Google Pixelbook: $1000 of Weird!

The video provides a detailed hands-on look at the Google Pixelbook, a high-end 2-in-1 laptop that doubles as a tablet. Marques Brownlee walks through the hardware design, noting the all-metal chassis, slim profile, and 12-inch 2400 by 1600 touchscreen. He highlights the hardware choices like two USB-C ports, a front-facing location for the keyboard, and a chrome os that runs on an Intel core i5 with 8GB of RAM at the baseline, with options to upgrade to an i7, 16GB of RAM, and a half-terabyte NVMe SSD. He analyzes the pixelbook’s major quirks, including oversized bezels, rear-positioned speakers behind the keyboard, and a display hinge that can wobble, which make the dual-laptop/tablet concept feel awkward in practice. The review also digs into the pen accessory, priced at $100 with quadruple-A batteries, and discusses its usability and lack of storage solutions for the pen when not in use. A key part of the critique centers on Chrome OS as the operating system, weighing its advantages like automatic tethering to a Google Pixel for offline data and the presence of both web and Android app ecosystems against the absence of traditional desktop software and professional-grade apps. Overall, the Pixelbook is praised for its superb hardware and display but struggles to justify its $1000 price tag given competing options like the iPad Pro, Microsoft Surface Laptop, and MacBook Air, making it a niche purchase for a specific audience who prioritizes build quality and stylus-based workflows over broad software availability.

Topics · technology · consumer_electronics · product_reviews · laptops · hardware · mobile