Google Takes On Apple retailer With “The Google store,” Starring the new Chromebook Pixel

Google has supplied its personal devices like Nexus phones and Chromebooks thru Google Play for some time. however now the corporate has launched a brand new software-centric “The Google retailer” for on-line purchases to interchange that. It coincides with the release of a new Chromebook Pixel, Google’s 2nd adaptation of its excessive-finish Chromebook pc.

The Google store features products made via Google starting from the Nexus 6 cellphone, to the Nexus 9 pill, to the tv-oriented products of Chromecast and Nexus participant, to Android wear watches, the Nest line of home merchandise and Google’s Chromebook notebooks.

the new Chromebook Pixel

Most Chromebooks will not be actually made via Google, and only one non-Google Chromebook is listed in the new retailer, the Acer Chromebook 13. however the Chromebook Pixel, launched in February 2013, is all Google. It had an eye fixed-watering $1300 ticket when launched, eye-watering when compared to regular Chromebooks that frequently cost just a few hundred greenbacks.

Now, a new version of the Chromebook is out, $999 for an i5 processor with 8GB RAM and 32GB of storage. For $1299, that you could double the RAM and storage plus get an i7 processor.

in comparison with the original Chromebook Pixel, the brand new one has a smaller screen (12.9″ vs. eleven.7″), kept the identical monitor resolution of 2560×1700 at 239 PPI, misplaced a tiny bit of weight (3.35 lbs vs. 3.three lbs), gained extra promised battery existence (5 hours vs. 12 hours) and the base edition has a moderately extra powerful i5 processor (1.8 Ghz vs. 2.2 Ghz).

Pixel is costly; common Chromebooks great value

I’ve had a original Chromebook Pixel since it that first got here out. It’s a nice workstation however nowhere near justifying the cost Google charges. I’d say the same is correct for the new Pixel. It’s a lot of money for a pc that’s successfully a big internet browser. For what Google is charging, it’s essential to purchase some of the new MacBooks that Apple’s providing or a MacBook Air, both which might be more able full-fledged computers and lighter. Heck, even Microsoft’s slightly pricey surface pro three is in the same worth range however deals more.

Having said that, the Chromebook platform has come a long way considering that Google first launched Chromebooks for shoppers in 2011. For many people with mild computing wants, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it.

Chromebooks are known for usually long battery existence, and there’s no hassling with large OS upgrades. They constantly upgrade themselves, identical to the Chrome browser does. The platform has additionally grown with extensions that permit me to do issues I wouldn’t — and couldn’t — do easily or in any respect previously, comparable to screenshots and marking up pictures.

Chromebook Pixel itself, to me, still feels like a product designed for the extremely-Chromebook enthusiast — and other people at Google itself, who want a nice having a look high-finish computing device. apparently, like the coming MacBook, it uses USB-C for charging. not like the MacBook, it has two of these ports, plus two common USB ports and even an SD card slot, plus a touchscreen. but in addition in contrast to the new MacBook, it’s heavy at 3.three lbs, versus the brand new MacBook’s 2.03lbs.

the opposite Google stores

additionally as of late, Google launched an exact bricks-and-mortar Google retailer, The Google save, positioned within electronics retailer Currys computer World, within the UK.

As for the old “devices” area of Google Play, that now redirects to the brand new Google store. There’s even a devoted help web page about the change, in addition to the formal blog submit from Google about the new retailer.

One other necessary alternate in all this: Google did have a little bit-recognized “Google on-line store” where the corporate bought a large-range of Google-branded merchandise similar to T-shirts, hats and USB drives. that still exists but is now known as the Google Merchandise store.

about the writer

Danny Sullivan

Danny Sullivan is a Founding Editor of promoting Land. He’s a widely mentioned authority on search engines like google and yahoo and search marketing issues who has covered the space considering the fact that 1996. Danny additionally serves as Chief content material Officer for third Door Media, which publishes advertising Land and produces the SMX: Search marketing Expo conference collection. He has a personal weblog known as Daggle (and retains his disclosures page there). He may also be discovered on fb, Google + and microblogs on Twitter as @dannysullivan.

(Some images used below license from Shutterstock.com.)