Chromebook, ChromeOS and Google Chrome browser news
The Pixel Slate and Keyboard aren’t for everyone when there are less expensive 2-in-1 Chromebooks available. But if you want the best of both a Chrome OS desktop and a tablet mode, aside from a few minor issues, this potent package is exceptional.
After a false start with a November 22 retail availability date, my Pixel Slate pre-order has shipped and should arrive later this week. I’d expect inventory at Best Buy to be soon released as well.
While you could drop $799 on a Google Pixel Slate, it may make more sense to nab the HP Chromebook X2 on sale for $499 with the included keyboard and pen.
The detachable Chromebook known internally as Cheza and powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 should have Linux app support through Project Crostini based on a new code commit.
Yup, the November 22 release date for the Google Pixel Slate is correct. Best Buy will have the device that day and you can now order directly from Google. Not sure which to buy? I got you covered.
Good news: The Pixel Slate has been certified for the U.S. Bad news if you were hoping for an integrated LTE option: The only tested radios were for dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. That potential November 22nd date for availability is looking good though.
The upcoming Atlas Chromebook is getting a co-processor, similar to those used in Apple’s iPhones and some Android handsets. Sensor data is offloaded to this low-power chip so the main processor is used for more complex actions, which saves battery life.
Need a USB keyboard for your Chrome tablet? You can now purchase either of two models from Belkin, starting at $40. They’re made for small slates but can handle larger devices such as the Pixel Slate too.
If Chrome OS tablets become hugely successful, we’ll look back on Chrome OS 70 as the Stable Channel release that made it happen. Here’s why.
So you’ve decided to buy a Pixel Slate once it becomes available. Ok, but which of the five configurations should you get? Here’s a guide to help you through the process, regardless of your budget.
In case you doubted that the Snapdragon 845-powered Chrome OS device code-named Cheza would be a detachable tablet, a code commit today confirms it. Expect a 12.3-inch Chrome slate with a second battery in the keyboard.
