Hands-On With Google's MacBook Air-Style Pixelbook Go

[insoft.uk]

Worlds apart from a MacBook Air, I do a lot of software development on a MacBook Air Retina 2018 in Xcode and use Photoshop and other, I use the Air as it's quiet quite fast, great battery life and nice and portable so all over the house coding all day somedays.

The chrome laptop is just a bigger netbook, it's not going to give you that same level of control and what is it going to be like when you need UNIX power via the Terminal all them bash ls cd rm commands.

 

[Mainsail]

A few Questions: If you are a college student taking a basic stats class, and your prof wants you to use R, can you run R on a Chromebook? What about a basic business programming course? Can you do simple coding on a Chromebook? What about a Finance course that requires Excel and pivot tables?

I don't know anything about Chromebook, so just wondering.

 

[alien3dx]

A few Questions: If you are a college student taking a basic stats class, and your prof wants you to use R, can you run R on a Chromebook? What about a basic business programming course? Can you do simple coding on a Chromebook? What about a Finance course that requires Excel and pivot tables?

I don't know anything about Chromebook, so just wondering.

for data mining excel pivot, sorry to said windows version more perfect compare mac or ipad version.Im not sure about R. Most will use spss or excel for statistic. Factory using Spc software instead. I think you should buy macbook if just new in programming world.

 

[Mainsail]

for data mining excel pivot, sorry to said windows version more perfect compare mac or ipad version.Im not sure about R. Most will use spss or excel for statistic. Factory using Spc software instead. I think you should buy macbook if just new in programming world.

Yeah, I was just asking from a college student perspective. My son is taking a intro to stats class, and they require R. I was kind of surprised. Anyway, he was able to load it on his 2017 MBA. I would agree the windows version is somewhat better than Mac for MS Office Apps, but I think you can run pivot tables on a Mac. Thanks for the reply.

 

[dantroline]

A few Questions: If you are a college student taking a basic stats class, and your prof wants you to use R, can you run R on a Chromebook? What about a basic business programming course? Can you do simple coding on a Chromebook? What about a Finance course that requires Excel and pivot tables?

I don't know anything about Chromebook, so just wondering.

The vanilla install of ChromeOS is pretty limited, so I would only buy one for study if the institution itself recommended/supported it. As said before on this forum, if you want an actual computer, get a Mac / Windows / Linux laptop, depending on your requirements.

 

[Coconut Bean]

Gotta love how it's never mentioned that the Google Pixelbook Go does have a touch screen. Not that it's super useful, but still.

 

[jhulgan]

Time for some sacrilege: I’m a big fan of Google’s design sensibilities (hardware & software ”material”). Something as simple as this chromebook reminds me just how bored I am with Apple’s industrial design. Beyond some minor details, my 2018 MacBook may as well be the same one I purchased 10 years ago. I sincerely hope Apple can steal some designers away from Google and Microsoft. Apple could really use it.

 

[Coconut Bean]

A few Questions: If you are a college student taking a basic stats class, and your prof wants you to use R, can you run R on a Chromebook? What about a basic business programming course? Can you do simple coding on a Chromebook? What about a Finance course that requires Excel and pivot tables?

I don't know anything about Chromebook, so just wondering.

Office 365 web app would work on Chromebook. For very basic stuff Google sheets is just as good. For enterprise work.

If coding in R/Python then Colaboratory from Google is pretty good, there are some other similar services where your code is executed in cloud.

One could also install Linux on it, but for that you have to be fairly comfortable with uefis, drivers etc.

 

[apolloa]

the anology is simple. android can use both arm and intel proc.Will osx do same thing. .Even xcode just simulator not emulator

I thought it was pretty obvious with the rumours that OSX is heading in the same direction?
And it’ll be rubbish as a LOT of ‘programmes’ will drop support unless they are rewritten for a tiny minuscule customer base, and I can’t see that happening.

BUT

if Apple can prove their are a lot of iPad Pro owners out there then it stands a chance those ‘programmes’ will be transferred into ‘apps’, like Photoshop.
However that’s also a bust if an ARM powered Mac never gets touchscreen and Apple Pencil support.

IMO Apple should just leave the Mac lineup as full blown Intel powered computers, and concentrate more on the iPad range as they are excellent devices, Apple could fix iPad OS for one so it’s not a rushed buggy hell hole and actually deliver on its obvious, wide reaching potential!

