Google decided it had it enough with entry-level Chrome laptops. Their newest product is completely different beast, one that comes with rock-solid specs, backlit keyboard, glass touchpad and a body made from an anodized aluminum alloy, making for an awesome look and feel.
Perhaps the best part is that the new Chromebook Pixel comes with a Gorilla Glass-protected 12.85-inch 2560×1700 pixels (239 ppi) touchscreen, making it the first Chrome laptop to support touch-based input and also a computer with the highest pixel density of any laptop screen on the market today.
Rest of the specs are impressive as well, and include Intel’s Core i5 1.8GHz processor and a 32GB SSD (64GB on the LTE model). Moreover, there are three microphones designed to cancel out surrounding noise, powerful speakers for crisp sound, 720p webcam, dual-band Wi-Fi connectivity with industry-leading range and optional 3G/4G (LTE) connectivity (that works with Verizon Wireless’ network). Plus, when you purchase the Pixel, you also get 12 free GoGo Inflight Internet passes, and a total of one terabyte of Google Drive cloud storage for three years!
On the downside though, at 3.35 lbs (1.52 kg) the Chromebook Pixel seems kinda too heavy. I would expect it to be lighter than comparable ultrabooks but for some reason – that’s not the case.
Finally, the price and availability information. The Pixel has already started selling through Google Play in the U.S. and U.K., and will also hit Best Buy and Currys PC World (UK). The Wi-Fi version (available for $1,299 in the US or £1,049 in the UK) will start shipping next week and the LTE version ($1,449) will ship in the U.S. in April.