Should I get a pixel book?

[genesis9779]

I am just debating on if I should get a one or wait, I have a windows personal laptop and I basically never use it for anything other than movies, Can I do everything on the pixelbook that I currently do on my pixel XL phone? Will all of my apps work, will Netflix and Hulu work? Does it work well using a mouse?

Please share your good and bad experiences to help me decide,, thanks

 

[roninlb]

I bit the bullet and got one. I F***ing love this machine. It's the best thing Google has ever made. The keyboard is amazing to type on, the screen is beautiful, I can do almost everything a window's computer can. Well, last time I used a Window's computer was several years ago, since I've been using chromebooks for years now. I'm sure you won't regret getting one at all.

 

[benjamin19]

I am just debating on if I should get a one or wait, I have a windows personal laptop and I basically never use it for anything other than movies, Can I do everything on the pixelbook that I currently do on my pixel XL phone? Will all of my apps work, will Netflix and Hulu work? Does it work well using a mouse?

Please share your good and bad experiences to help me decide,, thanks

I received mine as a gift from my parents. Definitely does everything my Dell XPS 13 (which is a fantastic machine) can for my uses, plus runs Android apps (which is why I got it, because I wanted something to be a great tablet for me).

My only reservation is that if you don't have disposable money, there are two other Chromebooks that are similar enough to Pixelbook at half the price. Samsung Chromebook pro/plus has a stylus, and the Asus flip is a great device. If money is no issue, then the Pixelbook is definitely the way to go. Love mine, just don't know if it would have been my choice had I have been the one to pay for it.

 

[genesis9779]

Do you use it with a mouse? Does Bluetooth headphones work with it? Can you basically do everything on the pixelbook that you do on your phone? Have you tried hooking a larger display monitor to it? Netflix and Hulu? What kind of case or backup do you use?

 

[dmxjago]

I am just debating on if I should get a one or wait, I have a windows personal laptop and I basically never use it for anything other than movies, Can I do everything on the pixelbook that I currently do on my pixel XL phone? Will all of my apps work, will Netflix and Hulu work? Does it work well using a mouse?

Please share your good and bad experiences to help me decide,, thanks

Yes, yes and yes.

 

[B. Diddy]

I got one a couple of weeks ago, and it is SWEEEEEEEEET. Screen is terrific, keyboard is the best I've used, and it has power and storage to burn (and I have the lowest spec'd model). Netflix works fine -- I just use the web interface, not the app. For a lot of what I do, I can just use browser windows -- the Android apps tend to be redundant. But it's nice to have the option to install the Android app, in case there's some functionality there that isn't on the website.

It's likely that there are some apps for your phone that won't work on the Pixelbook, but that's the case as well for certain tablets. If you're wondering, you can list a few apps and I can search the Play Store on my Pixelbook to see if they show up as installable.

 

[D1andOnlyOmen]

I'm debating getting one to be able to use Office apps. I feel like there are some advanced things I have built into some spreadsheets that aren't fully functioning with Google sheets. from what I've tried to read up on, edit capability within Office mobile app versions through the Play Store would require Office 365 subscription, but not 100% certain if this provided any real value beyond just being able to use the online version of Office to edit/update files. I was going to try and test this out with our current Chromebook, but sadly it's not a "compatible" device to enable the Android apps from the Play Store.

the other thing I'm curious about is the "tethering" I saw mentioned in the Google Store page the works via Bluetooth connection to a Pixel 2. Anyone know if this BYPASSES the need to have "hot spot" capability from AT&T? I know I can't currently turn those options on OR really activate them on our current account because we have an unlimited data plan being DirecTV customers also.

Really like everything else I've read about the Pixelbook and nearly ready to pull the trigger on one.

 

[dc52ltr]

Same here, could do with a bit or advice /feedback. I'm using a Toshiba i7 laptop which is running win 10 and a 500gb ssd. It's getting a bit old in the tooth and I fancy something a bit more modern. The Pixelbook seems to fit the bill quite nicely but I've no real experience with Chrome OS. I've got the new Pixel 2XL and have used Android since my first Android phone the HTC G1... Will this suit me? I do quite a bit of browsing, some photo editing and some document printing using Open Office... Any help appreciated, thanks, David

 

[B. Diddy]

Chrome OS should be enough for you. It sounds like you don't do heavy duty photo editing that would require the full Photoshop suite, so there are plenty of options on Chrome that would work for you. Google Docs works pretty well with Microsoft Office files, although if a file contains a lot of custom formatting, it might need some tweaking once it's imported as a Google Doc.

I currently use my Chromebooks for about 99% of my computing (which includes Citrix remote access to an electronic medical record charting system), so I get by pretty well without a PC!

