Google Chromebook Pixel: What Does The Tech Press Think?

Google Chromebook Pixel: What Does The Tech Press Think?
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Google unveiled the Chromebook Pixel on Thursday, its first 'premium' laptop running the pared-down Chrome OS.

Unlike previous cut-price Chromebooks, the svelte machine runs a powerful i5 processor, Intel HD 4000 graphics and 4GB of RAM, has a terabyte of cloud storage and an excellent 11-inch, 2560 x 1700 pixels touchscreen.

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Above: the Chromebook Pixel

But while it's undoubtedly a powerful machine, it's got its limitations - namely the operating system.

Chrome OS is a minimalist, web-focused OS which runs mainly online applications such as Gmail and Google Docs.

It's also not cheap. The 32GB model will cost £1,049 in the UK, while the LTE model available in the States is even pricier.

So what has the tech press made of this machine so far?

"The Chromebook Pixel is clearly a premium laptop, but that's also an incredibly steep price for a device that primarily runs just the web and web applications on a relatively new OS... particularly when it also has a screen with an unfamiliar resolution and aspect ratio that developers will need to target."

"We can't say that the touchscreen notebook is a stark departure from the category's norm, but it certainly feels like a solid piece of kit. Weighing in at 3.35 pounds, the Chromebook Pixel's unibody frame looks and feels somewhat like a MacBook Pro"

"Google's had a carte-blanche when it comes to the design and it's gone all out on the detail... the result is a super sleek slim laptop and a far cry from the slightly cheap-feel of previous Chromebooks."

"For now, my recommendation would be to try out the Pixel, if possible, and see if the hardware justifies the purchase. But if you're interested in a Chromebook, my advice would be to buy one of the older, cheaper models first, and then see how the Pixel evolves."

"The OS itself may be seen as restrictive--standalone programs are a no go--but for those of us that use our laptops primarily as on-line terminals rather than traditional desktops, these limitations are hardly noticeable."