Google Chromebook Pixel 2: How the Laptop Stands Out From the Pack
From design changes to no more cable clutter, here' s a look at the $999 device.
— -- Would you pay $1,000 for a laptop that only lets you surf the Internet?
Google's new Chromebook Pixel starts at $999, making it one of the costliest laptops on the company's Cloud operating system. An LS version (that stands for "ludicrous speed," according to Google) is priced at $1,299.
Chromebooks are typically priced in the $200 range and appeal to users for their price and bare-bones features.
The updated Chromebook Pixel looks a lot like its predecessor, which was introduced at a price of $1,299. Despite the sticker shock, there's plenty of cool new features that make Google's latest premium computer appealing.
Charging
No more cable clutter.
The updated Chromebook Pixel uses the USB Type-C charging standard that many electronics companies have began adopting this year. The cable plugging into the port and a connected device has ends that are the same size, meaning there is no need to have to worry about plugging something in upside down.
It's also reversible, allowing both peripheral and host devices to share their juice. The new MacBook that Apple announced earlier this week also uses the USB Type-C port.
Battery Life
With a turbo charger, it's easy to get two hours of battery life in just 15 minutes, according to Google, which noted that a full charge lasts up to 12 hours.
Speed
The base Chromebook Pixel has a 2.2 GHz Broadwell-based Intel Core i5 processor. Comparing that to the 1.8 GHz Ivy Bridge Core i5 in the original Chromebook Pixel, Google is working to make its hardware even faster.
The LS version has a 2.4 GHz Broadwell Core i7.