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Google Pixelbook Go: The best Chromebook I’ve used to date.
The Chromebook can now be your only laptop. That was not always the case.
Chrome OS can now do many of the things you do on a Windows 10 or MacBook laptop. And sometimes do better.
What is a Chromebook and Chrome OS? Short answer: a laptop with a smartphone OS (similar):
I don’t mean that literally (not a smartphone operating system per se). But its minimalist origins and its ability to run Android applications give it much more flavor of the mobile operating system than Windows or macOS. My Chromebooks, including the Pixelbook Go, run all the Android apps I use on my Android phones.
But Chrome also runs legacy (desktop) apps:
Microsoft Office runs on my Chromebook the same way it does on my MacBook and Windows laptops, as a standalone application with floating and overlapping windows. And Microsoft’s OneDrive (a file hosting service) also supports Chrome OS.
Most applications will run in a floating window just like Windows 10 or macOS. That was not always the case, which is why Chrome has somehow evolved into another desktop operating system, keeping its minimalist pedigree.
Multitasking is better than iPad and iOS:
Take note of the iPad / iOS fans. ANDUNED You cannot multitask on iPad Pro and iOS like you do on a Chromebook, i.e. multiple floating windows. Something to think about if you wonder if iOS is the future of productivity (it isn’t, at least not yet). And thereIt has always been supported with trackpad and mouse pointer on Chromebooks.
Any desktop software available as a web version is available for the Chromebook:
Any Windows app, or any app for that matter, with a web version running in the Chrome browser will run on a Chromebook.
What about photo editing?
This can be an obstacle for users married to a Windows or MacBook photo editor. The good news is that the memory muscle you use for those editors can be modified (in a couple of days) for Chrome OS applications like Pixlr, Polarr, and Adobe Photoshop Express, among others.
Additionally, Apple iCloud photos and Microsoft OneDrive photos can be accessed from the Chrome browser on a Chromebook.
Google has its own way of storing photos, also known as Google Photos. It is not better or worse than Windows or macOS, only different.
Chrome OS is safe without the hassle: no constant updates
The Chromebook platform is secure, stable, and self-sufficient. Updates and restarts don’t bother you constantly (think of Windows 1st and macOS). Almost everything is cared for deep down.
Chrome OS + Chromebook = efficiency + great battery life
Chromebooks age well. My 2018 Pixel Slate with an Intel series processor AND “slow” (ultra-low power) runs Chrome OS as fast as my newer Intel 10th Generation 2020 quad-core laptops run Windows 10.
In short, Chromebooks don’t need to be fooled by the faster CPUs, lots of RAM, and bigger SSDs to run fast. And they don’t need fans to keep them cool.
And that is the point. Chrome OS is more efficient than Windows.
And that translates to great battery life. My Pixelbook Go can last two days if I’m doing the usual productivity things with a little video looking sideways.
The hardware:
I’ve been using the 13-inch Google Pixelbook Go * for the past six months, and I’m wondering if Google hasn’t outperformed Apple and Windows 1st laptop providers in designing ultra-thin and lightweight laptops.
The Go is remarkably light at 2.4 pounds, 181 grams lighter than the 2020 MacBook Air.
My unit, priced at $ 849, has an 8th Gen Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, two USB-C ports, and a Full HD display (1,920 by 1,080). The $ 649 model has a Core m3 chip and 64 GB of storage.
For the performance you get, that’s $ 500 to $ 800 cheaper than a fast, high-quality Windows or MacBook laptop.
Disadvantage: Windows or Mac only software:
There are many examples of specialized applications like video editors, as just one example, running only on Windows 1st or macOS. That could also apply to certain industries / companies running legacy Windows applications. Those professionals or workers with specialized needs won’t necessarily want a Chromebook.
Price:
This is the argument that influences most consumers. Chromebooks are inexpensive. Period. Many Chromebooks cost between $ 400 and $ 600, while more expensive models (like the Pixelbook Go) start at $ 649 and the upper midrange is around $ 850.
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NOTES
– * The Pixelbook Go 2019 is a laptop with a traditional cover. The Pixel Slate 2018 is a tablet that can be configured with a Google Slate keyboard, which in effect turns it into a laptop.
—Speakers: The Pixelbook Go has one of the best speaker systems on any laptop you’ve tried, with deep bass and excellent midrange. The only laptop that beats it is the 16-inch MacBook Pro, which is the gold standard for laptop sound (note: I also use a 16-inch MacBook Pro).
—Pixelbook Go biometrics and Smart Lock: Google decided not to include any biometrics in Pixelbook Go. That is a no-no in 2020.
That said, if you have an Android phone, you can unlock Pixelbook Go with “Smart Lock”. You can configure Smart Lock to unlock your Chromebook automatically, based on a secure location called “Trusted Places”, if you have an Android phone anywhere in your home within Bluetooth distance. It’s not as consistent or reliable as a built-in fingerprint scanner (which is ironically found on the older Pixel Slate) but it’s better than nothing.
Pixel Slate with Slate keyboard.
