Chromebook, ChromeOS and Google Chrome browser news
Turns out that Google has known about the tablet overview mode animation lag since before the Pixel Slate even shipped, based on bug reports. One trace indicates 1.5GB of memory in use for the graphics, which help explain issues in the Celeron model.
Debating between the $799 Core m3 and $999 Core i5 Pixel Slate? See if you can tell which device is which in a performance demonstration of both on video.
Yup, a Celeron-powered Chromebook can be underpowered. But if you expect the Celeron-based Pixel Slate to be a performance powerhouse and replace an iPad Pro, maybe it’s your expectations that need an upgrade.
While most of the Chrome OS 71 features are first available for the Pixel Slate, all of them are welcome improvements. In particular, the native Google Assistant means you won’t need the Play Store installed to use the digital assistant.
Although designed for the Acer Chromebook Tab 10, Belkin’s USB-C desktop keyboard with stand works well with the Pixel Slate and costs $50. There are some limitations but it’s worth the look if you want to type away on a desk or other flat surface.
There haven’t been many reviews of the base $599 Pixel Slate with a Celeron processor to date. However, this video review of one shows how the device performs in a broad range of use cases, which may help you decide if the Celeron model is for you.
Is the Pixel Slate a tablet first and laptop second? Can you be productive solely with a tablet or do you really need a keyboard? We tackled these and other related questions on This Week in Google, where perhaps some initial device perceptions were changed.
Did you read all of those Pixel Slate Keyboard reviews and write the product off because of them? Keyboard choices are pretty personal, but this video might help you decide if Google’s keyboard will work for you.
Got a 2-in-1 Chromebook or Chrome tablet like the Pixel Slate? You might have noticed that the relatively new automatic Desktop and Tablet modes cause an upside down screen in tent usage. Here are details on the upcoming fix for this issue.
Don’t want to read through a long review of the Pixel Slate? Here’s a special edition podcast I did with my MobileTechRoundup show co-host, Matthew Miller, providing our weeklong impressions of the new Google Chrome OS tablet.
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.
