If we want to rank the appearance of the products we don't recommend, the Chromebook Pixel can definitely rank first in the notebook camp. Although this notebook with an exquisite aluminum shell, an ultra fine screen and a comfortable keyboard can even surpass the new MacBook in terms of appearance sophistication, we would advise you to think twice for those who want to buy it.
For Google, Pixel is definitely a somewhat advanced product, that is to say, Pixel still needs to be improved, and this is just the second generation Chromebook product that Google itself has withdrawn. Google's design philosophy for Pixel is "original", and wants to "retain the features that everyone likes in the original", while "correcting all the errors that make its sales performance poor".
For this product concept, the product is naturally highly similar to the previous generation products in appearance, but the specifications have been upgraded. The screen in the all metal body has reached 12.85 inches, the resolution has reached 2560 × 1700, supports touch control, and the keyboard size is also very appropriate. It is officially announced that after the use of Intel's latest Core processor, The comprehensive endurance can reach 12 hours, and the body is also equipped with two USB TYPE-C interfaces, just like the MacBook, but the Pixel still retains the traditional USB interface. As for software, Chrome OS has gained more optimization and evolution, and now it can even run some Android applications. But the most important thing is that the starting price of Chromebook Pixel has dropped to $999, which is a jump in price compared with the previous generation of works (down as much as 23%). Does Google's efforts make Pixel a laptop worth buying? No, but it's a little closer.
Although I said so, the Pixel is very pleasant when it is held in the hand or put on the desktop. The aluminum body is even better than the MacBook in terms of workmanship. It feels soft, and the weight of the whole machine will be slightly heavier than it looks (in fact, the Pixel weighs 3.3 pounds, which is lighter than the 3.48 pounds of RMBP of the same size).
As for the screen, there are 32 likes. When I even got it, some people were not accustomed to using a Chromebook with such a great screen, or even put it in the whole notebook market, Pixel's screen quality is still unparalleled. Although the overall 3:2 ratio makes Pixel look more "square" than the common 16:9 13 inch computer after opening, the 239 ppi brought by high resolution is still very enjoyable. For those parameter parties, you only need to know that the ppi of Pixel 239 is higher than that of RMBP 227.
In addition to the high ppi, the Pixel screen also displays excellent color saturation and has a very wide viewing angle. Although the touch screen surface is slightly frosted, it has no impact on the display quality. Even on the plane, when the sun shines directly on the screen through the window, the screen still has excellent readability.
The only "disadvantage" of this screen may be the strange ratio. The "high" screen will make it very inconvenient to use in a narrow space, especially in the economy class of the flight. If the passengers in front lay down the seat back, there really is no room for Pixel to stretch.
Google's philosophy of "if it is not bad, it will not be repaired" is also vividly reflected on Pixel's keyboard: this keyboard can handle any task calmly, but the top row of function buttons on the keyboard have no difference in feel, and there will be a certain rate of misoperation when it needs to input a number of words. Although the keyboard is not long, But fortunately, the key cap is large enough, and the feedback power is great. At the same time, the Pixel touchpad is large and slippery enough, and there is no pressure on the control.
Pixel is equipped with two USB TYPE-C interfaces, which is quite conscientious compared with Apple's stingy practice of giving only one excuse, and for those who do not like to carry the adapter with them, Pixel has also prepared two standard USB interfaces, and two USB TYPE-C interfaces are placed on the left and right sides of the body respectively - don't underestimate this design, which means that users can choose to plug the power cable on the left or right according to their own needs. This small design is shining with the glory of humanity.
As for other interfaces, Pixel provides a 3.5mm headphone interface and a full-size SD card slot - this is necessary for a laptop with only 32GB of built-in storage. In general, compared with Apple's aggressive approach to thin interfaces, Pixel's gradual transition will make it easier for users.
Chrome OS has been developed for a long time. At present, almost every Google application can be used offline, including Gmail Drive、Music、Play Movies & TV， In addition, many other third-party applications can be used offline. At present, the number of offline applications on Chrome OS has reached the level where Google has opened a dedicated Chrome Web Store for users to download applications that can be used offline. In short, anyone who says that Chrome Book can't be used without the Internet now should blackout it.
