April. This device can also be pre-ordered from select Best Buy outlets in US. So far, Google has not revealed any details about the laptop’s launch in other countries.
This is smart attempt by Google to challenge simultaneously Microsoft’s grip on the industry with the Windows operating system as well as Apple’s line of Mac computers. Apple and Microsoft already have been hurt by the increased competition from Google. Most smartphones and tablets running on Google’s free Android software cost less than Apple’s iPhone and iPad, helping to siphon sales away from those devices. Sales of PCs running on Windows also have been sagging during the past year, partly because consumers are relying more on Android devices.
Google says it expects to make a small profit on each Pixel sold, but the company figures to make more money from the online traffic delivered from the machines. Like other Chromebooks, the Pixel is set up to automatically use all of Google’s services, including its search engine, Gmail and YouTube video site.
