I enjoy Google's Pixel phones and nearly always carry one with me. But the announcement of the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, as well as the Pixel Watch 2, at the Made by Google product event in October wasn't the only item that piqued my interest from the search giant this week. It was, rather, the Chromebook Plus project.
According to reports, the Chromebook X is a set of product and specs standards for Chrome OS laptops that will provide certified models with the hardware oomph to accomplish more things directly on the machine rather than depending on browser-based capabilities.
"Oh, it's just like a regular laptop," you would think. Yes and, in a way, no.
A good laptop isn't difficult to find, with options from Acer, Asus, Dell, and others. However, a Windows laptop that doesn't seem like a series of compromises, such as a dull display, a poor CPU, or restricted storage choices, will normally cost about $1,000 / £800. And getting one of the greatest computers is more expensive - my current machine of choice is the wonderful MacBook Air M2, but it costs $1,399 / £1,499.
The Chromebook Plus program, on the other hand, looks to provide an opportunity to get a laptop with good technology for a reasonable price without making all of the concessions.
I recently reviewed the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 and Chromebook Plus 514, which offer Intel or AMD CPUs, 8GB of RAM (with a 16GB option), and 256GB and 512GB storage choices. There are 1080p displays, Full HD cameras, a wide port variety, and Wi-Fi 6E and Dolby DTS Audio compatibility. All for the low, low price of $399 / £399.
These Chromebooks have a "stylishly rugged" appearance - think practical, utilitarian rather than expanses of brushed metal - and feel like authentic get-real-work-done notebooks. I found the panels' peak brightness of 250 nits to be a little underwhelming. And the keyboards seemed a touch mushy (which I might attribute to my previous experience typing on a MacBook Air M2 keyboard with shorter key travel).
However, hardware is just one part of the puzzle. Chrome OS should be able to handle more locally with the Chromebook Plus capabilities, such as running Photoshop and accessing AI-based functions, as well as leveraging tools such as the Magic Eraser in the native Google Photos app.
This thrills me since it suggests Chromebooks can do more without having an internet connection. Chrome OS has improved synchronization and offline access, but I would say that low-spec Chromebooks depend on Google's cloud-powered applications, which may be limiting if your Wi-Fi is weak. So far, the Chromebook Plus project has allayed such fears.
I'm also intrigued about the effectiveness of a Chromebook Plus machine. While I love Windows 11's adaptability, it does need a large amount of computing power and resources in order to perform properly. When not connected to a power source and on the go, a well-specced Chromebook running the lightweight Chrome OS may provide a bevy of performance options, such as greater CPU power for video rendering. With native access to additional Google AI-powered capabilities, Chromebooks may expand their appeal beyond education and as low-cost alternatives to'regular' computers.
I believe that innovation in the computer industry has stagnated. Sure, Apple's M-series CPUs have been a bit of a revelation, Intel has joined the discrete graphics business, and Nvidia continues to push intriguing AI-powered graphics technologies, but there hasn't been much change on the operating system front.
So, if the Chromebook Plus initiative is successful in making Chrome OS appealing to the typical laptop user, we may see a new wave of inventiveness as developers and hardware manufacturers strive to capitalize on the tools Google gives. At the very least, it should cause Microsoft and Apple to pay note.
According to reports, the Chromebook X is a set of product and specs standards for Chrome OS laptops that will provide certified models with the hardware oomph to accomplish more things directly on the machine rather than depending on browser-based capabilities.
"Oh, it's just like a regular laptop," you would think. Yes and, in a way, no.
A good laptop isn't difficult to find, with options from Acer, Asus, Dell, and others. However, a Windows laptop that doesn't seem like a series of compromises, such as a dull display, a poor CPU, or restricted storage choices, will normally cost about $1,000 / £800. And getting one of the greatest computers is more expensive - my current machine of choice is the wonderful MacBook Air M2, but it costs $1,399 / £1,499.
The Chromebook Plus program, on the other hand, looks to provide an opportunity to get a laptop with good technology for a reasonable price without making all of the concessions.
Acer
These Chromebooks have a "stylishly rugged" appearance - think practical, utilitarian rather than expanses of brushed metal - and feel like authentic get-real-work-done notebooks. I found the panels' peak brightness of 250 nits to be a little underwhelming. And the keyboards seemed a touch mushy (which I might attribute to my previous experience typing on a MacBook Air M2 keyboard with shorter key travel).
However, hardware is just one part of the puzzle. Chrome OS should be able to handle more locally with the Chromebook Plus capabilities, such as running Photoshop and accessing AI-based functions, as well as leveraging tools such as the Magic Eraser in the native Google Photos app.
This thrills me since it suggests Chromebooks can do more without having an internet connection. Chrome OS has improved synchronization and offline access, but I would say that low-spec Chromebooks depend on Google's cloud-powered applications, which may be limiting if your Wi-Fi is weak. So far, the Chromebook Plus project has allayed such fears.
I'm also intrigued about the effectiveness of a Chromebook Plus machine. While I love Windows 11's adaptability, it does need a large amount of computing power and resources in order to perform properly. When not connected to a power source and on the go, a well-specced Chromebook running the lightweight Chrome OS may provide a bevy of performance options, such as greater CPU power for video rendering. With native access to additional Google AI-powered capabilities, Chromebooks may expand their appeal beyond education and as low-cost alternatives to'regular' computers.
I believe that innovation in the computer industry has stagnated. Sure, Apple's M-series CPUs have been a bit of a revelation, Intel has joined the discrete graphics business, and Nvidia continues to push intriguing AI-powered graphics technologies, but there hasn't been much change on the operating system front.
So, if the Chromebook Plus initiative is successful in making Chrome OS appealing to the typical laptop user, we may see a new wave of inventiveness as developers and hardware manufacturers strive to capitalize on the tools Google gives. At the very least, it should cause Microsoft and Apple to pay note.
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Electronic