Google is taking aim at the high-end laptop market with its new self-built and designed touch-screen Chromebook Pixel.
Chromebooks are Web-centric PCs which Google has touted as "PCs for people who don't like PCs". The devices were introduced as part of Google's ongoing push to move people into the cloud, and run the entirely Web-based Chrome operating system.
Google's VP of engineering, Linus Upson, says: "With the Pixel, we set out to rethink all elements of a computer in order to design the best laptop possible, especially for power users who have fully embraced the cloud.
"The philosophy of Chrome has always been to minimise the 'chrome' of the browser. In much the same way, the goal of the Pixel is to make the pixels disappear, giving people the best Web experience."
Google says the Chromebook Pixel has the highest pixel density of any laptop on the market, with 239 pixels per inch on its 12.85-inch display (with 2 560x1 700 resolution). "Touch makes it simple and intuitive to do things like organise tabs, swipe through apps and edit photos with the tip of your finger," says Upson.
The body of the pixel is made from anodised aluminium alloy, while the touchpad is made from etched glass. It also features a 720p webcam, is powered by an Intel Core i5 Processor, and has 4GB of memory and 32GB storage. Pixel users will also be given one terabyte of Google Drive cloud storage.
The Pixel is based on Chrome OS and Google services such as Search, Gmail, YouTube, Maps and Google+ Hangouts are integrated. It is being made available in both WiFi and LTE models, with a starting price of $1 299 and $1 449, respectively. The new notebook is currently only available in the US and UK.
Upson says: "It's one of the most exciting times in the history of personal computing, thanks to a rapid pace of change, innovation and consumer adoption of devices. Our goal is to continue to push the experience forward for everyone, working with the entire ecosystem to build the next generation of Chrome OS devices."
Until now, Google has not positioned its Chromebooks in the high-end device space. In December last year, the search giant unveiled a $249 Samsung Chromebook, which was touted as the "computer for everyone".
Speaking at the Pixel launch event, Chrome senior VP, Sundar Pichai, said: "People will give up a MacBook Air for this.
"Touch is here to stay, and I'm pretty sure every laptop will have touch in the future. Using a laptop with touch seems strange at first, but your day-to-day browser experience starts changing. In our tests, users started replacing the touchpad pretty quickly."
Pichai added that he hoped Web developers would start to make their interfaces touch-sensitive.
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