I like Google’s Pixel units, and almost at all times have one in my gadget circulation. However the launch of the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Professional, joined by the Pixel Watch 2, on the October Made by Google product showcase, wasn’t the one factor from the search large that grabbed my consideration over the previous week. Reasonably it was the Chromebook Plus initiative.
What was as soon as referred to as Chromebook X was revealed to be a set of product and specs requirements for Chrome OS laptops that can equip licensed fashions with the {hardware} grunt to do extra issues natively on the machine, quite than leaning on browser-based instruments.
“Oh so like a standard laptop computer,” you would possibly declare. Properly, sure and likewise kinda no.
Getting an honest laptop computer isn’t laborious, with a myriad of choices from the likes of Acer, Asus, Dell, and extra. However normally, you’ll have to spend across the $1,000 / £800 mark to get a Home windows laptop computer that does not really feel prefer it’s acquired a mixture of compromises, comparable to a uninteresting show, lackluster CPU, or poor storage choices. And to get top-of-the-line laptops, you must spend extra – my present machine of alternative is the great MacBook Air M2, however that’s an expensive $1,399 / £1,499.
However the Chromebook Plus program seems to be to supply a approach to get a laptop computer with good specs for value, with out all of the compromises.
Acer within the gap
I not too long ago acquired hands-on time with the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 and Chromebook Plus 514, which include entry to Intel or AMD processors, 8GB of RAM (there’s a 16GB possibility), and storage in 256GB and 512GB choices. Added into the combo are 1080p shows, complemented by Full HD webcams, an honest port choice, and the likes of Wi-Fi 6E and Dolby DTS Audio assist. And all for costs that begin at $399 / £399.
With a design that Acer describes as “stylishly rugged” – suppose sensible, utilitarian, quite than swathes of brushed aluminum – these Chromebooks really feel like correct get-real-work-done laptops. I discovered the 250 nits of peak brightness on the shows to be maybe a bit of underwhelming. And the keyboards felt a tad mushy (equally I might attribute that to being too used to typing on a MacBook Air M2 keyboard with shallower key journey).
Nevertheless, the {hardware} is just one a part of the method. With the Chromebook Plus specs, Chrome OS ought to be capable of deal with extra on the system domestically, comparable to operating Photoshop and accessing AI-based options, in addition to tapping into instruments just like the Magic Eraser within the native Google Pictures app.
That is notably thrilling to me, because it means you are able to do extra with Chromebooks with out counting on an web connection. Chrome OS has acquired rather a lot higher at syncing issues and offline entry, however I’d argue low-spec Chromebooks are reliant on tapping into Google’s cloud-powered apps and will be restricted in case your Wi-Fi is spotty. Going by the Chromebook Plus initiative to date, such points could possibly be put to mattress.
I’m additionally intrigued by how environment friendly a Chromebook Plus machine could possibly be. As a lot as I like the flexibleness of Home windows 11, it does want a wholesome quantity of computing energy and assets to run effectively. However a well-specced Chromebook operating the lighter Chrome OS might open up all method of efficiency choices – say extra CPU energy for video rendering – when away from an influence supply and on the transfer. Add in native entry to extra Google AI-powered instruments, and Chromebooks might actually turn into laptops which have a broader attraction than use in schooling and as funds choices to ‘correct’ laptops.
I’d argue that innovation on this planet of computing has considerably slowed down. Certain, Apple’s M-series chips have been a little bit of a revelation, Intel has entered the discrete graphics area, and Nvidia retains pushing fascinating AI-powered graphics tech, however not a lot has actually been shaken up on the working aspect.
So if the Chromebook Plus initiative might actually make Chrome OS interesting to the on a regular basis laptop computer consumer, and we might see a brand new wave of innovation arrive as builders and {hardware} makers look to faucet into the instruments Google can provide. If nothing else, it ought to make Microsoft and Apple prick their respective ears up.
