On Thursday, Google introduced the Chromebook Pixel, the latest version of its Chromebook laptops, which store just about everything in cloud storage. The $1,300 Wi-Fi model includes a nearly 13-inch display touchscreen and begins shipping next week.
By combining tablet and laptop technology, heavyweight Intel chips and the most beautiful screen for your dollar, it’s designed for that juicy segment of the personal computer buyers known as “power users.”
The Pixel can store a small amount of data for downloads and such, but the philosophy behind the machine is that users will store nearly all of their data in the cloud. And as with the other Chromebooks, Pixel users are expected to use Google products to supplement other software.
Google's strategy is compensating for the Pixel's lack of a hard drive with free online storage, which might help wary buyers make the transition to the cloud. The Pixel includes one terabyte of Google Drive storage for three years, or $1,800 worth of storage. The LTE-enabled Chromebooks will also come with 100 megabytes of free monthly data traffic for two years.
Still, the steep cost might be a tough pill to swallow for even the most adventurous power users and devoted cloud advocates.
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C. M. Rubin’s Monthly Global Education Report
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