Google has launched the new Chromebook Pixel. This is said to be the first Google offering to have a high resolution touch screen. The pixel density of this laptop is higher than that offered by Apple’s Retina display. It is powered with the Core i5 processor priced at $1,299. If you want an advanced model that includes 4G LTE technology, you have to shell out $1,449, this model is scheduled to ship in April 2013. Let’s find out more about it and find out if Google has done an impressive job with its Chromebook.
The screen
The Chromebook screen has multi-touch capability that goes up against its Retina display rival. the screen measures 12.85 inches with a resolution of 2,560×1,700 pixels and a ratio of 3:2. The screen is protected with Gorilla Glass to prevent scratches. Also, the brightness of the screen is high so that the content looks clear and sharp.
The difference that the 3:2 ratio brings is the vertical space you get. You will enjoy the online experience in this dimension as Chromebook is built for the cloud and well suited for it. This is what makes scrolling easier and navigation smoother.
Screen density is 239ppi, which is beyond what the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display offers at 227ppi. Once again, Google’s product takes the lead and provides good graphics along with smooth display of fonts. The touch screen is very responsive, however you may find it difficult to switch between tabs in Chrome. You’ll need to double-tap to switch tabs, the pinch-to-zoom function worked fine.
hardware specifications
The Chromebook Pixel is powered by a 1.8GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor with support for Intel HD Graphics 4000 and 4GB of memory. This is what causes it with its competitors that have Windows 8 operating system and systems like Mac.
There are two variations of Chromebook. The first with Wi-Fi and 32GB SSD is $1,299, the other has built-in 4G LTE technology with 64GB storage priced at $1,449. The only common factor in both models is the 1TB cloud storage available for three years. The left side of the unit has a USB port, a Mini Display port and a microphone/headphone jack.
There are a total of two USB 2.0 ports on the unit along with a Mini DisplayPort that connects external monitors. As far as battery juice goes, you’ll be able to squeeze out a flat 5 hours with basic usage. Despite the USB and other port options, you’ll feel short on options related to video output. The unit lacks an HDMI input which might disappoint you.
Another additional key is included on the keyboard called the search key. However, this key is replaced with the caps lock key. However, you can quickly launch the search function with a single key. If you want, you can change the functionality to Caps Lock as per your requirements. The traditional keyboard is out, as some keys, such as the exclusion of the right-hand delete key and caps lock, may need some getting used to.
conclusion
In conclusion, to what has been said above, the good thing you get with the Google Chromebook Pixel is the design, the elegant style, with Intel technology, the touch screen for the Windows 8 operating system along with 3 years of 1TB storage and 4G LTE enabled.
The downside seems to be the premium price of $1,299, the Chrome OS which needs online connectivity for its functionality.