Another obvious improvement in the past two years of Chrome OS development is that it is more convenient to switch multiple accounts. Now Chromebook is equipped with all-weather standby OK Google voice search, and Pixel's touch screen also supports pinching and zooming. If Pixel is stolen, it can also be locked remotely to protect data security, and the file manager logic is clearer, It can also share pictures to Google+in the background. If Chrome OS is not enough, it can also load another operating system through an external USB drive, or simply run in the form of a virtual machine. It can also run Android applications such as Vine, Evernote and Flipboard. Although the number is limited, it is better than nothing.
However, while Chrome OS has evolved, the whole Internet has not slowed down. The current Chrome OS still cannot let users complete all their work on it. Most services still exist in the cloud, and need to use browsers, such as Skype HipChat， It is OK to play cloud music and video, so Chrome OS is still "almost" able to meet all users' needs.
In the previous paragraph, the keyword is "almost". For example, I still can't install Garmin's upgrade kit and iTunes on Chromebook at present, and for people who like to play games, The Steam game platform also does not support Chrome OS, and there are few native games. For users who need video editing, the cloud video editing program is still no better than that on traditional PCs. At the same time, a series of software from Adobe is also basically absent. Although there is a compatible Photoshop at present, this APP is still a beta for educational users. Although I can run Photoshop on my PC through remote screen, why not sit directly in front of the PC.
As a result, the quality of Chrome OS still depends on users. For some people, the above inconvenience is not a problem. But for those who rely on some big brand traditional software, the cost of buying a Mac or Windows computer at the same price for $999 and installing a Chrome browser will be higher.
After talking about the software, let's take a look at the performance. The low configuration Pixel is equipped with the fifth generation Core i5 processor HD5500 integrated graphics card and 8GB RAM, compared with the combination of Celeron processor and 2GB/4GB RAM on other Chromebooks, this is really strong. In the Chromebooks camp, it is the catch and kill. Chromebooks with Celeron processors run smoothly enough, but Pixel can still open a very significant speed gap with them, It only takes 5 seconds from pressing the power button to the end of power on. Whether you open the window switch window or even connect to the Wi Fi network, it is going on quickly.
Google announced that the official endurance is 12 hours, which is a great improvement over the 5 hours of the previous Pixel. To be honest, during the testing period, my Pixel never lasted 12 hours, but on average, 10 hours of continuous video playback is still satisfactory, and after 3 hours of continuous browsing, chatting and document processing on long-distance flights, Pixel still has 66% remaining power, so it seems that the 10 hour battery life is still achievable.
In addition to extending the endurance, Pixel has also added the fast charging technology. Google claims that it can support two hours of use after 15 minutes of charging, and it only takes two hours to fully charge the battery. In the actual measurement, 17 minutes of charging can increase the power by 29%, which can be converted into three and a half hours. It only takes one hour and 41 minutes to fully charge, which is faster than the official data.
As for the price, Pixel's entry-level version costs $999 and is equipped with the 5th generation Core i5 processor, 8GB RAM and 32GB memory. If you are rich and capricious, you can look at the "LS" version that costs $1299, （LS=Ludicrous Speed）， Equipped with i7 processor and 16GB RAM, if you buy any one, you will get 1TB of Google Cloud Storage, which is valid for 3 years. Like other Chromebooks, users will automatically get 12 Gogo flight Wi Fi passes.
As of the release of the new Pixel, four years have passed since the release of the first Chromebook Book. A laptop running Chrome OS is still in an awkward position in the market. Chromebook cannot meet all the needs of all users now or in the future, but at least it is not worth buying as it was originally.
Personally, I won't buy it, but only because it can't run Photoshop and other apps I need to use. In addition, I like Pixel very much. In terms of appearance design, screen, keyboard, battery life, and even the above four aspects, this is the best laptop I have ever used. When it is time to return it, I still feel a little disappointed.
In addition, there is no reason not to buy it. According to the current development trend of Chrome OS, more and more major applications will add support for it. For those who don't care about this, and want to find a hardware configuration that can compete with the RMBP and the flagship Windows laptop, and also want to save a little money, Pixel is definitely worth buying. Otherwise, Buy a more practical Mac or Windows notebook.
advantage:
High resolution screen with amazing effect;
Very exquisite workmanship;
Excellent touch pad and keyboard feel;
Strong endurance and fast charging;
USB TYPE-C and standard USB interface are provided.
Disadvantages:
Chrome OS is still not perfect;
Expensive;
The size of the fuselage is not reduced compared with the previous one.
Original text and pictures from & &