 

[alien3dx]

I thought it was pretty obvious with the rumours that OSX is heading in the same direction?
And it’ll be rubbish as a LOT of ‘programmes’ will drop support unless they are rewritten for a tiny minuscule customer base, and I can’t see that happening.

BUT

if Apple can prove their are a lot of iPad Pro owners out there then it stands a chance those ‘programmes’ will be transferred into ‘apps’, like Photoshop.
However that’s also a bust if any ARM powers Mac never gets touchscreen and Apple Pencil support.

IMO Apple should just leave the Mac lineup as full blown Intel powered computers, and concentrate more on the iPad range as they are excellent devices, Apple could fix iPad OS for one so it’s not a rushed buggy hell hole and actually deliver on its obvious, wide reaching potential!

Cant agree more in ipad os. I need my pendrive without additional power like beta 4.

 

[Just sayin...]

It’s nice, but there isn’t anything it can do that my iPad Pro 12.9” can’t. And, with Splashtop and an old Intel headless NUC running at home in a closet, I can run Quicken *and* access the full version of Excel.

 

[topmounter]

A more interesting head-to-head comparison would be the PBgo w/ Linux (Crouton or Chrubuntu). A more apt comparison would be the PBgo and an iPad Pro w/ keyboard.

 

[tf_dc]

Of course you’d bring up niche useless Apps like torrents ...

Sure, sure, everything is useless - until Apple finally gets it, years after others. Than - oh, innovation!

Useless access to filesystem (finally with IOS13 you get a demo of it and even can use flash drives - till 13 it was utterly useless), useless torrents, useless wifi analyzers (except the one hidden in poor dying AirPort utility), useless cross-platform file transfer over bluetooth... So many useless things LOL

 

[Peter Resele]

If you aren't a developer or a gamer or a couple of other very specific vertical users...what exactly do you need a 'computer' for? If you're not ensnarled in the Apple ecosystem, what do you need a MacOS computer for? I write code all day, every day on a MBPro ... but at home, ChromeOS is my jam. My kids use them at their school, my retired parents use theirs...as much as it pains me to say this...they just work. We all have iPhones but move our pictures to Google Photos, I have an AppleTV but occasionally watch Netflix and Hulu on my Chromebook... There just isn't a lot of things that don't run in a browser these days...

For exactly that kind of home use, the iPad is perfect for us - and a lot more fun.

 

[kkono]

Wait. The reviewer is a fan of the butterfly keyboards? WHAT?!?

 

[moshind]

Can it be used as an expensive door stopper?

 

[code-m]

The reviewer lost credibility when their commented that the Butterfly Keyboard was preferred. The Retina MBA also has poor thermal dynamics under load and constant (see other reviews). MacOS and the screen is it’s only pros, I would have recommend the non-retina MBA to this chrome book, hands down it would win even with the non-Retina display. Plus I am not sure why the trackpad on any new Apple laptop is larger, nothing wrong with the previous gen size. The Taptic is preference.

macOS with the non-retina MBA has the price in a sweet spot along with the essential ports and MagSafe without adding or carrying dongles. Retina MBA needs a better keyboard with a lower price, better thermals replaceable SSD and it’s perfect maybe add a microSD slot as there is room in the body to accommodate it.
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Wait. The reviewer is a fan of the butterfly keyboards? WHAT?!?

lol yep he lost credibility in my opinion and the review was a joke since he uttered that line.
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Can it be used as an expensive door stopper?

The retina MBA has some serious shortcomings with thermal design, KB, SSD upgradability, macOS is it’s only positive however once the mobo is fried due to the KB and thermals it will be one fancy and expensive door stopper too once the warranty ends.

non-retina MBA or any Apple laptop without a butterfly KB is hands down better. It’s a laptop the keyboard is the most important component then the display along with the thermals.

2017 and prior MBA needed a decent 1080p or even a 1440p, but Apple had to ruin a good thing.

 

[aknabi]

“Trackpad”? Seriously? Chromebook trackpads SUCK. And according to the article, this one is no different. The trackpad on my MacBook Pro is one of my favorite things about the computer. You can click anywhere and it’s really responsive.

