Google Chromebook Pixel

Earlier this year, Google did something almost ground-breaking when it introduced the Chromebook Pixel. Sure, the Chromebook line as a whole has existed for a few years, but the entire premise of such a range of notebooks revolved around only a couple of design goals. One of those was accessibility, and almost by default, the other was affordability. The original Chromebooks were priced at $500 or less -- in some cases, far less. The reason seemed obvious: Chrome OS was a great operating system for those who did little more than browse the Web and connect to cloud-based services such as Evernote, but it served less of a purpose in the productivity-minded "real world."

The Chromebook Pixel on the other hand, is perhaps the most curious gadget launch of the year. It's an extreme combination of premium parts and design coupled with a fledgling operating system. It's an odd melding of premium and basic features rolled into a single device. And this time around, Google priced out an expensive offering to be sure. Much like other Chromebooks, it's also difficult to categorize versus other products in the market. Before we begin to break down the pros and cons of owning such a marvel, let's take a look at what's under the hood.
 
 The Pixel is about as far away from cut and dry as one will find in the notebook arena. It's built to set a precedent perhaps, but it's a machine that many will have a hard time justifying its price tag. In many ways, the Pixel feels like it exists simply because it can, and while Google must know that too few of these will be sold, it's the concept that counts. This is proof that technology companies can still produce extraordinary things that may not necessarily be adopted by the masses, yet the masses will still no doubt pause to appreciate, while the industry could very well take a few cues from a product like the Chromebook Pixel.

 For those who have not been following the lineage of the Chromebook, here's a brief refresher: the Pixel, like all Chromebooks, runs Chrome OS. This is a homegrown operating system out of Google's own labs, and it's a cloud-based system. In other words, few of the important elements work offline. This operating system needs to be connected to a broadband network for most of the functionality to shine through. It's a radically different view on what an OS should be, and it's largely based around the Chrome Web browser.


The Chromebook Pixel ships with Chrome OS v26, but new versions of Chrome are introduced every couple of weeks. In fact, v27 is hitting the stable channel right now, which adds a slew of improvements. Each of these updates are pushed to the machine automatically, and each are free. Google has long since said that the Chromebook will get better with age as new updates are pushed, and it has largely made good on that promise.

It's important to note that Chrome OS has evolved significantly since we reviewed the Samsung Series 5 Chromebook in 2011. Back then, Chrome OS was nothing more than a browser. No desktop, no file management system per se. Today, Google has begun to cater to demands to make Chrome OS at least somewhat similar to more conventional operating systems. Now you're greeted with a menu bar at the bottom, the ability to have multiple windows / panes in use, and the ability to re-size windows in order to have multiple applications running at once.

 Most of Chrome OS' functionality still remains in the browser. For example, you cannot install an Evernote app, but you can install the Chrome Web app and keep that pinned at all times. In effect, it's just like using an app, but you access it via a Chrome browser tab. That said, there are a couple of dedicated programs, one of which is Scratchpad -- a cloud-based, syncable note taking program that looks a lot like Notepad on OS X. There's also a dedicated file explorer now, allowing you to save items (PDFs, downloads, etc.) onto the unit's SSD or onto your connected Google Drive account. Ph

Speaking of Google Drive, it's obvious that Google would prefer you to use that as your main means of storage. Each Pixel owner is gifted with 1TB of Drive space for three full years. That's a huge amount of space, and it's a perk that would cost hundreds of dollars per year if buying it outright. The only trouble is that for those who really do take advantage, you'll be forced to pay Google to keep those files accessible at the end of three years. Of course, three years is a long time from now. It's likely that storage prices will sink to the point where Google can offer 1TB of Drive storage at lower rates than we're seeing today, but of course, none of that is promised.

photos imported via SD card can now also be stored directly on the Pixel's SSD. It's not a fully open system providing access to local storage, but it's a great improvement from earlier builds of Chrome OS.