Google Pixelbook (i7, 16 GB RAM, 512 GB)

If you want a versatile, user-friendly, fast, combination tablet/laptop that runs Google Play apps, this is a great product.Pros:- Rugged metal casing that also disperses heat- Runs Linux with some Steam games- Bright ,colorful, and clear display- Very fast- Light weight- Portable- Can extend desktop to another display with addition of a USB-C minidock (I'm using the UtechSmart 11-in-1 USB-C hub)- Touchpad is VERY responsive- Boots up VERY quickly (about 3-5 seconds from power-on to login screen)- Apps load quickly and internet surfing is very quick- Photos open quickly and can be edited on-the-fly- There are a large number of Apps already available that are geared toward the Chomebooks to take advantage of the more powerful processors/memory- Has Linux capability already built-in- Possible future support for Windows 10 (referred to as the eve-campfire project)Cons:- Some apps have minor visual glitches when switching between laptop mode and tablet mode (anticipate a fix with newer patches)- The left USB-C port occasionally stops working when I connect the mini dock to the left side port but is easily fixed with a hard shut down and restart

The built, the fit and finish, the screen, the keyboard, the touchpad, how it is still thin and light when it gets folded over, the amazing battery life and performance, most NVME (very fast) storage than other Chromebooks.The list goes on and on!This is the best Pixelbook money can buy in 2020 especially if you like to use a digital pen. I feel this one is best suited for digital artists who also want an amazing keyboard built into their Chromebooks.Chrome OS has really matured and is getting updates and features more than any other Apple OS and Windows.With Web Apps, Android Apps, and Linux built in you will have more ways to accomplish anything in this machine except perhaps heavy duty video editing.Google is even bringing Valve's Steam to the Linux side of Chrome OS for those who like to game.The main complian about this machine is that the pen does not fit I side the body of the machine.Well, I say that's its main advantage!!!The only other machine that comes close to this as of July 2020 is the Red Samsung Chromebook. That one has a horrible battery life relative to this one and its S pen is tiny because it fits inside the body of the device.That turns it's pen into a toy. Pixelbook's pen on the other hand fits perfectly well in my hand ssi hold it and I love that.I bought a nice carry bag for it that protects my precious Pixelbook. The carry bag has two front pouches. I keep the USB C power brick in one pocket and a Microsoft surface mouse, a USB C dongule/hub with multiple ports, and the pen in the other pocket.This way I always have all the necessary accessories with my Pixel book.The higher end models of Pixelbook Go are also great, except you can't use a Pen with the Pixelbook Go.The Pixelbook Core i7 512GB, Pixelbook Go, and the Red Samsung (if you don't mind the tiny stylous and lower battery life), all the only Chromebooks that compete with, and beat Apple and Microsoft in a game that they have had many years of headstart on.This particular model is so ahead of the curve that it has remained just as relevant even though it was released more than a year ago.

Really nice hardware but numerous software issues make it hard to recommend at the moment. I think in a year or so Chrome OS is going to mature to a more capable desktop OS with Linux apps, Android apps, progressive web apps, and traditional web apps all coexisting, but for now it's hard to recommend unless you are sticking to just web apps.Android apps are hard to use because of scaling issues, poor implementation of tablet sized layouts and pause states, and some pretty significant instability (even in Google's own apps). The scaling issues also extend to Chrome windows - layouts are less broken than in Android apps but if you aren't running at 2x (slightly too big) or 1x (way too small) you get some scaling artifacts that can be pretty distracting. Less screen bezel so you didn't need to scale down from 2x would be one fix for this. At the default scaling a lot of websites are designed for a display just a little wider than the Pixelbook screen.Bluetooth is pretty buggy. It's like going back to the Bluetooth stack from Android 3 years ago, devices never connecting and disconnecting during use is common. Don' t get this if you rely on Bluetooth. This also affects the Smart Lock and tethering features, they are pretty unreliable. The only other way to login is your main Google account password, so if you use a generated password, it's pretty inconvenient to login if smart lock isn't working.I gave the dev channel a try to see if it improved any of the Bluetooth issues and try out Linux apps. Bluetooth has the same issues in the latest builds. Linux apps work but many need GPU acceleration and this is still upcoming (this looks like it's actively being worked on).Nice stuff about the hardware, the keyboard is great, it's a very well built machine, feels great to type on and use the trackpad. In tablet mode it's a bit awkward due to the weight and the keys on the back, but it is usable. If you want a laptop first and just occasional tablet use, I think it's pretty good. If you are looking for a tablet mainly, other devices will serve you better.If you're reading this six months or a year from now, the software will likely have improved and then I'd really recommend it. But for now, it's very alpha/beta quality depending on your use case.