Google’s own Chromebook Pixel when it was launched represented a step towards a completely cloud-based future run entirely from a browser.
The original Pixel was a gorgeous looking machine, powered by the Chrome OS which was an enriched version of the Chrome browser. With a terabyte of cloud storage on offer with the purchase it’s enough to temp people from their aging laptops and desktops. The touchscreen is a miss, in fact Steve Jobs famously said that a touchscreen used on a laptop was not the way to go, it’s counter-intuitive.
The biggest downside was the price, at $1299 it’s just too prohibitive a price point to make it an attractive alternative to an iPad, MacBook Air, even a Surface. This year Pixel 2 was released, with beefed up specs up to an Intel i7, 64Gb SSD and 16Gb RAM, enough speed for many a road warrior.
But despite the price it was a clear statement of intent. From an average prosumer point of view, Pixel represent a future where mobility and cloud would become the norm, not a privilege, once it hit mainstream. The average user doesn’t need the power of a MacBook Pro for example, desktops are becoming obsolete in households and are replaced with tablets, phones and laptops. Those tools are perfect for light use, browsing, file sharing and storage, and social networking…even homework. Google’s strategy would work over time. And patience has paid off somewhat.

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