Chromebook Pixel review - Telegraph Google has been keen to emphasise that the Chromebooks can all use the growing library of offline apps - but by not installing them by default, it's hardly helping. So if you're a savvy user - which Pixel buyers likely will be, to be fair - then you'll install all those apps from the Chrome Web Store before you go anywhere without a wifi connection. Woe betide you if you forget, because the Pixel will sit there pointing out your failings, taunting you with its price tag and lovely, useless touchscreen. It comes with a terabyte of Google Drive storage, which is arguably worth more than the laptop costs for the three years its free. But without ubiquitous connectivity, its value is debatable. Nonetheless, that screen and its 4:3 ration gives plenty of space to admire videos, and it looks remarkably clear. Text looks better than in most books, and the resolution is peerless. So you'll be surprised by how lovely the design is, but it's style over substance. So the trackpad is perfectly textured, the keyboard is beautifully weighted, the instant boot time is a delight. But that would only be really great if this were a beautiful design at a cheaper price than its rivals. Chromebooks and the web have the potential to democratise technology to an unprecedented extent, yet this laptop is aimed at those who can already afford better. Even the subtle branding, put on the hinge, is a superb idea. It's stripping away the "Chrome" that makes Chrome OS successful. It's a computer that looks like it's for people who just want to get stuff done. But the Pixel remains too heavy to compete with other similarly priced laptops, it gets slightly too hot, and thanks to that screen it doesn't offer day-long battery life. Perhaps for Silicon Valley hipsters, where wifi is ubiquitous and free, the Pixel is surely great. Even the power adapter has a neat dock to hold the cable. I really, really wanted to love it. But even London can't quite offer the ubiquitous connectivity it needs, and Google's apps don't fill in the gaps where they need to at this price. You can do more in the cloud and via the Chrome Web Store than you think, but you can't yet do everything. So Google's slogan gets it right. This Chromebook is a computer that's ahead of its time. It's not the computer for right now. It's the computer for what's next. Manufacturer's specifications Backlit Chrome keyboard Fully clickable, etched-glass touchpad HD Webcam 12.85" display with a 3:2 aspect ratio 2560 x 1700, at 239 PPI 400 nit screen 178° extra-wide viewing angle 297.7 x 224.6 x 16.2 mm 1.52kg 2 x USB 2.0 mini-display port 2-in-1 card reader supporting: SD, MMC Intel Core i5 processor (Dual Core 1.8GHz) Intel HD Graphics 4000 (Integrated) 4 GB DDR3 RAM 32 GB solid state drive (64 GB for LTE model) Up to 5 hours of active use (59 Wh battery) One terabyte of Google Drive cloud storage, free for 3 years