Indeed while working if you even come close to clicking the cursor jumps moves or causes some other side effect... the iOS devs in this office using the '16+ MBP have lost about 5-10% productivity due to the keyboard/trackpad... and those on the '15 MBP are clinging on to their machines until this the hot mess that is the bottom half of the MBP is sorted out (hopefully in the next rev... but no one here will jump on that day 1... burned in 2016)

 

[Mainsail]

I don't see paying $850 for a Pixelbook Go, when I can buy a 2019 MBA for $900 on sale at BB or Amazon. MacOS and seamless integration with iOS devices and Apple ecosystem are worth it to me.

 

[realtuner]

I don't think you know what that word means.

I'm the one talking about the actual video this article is about. You're the one talking about Android phones and tablets for some reason.

No, I'm talking about how useless ChromeOS is because it's a pretend wannabee OS with severe limitations. Other posters chimed in with the fact it can run Android Apps or that you could install Linux, not me. All I did is explain the truth that Android and ChromeOS are useless for larger devices if you want to do anything other than basic mundane tasks and that nobody outside of a niche group of developers cares about Linux.

My original comment stands - you always try to deflect or control the narrative. As long as you can find a way to bash Apple.

The main reason to own a laptop is the keyboard. Anything beats a MacBook until the new (old) keyboard comes out.

Another lie. Laptops are a compromise. Compared to a desktop they are inferior at everything - keyboard, CPU, GPU, expansion, storage and screen. The one thing laptops have going for them is portability. That's the main reason people buy laptops - because they need to take their work with them. After that they pick and choose which aspects of a laptop appeal to them (like the screen or keyboard) and decide which combination of compromises they can live with in order to be portable.

This is just another example of you trying to twist the narrative by claiming something that isn't true and then trying to form an argument around that lie (MacBooks are useless because the only reason people buy laptops is for the keyboard).



In case of the Pixelbook, the keyboard is irrelevant. The Pixelbook could have the world's best keyboard, screen, storage, CPU and GPU and it would still be a failure because it runs ChromeOS with Fisher Price Android Apps on top. There's a very old saying in computers which perfectly sums up the Pixelbook: Hardware is useless without software.

 

[rgbrock1]

I wouldn’t waste my time using a Chromebook to code for Linux. I’d use an actual laptop (or desktop) instead.

Why do people always bring up Linux? It’s not like anyone uses it. Hate to break it to you, but Windows won the desktop OS wars. macOS came in second. Linux is so far behind it’s irrelevant among normal consumers.

Reminds me of people bringing up Linux with Dex, as if I’m going to be doing any development work with a bloody smartphone and keyboard/monitor.

At least we won’t have to worry about “Dex is great because it can run Linux” comments anymore, since Samsung has abandoned Linux on Dex.

You're not well-versed in the corporate world, are you? Many, many companies use Linux servers for various tasks. Granted, many, many companies also use Windows Server for various tasks but Linux has a strong foundation in the corporate world.
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They target different use cases. Besides, what's the best Apple laptop for $600?

And how many of those $600 laptops are going to be around 5 years from now? 10 years?
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These are very different devices. Chromebooks just work, MaBooks don't. Because of how low maintenance Chromebooks are they are winning at schools and for senior people.

Because of how cheap Chromebooks are, they are winning at schools and for senior people.

There. I fixed it for you. No charge.

 

[rgbrock1]

the only people buying chromebooks in the UK are old folk And stupid people who are preyed upon by PCworld/curry’s employees. Then they get home and realise that it is rubbish and the stupid employee who bought one for work gets laughed at by the company IT department and sent back to the shop to buy a proper computer.

LMAO!!!!

 

[realtuner]

You're not well-versed in the corporate world, are you? Many, many companies use Linux servers for various tasks. Granted, many, many companies also use Windows Server for various tasks but Linux has a strong foundation in the corporate world.

Did you not see the part where I said "normal consumers"? Outside of developers NOBODY uses Linux.

 

[rgbrock1]

Did you not see the part where I said "normal consumers"? Outside of developers NOBODY uses Linux.

Corporate America uses Linux servers for many things. web sites, file servers, p2p, b2b etc. Linux installations are rock solid, and numerous, inside corporate entities and has nothing to do with development for the most part.

 

[realtuner]

Corporate America uses Linux servers for many things. web sites, file servers, p2p, b2b etc. Linux installations are rock solid, and numerous, inside corporate entities and has nothing to do with development for the most part.

You still don’t get it. Regular users DON’T use Linux.