Google has unveiled its second-generation Chromebook Pixel - and it's a good deal cheaper than its predecessor. The new Pixel starts at $999, and it has some pretty decent specs to match its premium price tag.
As you may have spotted in the specs above, the Chromebook Pixel features two USB Type-C ports - twice as many as the new 12-inch MacBook which debuted this week - although the Google machine is also a bit chunkier than Apple's latest notebook. Two years ago, Google introduced the first Chromebook Pixel. The idea was to bring together the best in hardware, software and design to inspire the next generation of Chromebooks. It's been exciting to see how the entire range of Chromebooks-from classroom-proof to high-end-has made a difference to people at school, at home, and at work. Today, we're introducing an updated and more powerful Pixel to fuel the imaginations of another wave of Chromebook enthusiasts. Plus, we've created a new, online Google Store where you can get the Pixel and other devices made with Google, all in one place.
These days, packing for a trip means remembering to bring all your different chargers-for your phone, laptop, tablet, watch, etc. We think you should be able to use just one charger for all your electronics. So for the new Pixel, we've joined forces with some of the biggest names in the industry to create a new standard for charging, called USB Type C. The Pixel is one of the first products to launch with this new standard, with more Chromebooks and Android devices following suit soon.
12.85-inch multi-touch LCD with 3:2 aspect ratio at 2560x1700px resolution (identical to the first-gen Pixel)
2.2GHz Intel Core i5 / 2.4GHz Intel Core i7 processor options
8GB / 16GB RAM
32GB / 64GB onboard storage
720p front-facing camera
Backlit keyboard
2 x USB Type-C ports
2 x USB 3.0 ports
SD card slot
Bluetooth 4.0
802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi
Up to 12 hours' battery life
297.7 x 224.6 x 15.3mm; 1.5kg
This multifunction port can handle video-out as well as charging the Pixel up (indeed, there is no standalone charging port). Google claims that from a single 15-minute charge, you can squeeze out up to two hours of battery life, and with a full charge, it says that you should expect up to 12 hours of juice. The $999 model comes with a 2.2GHz Core i5 CPU, 32GB storage and 8GB of RAM; but for those with even more expensive tastes, a $1299 "Ludicrous Speed" version will also be available with a 2.4GHz Core i7, 64GB of storage and a whopping 16GB of RAM.