 

[dc52ltr]

Chrome OS should be enough for you. It sounds like you don't do heavy duty photo editing that would require the full Photoshop suite, so there are plenty of options on Chrome that would work for you. Google Docs works pretty well with Microsoft Office files, although if a file contains a lot of custom formatting, it might need some tweaking once it's imported as a Google Doc.

I currently use my Chromebooks for about 99% of my computing (which includes Citrix remote access to an electronic medical record charting system), so I get by pretty well without a PC!

Thanks for your reply...I have in mind to get the i5 256gb with the pen but could stretch to the i7 512gb.Any thoughts on my choice after using your machine for a few weeks? Thanks,David.

 

[B. Diddy]

I have the lowest spec'd model (i5, 128 GB SSD), and it is more than enough for my needs. Unless you want to store lots of stuff locally, you probably don't need the 256 GB version. I'm not sure how useful the Pixelbook Pen is, unless you do lots of art or design work. My understanding is that there aren't many apps out there that make good use of the pen yet. You can always purchase the pen at a later date, so it might make more sense not to get it yet.

 

[dc52ltr]

I have the lowest spec'd model (i5, 128 GB SSD), and it is more than enough for my needs. Unless you want to store lots of stuff locally, you probably don't need the 256 GB version. I'm not sure how useful the Pixelbook Pen is, unless you do lots of art or design work. My understanding is that there aren't many apps out there that make good use of the pen yet. You can always purchase the pen at a later date, so it might make more sense not to get it yet.

Thanks so much for your help...I`ve taken the plunge and ordered the i7 model with free pen from Amazon US. I`m in the UK and the price here with the pen is a whopping £1800. With the free pen offer in the US I`ve only paid £1476 (inc taxes) saving £324 ($455) well pleased! The only thing I may have is a US keyboard but might be able to change that using the input mode in settings,not that bothered though as I`ve used a US keyboard before.

 

[B. Diddy]

Woohoo! This probably won't work since you're in the UK, but since you're buying it from the US, maybe there's a chance: https://madeby.google.com/pen-loop-for-pixelbook-promotion/

 

[dc52ltr]

Woohoo! This probably won't work since you're in the UK, but since you're buying it from the US, maybe there's a chance: https://madeby.google.com/pen-loop-for-pixelbook-promotion/

That code should work OK, if you scroll down the page it asks which country you're in, US, UK or Canada. Thanks again for your help, I take delivery on Monday 12th Feb, can't wait

 

[victoryrules8]

I'm really.considering picking up a pixel book today from my local Best buy. I have a Samsung chromebook plus which is good but it does lag a little a stutter from time to time. I'm looking at the i5 base model. the Chromebook plus will suit my wife perfectly due to her being a light user on a Chromebook.

 

[ottscay]

I picked one up, thinking I could evaluate whether it meets my needs for a week or so. Two hours later and I'm already sold - aside from all the web stuff (obviously!) it works perfectly with the Android MS Office apps (which I need for grading/lecturing). Even my fancy USB laser pointer/slide remote worked with plug and play simplicity with PowerPoint. Any heavy image editing or gaming will be done on my desktop, but as a laptop replacement (replacing a 2014 Macbook Pro) it does everything I could want.

 

[Mike Dee]

I got one a couple of weeks ago, and it is SWEEEEEEEEET. Screen is terrific, keyboard is the best I've used, and it has power and storage to burn (and I have the lowest spec'd model). Netflix works fine -- I just use the web interface, not the app. For a lot of what I do, I can just use browser windows -- the Android apps tend to be redundant. But it's nice to have the option to install the Android app, in case there's some functionality there that isn't on the website.

It's likely that there are some apps for your phone that won't work on the Pixelbook, but that's the case as well for certain tablets. If you're wondering, you can list a few apps and I can search the Play Store on my Pixelbook to see if they show up as installable.

What makes it better though than other Chromebooks that cost less?

 

[Mike Dee]

I have the lowest spec'd model (i5, 128 GB SSD), and it is more than enough for my needs. Unless you want to store lots of stuff locally, you probably don't need the 256 GB version. I'm not sure how useful the Pixelbook Pen is, unless you do lots of art or design work. My understanding is that there aren't many apps out there that make good use of the pen yet. You can always purchase the pen at a later date, so it might make more sense not to get it yet.

Last time I was on their site the pen is on a free promo

 

[Mike Dee]

I have the lowest spec'd model (i5, 128 GB SSD), and it is more than enough for my needs. Unless you want to store lots of stuff locally, you probably don't need the 256 GB version. I'm not sure how useful the Pixelbook Pen is, unless you do lots of art or design work. My understanding is that there aren't many apps out there that make good use of the pen yet. You can always purchase the pen at a later date, so it might make more sense not to get it yet.

I'm wondering if I should get the cheapest model as opposed to the middle one though someone else is paying for it

 

[Mike Dee]

Dammit...pen promo ends tonight and the person who would be buying won't have internet access until tonight