Google Chromebook Pixel (2015)

In the past few years, the Chrome OS Google has morphed from an interesting thought experiment (What if your browser was your operating system?), With a stable category of inexpensive hardware. Since then, Chromebook crop up on college campuses, high school classroom, and at home, topping various lists of the best selling system and carries a very different PC experience with all types of people, from the power user technophobes, with almost every major manufacturer producing its own Chromebook.

The latest Chromebook Pixel ($ 999 as tested) is uber-Google Chromebook load of features, made with extreme attention to detail, and free from razor-thin profit margins to dictate the design of budget-friendly Chromebooks such as the Acer Chromebook C720P- 2600 $ 310.09 at WalMart or the Editors' Choice HP Chromebook 11 $ 299.00 at Best Buy. The result is an amazing system, Chromebook easily the best on the market, but at a price that is sure to limit the appeal.

Now, if you look at the Chromebook in the past, you may be scratching your head over the Pixel. Looks like a heck of a lot like the latest Apple MacBook Pro 13-Inch $ 1,234.99 on Amazon, and it is priced like HP Spectre x360 13t (13-4003) $ 999.99 at Best Buy. Unlike the two systems, however, it runs on Mac OS X Apple, or Windows 8.1; it's running Chrome, Google's Web-centric OS are often seen in the system of selling the $ 300-to- $ 400 range. So what's the deal?

The deal is the Chromebook Pixel, as in the original 2013-times, is not aimed at the average consumer. When Google blasts out its colorful, noisy "For Everyone" ad, it's not talking about the Pixel, but the more affordable models, such as the Acer C720P-2600, the HP Chromebook 11 , or the Samsung Chromebook 2 (XE500C12-K01US). So who Pixel for?

First, the Pixel for developers. If you are the developer of Chrome, this is the laptop to buy. It offers every feature found in many Chromebooks now, all in one tidy package. Second, it is for the manufacturers of other Chromebooks. Pixel serves showpiece Google, shows how far can be taken in Chrome prototype, and what features it is ready and able to support. These same features then trickle down to cheaper models. Anything that the Chromebook do, do Pixel. Motion controls? Yup. Touch screen? Check. The latest port? Si. Mobile broadband? You can get that, too, for an extra $ 300.

And that's the real appeal of Pixel. Hands down, this is the best Chromebook out there, in terms of build quality, features and a harmonious, uninterrupted experience. If there is any one feature of Pixel intrigued, you can probably find it somewhere else, and for much less.

Touch screen? The Acer C720P-2600 was. Larger screen size? There are other 13-inch systems out there, like the Acer Chromebook C300 (C300MA-DB01) $ 208.88 on Amazon, or you can go even bigger Acer Chromebook 15 (CB5-571-C09S). If you display high-resolution Pixel, there is something similar to Toshiba Chromebook 2 CB35-B3340 $ 299.00 on Amazon. Mobile broadband is also available in the HP Chromebook 11 (Verizon LTE). In fact, it seems that the only feature the Pixel is to make the current Chromebook not USB-C port connectivity (more on that later), and authentic premium construction.

Design
In terms of looks, the new Pixel keeps everything we liked about the previous model. Chassis is nearly identical, flat, slab-like profile, measuring 0.6 by 11.7 by 8.8 inches (HWD). Made of milled aluminum, it looks a heck of a lot like the Apple MacBook Pro 13-Inch, Retina Display, but with sharper lines and more rounding the corner. At 3.3 pounds, it is in the same weight class of 3.4-pound MacBook Pro and the 3.26-pound HP Spectre x360 13t (13-4003). In a category dominated by cheap plastic and small screen, the greater the size of the Pixel and aluminum chassis looks refreshingly luxurious.

A piano hinge runs along the back of the laptop, opening and closing properly, and stands up to all the taps and swipes with a touch screen. Anodized aluminum is a dark gray color, which is well offset by a glowing light bar near the edge of the cover glow in rainbow colors of Google. The light bar doubles as a convenient indicator battery charge; tap twice on the closed lid, and you'll see a glowing green for full charge, red for close to flesh, and a yellow meter that shows how much charge you have in between.

If the light bar is a treat, the display is a feast. The 12.85-inch screen takes on an unusual 3: 2 aspect ratio, and offers multitouch capabilities and 2560-by-1700 resolution. 239 pixels per inch (PPI), a slightly higher pixel density than the Retina display on the Apple MacBook Pro 13-Inch (227ppi), but it is close enough to be difficult to notice the difference. Google Opt for non-traditional aspect ratio to better display online content. Is it better? That is up for debate, but I never felt restricted or hindered by it while using the system. Touch also unusual features Chromebooks, but we've seen some systems offer it in the past. The edge-to-edge glass display and narrow bezels are beautiful, and press feel like a natural addition to the Chrome experience.

Such as touch screen, touchpad has a glass surface, silky smooth feel while swiping and scrolling. All of Google's motion controls are supported, such as two finger tap for right click, three-finger tap for middle-click, two finger scrolling, and swiping left and right for forward and backward through the webpage. The only common motion touchpad is not offered pinch to zoom, but that function is usable touch screen. The keyboard is also pretty good, with a chiclet design and automatic backlight turns on and off depending on the brightness of the room and if your hands are close to the keyboard.

The layout is also little different from the standard layout that you want to see on a Windows or Mac machine. The function keys (F1-F12) is replaced by Chrome-specific functions, such as forward, backward, and the refresh button of the browser, button to get a full-screen window or classification by multiple windows, and controls for screen brightness and volume of the audio. The Caps Lock key has been replaced with a dedicated search button (a move I wanted Windows system prototype), and no Windows or Apple key to contend with. If you use a Chromebook before, it is not surprising that this is the standard keyboard layout Chrome, but the keyboard does not vary poorly compared to other models.

Also function as a keyboard boil down to two internal cooling fans, and the grill for the internal speaker. The sound quality is sharp and clear, and the volume gets loud enough to hear someone in the next room.