Chromebook Pixel – Review

The Chromebook Pixel comes with a third generation Intel Core i5, 1.8GHz dual-core processor, 4GB RAM and 32/64GB hard drive. It also boasts of high resolution Retina touch screen display usually found in Apple MacBook products. The Chromebook Pixel weighs 3.35 pounds and it sports a 12.85-inches display. The design is flawless, the touchscreen functions brilliantly and the Chrome OS is just as smooth as it looks. In terms of performance, the Chromebook Pixel will not give you any reason to complain.

On the flip side though, $1300 is a hefty price to pay for an ultrabook that runs on a cloud based OS. The Chrome OS comes with its share of limitations – you can’t use regular programs like Microsoft Office and Photoshop. Sure enough, there are alternatives like Google Drive and Pixlr but it can take a while to get used to them. Additionally, they might not compare to Microsoft programs in terms of performance and productivity.

As a result of these limitations, the Chromebook Pixel caters to a very select audience i.e. people who primarily use their laptops for online browsing or who are comfortable using Cloud based alternatives for traditional programs. Additionally, one has to be willing to pay quite a lot of money for an ultrabook that might not meet his or her basic technical requirements.

How does it compare with its competitors?

As soon as the Chromebook Pixel was launched, comparisons were made with MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. The Apple MacBook Pro comes with high resolution Retina display which makes for unbelievable clarity and sharpness in terms of display. In terms of technical specs, MacBook Pro is way ahead of Chromebook Pixel with a third generation Intel i7 2.3 GHz quad-core processor, 8/16GB memory and 256 GB hard drive. Additionally, one gets to use the iOS which is a full-fledged operating system with an array of programs as opposed to cloud based Chrome OS. However, these features come at a high cost as the MacBook Pro with Retina Display is priced close to $2000.

One can also compare Chromebook Pixel to Acer Aspire S7, an ultrabook which runs on Microsoft Windows 8. This ultrabook from Acer ships with Intel i7 1.9GHz dual-core processor, 4GB memory and 256 GB hard drive. Microsoft has made a very conscious effort to ensure that the Windows 8 OS supports a touch-friendly experience and the results are evident. The touchscreen is more receptive than other operating systems and the ultrabook performs without any glitches. Again, this ultrabook doesn’t come cheap either. Priced at close to $1600, it is a few hundred dollars expensive than the Chromebook Pixel.

So, if your resolution was losing weight or making more money or getting things organized or managing time efficiently, the following gadgets can help you immensely. Let’s quickly run through some of these:

1. Samsung Chromebook – The Samsung Chromebook is one step further in the drive towards a web-based, Cloud centric OS. As opposed to traditional operating systems which run on installed software, the Chromebook operates on a web-based software. It comes with a dual core Cortex A15 processor and 2GB memory. The Chromebook is thin and lightweight, and the best part is that it is priced at just $249. While it is definitely not meant for users who want to use multiple applications at once, it is ideal for travellers on the go. Unlike a tablet, it has more functionality and flexibility, which means that you can save both time and money without compromising on the efficiency aspect. Sounds like a win-win situation.

2. Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13 – 2012 was definitely the year of hybrids, it was the year when giant strides were made in resolving the tablet v/s laptop dilemna. The Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13 is one of the many hybrids that were launched this year. More importantly, it was one of the better hybrids that we saw in the past year. This hybrid comes with Windows 8, one of the many features which sets it apart from others. It comes with a 1.7GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB memory and 500GB hard drive. Finally, it manages to preserve the best of both the worlds i.e. it functions equally well as a laptop and a tablet. So, if you have resolved to declutter your life and make it more organized, this might be the place to start.

3. iPhone 5 – Any recap of 2012 is incomplete without the mention of the iPhone 5. It was, by a huge margin, the gadget of 2012. It had everything that you could ask for, a faster A6 processor, 4G and a bigger screen. So, how can you use an iPhone to stick to your resolutions. For starters, it is almost like a mini organizer. You can design your daily schedules, set reminders and check your progress. Additionally, there are thousands of apps for everything you can think of, right from losing weight to acquiring new skills.

Besides these gadgets, there were others like the Samsung Galaxy Note II, iPad Mini, Windows Surface and Nokia Lumia 920 which created quite a stir in the gadget world. It is time to explore these gadgets and get creative with their applications. You will be pleasantly surprised by what your discover!