Google Chromebook Pixel

W.A.Khan,                                                                                                                                               26/4/2013,                                                                                                                                                                    This is the best Chromebook in the world, but even within the context of rating Chromebooks, it's not perfect. The slick-looking, Intel-powered Google Chromebook Pixel combines the touch screen support of Windows 8 with the MacBook Pro's high-res Retina display. It also includes three years of free 1TB cloud storage, and has a 4G LTE option.
But, Pricing starts at a lofty $1,299; Web-based Chrome OS requires you to be online to do most tasks; Web apps can't yet compare to most Windows or Mac software, especially for media-centric activities like video.                                                                        
Chromebook Pixel;performance

Performance has never really been an issue for Chromebook devices - after all, all the heavy lifting takes place on the internet. So the Chromebook Pixel's advanced spec doesn't have much of an effect over cheaper Chromebooks.
JN: "I suspect that Google spec'd the Pixel with a Core i5 processor because it wanted Intel's integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000 GPU to drive the machine's display. In actual performance, Google's machine doesn't feel like a huge leap over the Samsung Series 5 550 Chromebook, which combines a Celeron processor with the same 4GB of RAM as the Pixel.
"In my ordinary work-related use, which requires some dozen open browser tabs for writing and researching stories, the Pixel never skipped a beat. But then again, neither did the Series 5 550."
"It was possible to find the Pixel's limits. In 3D games like From Dust, the action got pretty choppy, and the browser-based MMORPG Realm of the Mad God wasn't nearly as smooth as it is on my desktop PC. Also, the newfangled touch response on the Pixel could be a lot better. There's a noticeable lag between swiping your finger and seeing the result--more so than just using the trackpad."                                                                                                                                                                               Chromebook Pixel: battery

One down side of a high-resolution display is that is sucks out battery life, and the Chromebook Pixel needs decent battery life to be a true portable workhorse. Unfortunately it's in this area that the Chromebook Pixel is least impressive.
JN: "If there's one major complaint I have about the Chromebook Pixel so far, it's the battery. The power demands of the high-resolution display definitely take their toll, as the Pixel barely lasts more than 5 hours on a charge at about 60 percent brightness.
"That's not horrid for modern laptop, and not even unusual for a Chromebook. Samsung's Series 5 550, for instance, gets about 6 hours, while Chromebooks from Acer and HP get about 4 hours. But none of those devices cost anywhere near $1300. For a premium laptop like the Pixel, I'd expect something closer to all-day battery life. Add the Pixel to the pile of devices whose battery life will someday, hopefully, be saved by next-generation processors."                                                                                               Google Chromebook Pixel Screen
A feature that gives the Google Chromebook Pixel its name, the unit’s display is an unparalleled joy to use, offering stunning visuals with exquisite levels of details, vibrant colours and strong viewing angles. Simply put, the Google Chromebook Pixel screen is a stunner.

Offering truly incredible images, the Google Chromebook Pixel screen pairs a frankly outstanding 2560 x 1700p resolution with an equally staggering 239 pixels-per-inch image density, a PPI greater than that on Apple’s Retina displays, and one which offers the 3:2 screen a stunning 4.3 million pixels. The result of this premium combination is a visual experience unrivalled by anything else on the market.

With brilliant colours and a strong contrast ratio, the Chromebook Pixel is capable of creating images of lifelike clarity, with the display’s 400-nits brightness rating 25 per cent higher than that of any rival machines, creating an enjoyable viewing experience.

Further enhancing the already exceptional Google Chromebook Pixel screen, the laptop’s touchscreen credentials are impressively strong with hugely responsive reactions offering seamless scrolling, through web pages and menus.

Not just a simple, single finger touch offering, the multitouch display also handles actions such as pinch-to-zoom with equal aplomb and a complete lack of fuss or fanfare.
Finally, Despite impressive hardware specs and solid industrial design, the Chromebook Pixel’s high price and cloud OS limitations make it impossible to recommend for the vast majority of users.