Past the Alphabet is a weekly column that focuses on the tech world each in and out of the confines of Mountain View.
Final week, a rumor popped up suggesting that Google was engaged on a keyboard case to pair with a brand new Pixel Pill. Now, there are stories that Google has determined to utterly cancel the Pixel Pill 2 whereas on the identical time supposedly engaged on a Pixel Laptop computer.
Nicely, what is the level of making an attempt to make a pill function as a laptop computer in the event you can simply choose to make a laptop computer as an alternative? And that is the mindset that I believe Google is taking with this strategy.
We’re already seeing a bunch of labor put into making Android’s native Desktop Mode extra usable. Final month, it was reported that Google was engaged on a solution to implement a Terminal app on Android. Then the Android 15 QPR2 beta launched a Terminal app, which might permit builders to run Linux apps by way of a digital machine on Android units.
Supplied that it truly makes it into the general public launch, this most likely is not one thing that very many individuals would use. This is identical factor that you can say concerning the capability to make use of Linux on a Chromebook. But, you are able to do precisely that, supplied that you’ve got a appropriate Chromebook.
You may see the similarities right here.
In a vacuum, that truly sounds fairly unbelievable. It may truly offer you a single gadget for your entire day by day computing wants, with (doubtlessly) only a few limitations. Seeing as we aren’t in a vacuum, I am not absolutely satisfied that Google will ditch Chromebooks in favor of this souped-up model of Android.
To me, it appears like Google is making an attempt to show Android into ChromeOS, however I do not know if I see a situation the place ChromeOS and the Chromebook branding are simply tossed into the Google Graveyard. The corporate has spent years and numerous {dollars} making a lineup of units which can be each straightforward and handy to make use of.
It was solely final month that the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus was introduced, which Google labored intently with Samsung to create. Whereas having a brand new premium Chromebook possibility is nice, I might argue that Google getting Samsung again into the sport does extra for enhancing the model than anything.
That is to not say that there is something flawed with the opposite Chromebook makers, however folks often generally tend to concentrate when Samsung is concerned. It is no totally different than telephones and tablets, as individuals are at all times curious about no matter Samsung is doing, for higher or worse. Not solely will folks take note of Samsung, however they’re additionally extra more likely to spend cash on the “new and glossy” launch.
My level is, why would Google spend the cash and sources to work with Samsung solely to pivot away from ChromeOS and Chromebooks? It will probably’t.
Google will not ditch Chromebooks, however it’s not due to something apart from cash.
Nicely, after all, it may. I imply, it’s Google that we’re speaking about right here. However I imply that Google has much more invested in Chromebooks than simply what you would possibly see at your native Greatest Purchase.
The training phase alone might be what has helped maintain issues afloat, particularly within the days earlier than the Chromebook Plus branding was launched. In keeping with an August 2024 report by Canalys, “world Chromebook shipments grew 4% yearly to over 6 million models in Q2 2024.” Nevertheless, the rationale is not solely due to the discharge of latest Chromebooks or the inclusion of Gemini.
The report says “Chromebook shipments had been bolstered this quarter by regionally particular training funding packages, such because the Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) in america, which required spending to conclude in Q2 2024.” It would sound superficial, and it’s, to a sure extent. However no matter the way it sounds, the truth is that Chromebooks had been truly bought.
A giant purpose why Chromebooks are so standard for faculties comes right down to the price. College districts aren’t strolling into Greatest Purchase, shopping for 30 Chromebooks, and distributing them within the classroom. There’s a completely totally different phase that faculties undergo when shopping for new Chromebooks, full with offers and reductions for getting in bulk.
Whereas doing analysis for this text, I got here throughout a “potential financial savings calculator” on the Google for Schooling touchdown web page. At the moment, evidently the instrument is now not useful, however because of the Wayback Machine, I used to be in a position to see a graphic titled “The Financial Worth of Chromebooks within the Classroom.”
The necessary factor right here is that over the course of three years, the graphic claims that Chromebooks provide a “59% decrease value of operations.” An included graph reveals the three-year gadget value of a Chromebook is simply north of $1 million. That most likely looks as if some huge cash, till you see that “Different Gadgets” value greater than $2.5 million over the identical time interval. This is not an insignificant distinction and goes to point out why Chromebooks have taken over the classroom.
With this in thoughts, do you actually imagine that Chromebooks and even ChromeOS will simply get replaced by Android? It simply would not make sense from a enterprise perspective. Plus, Google must get its companions on board, and it simply provides one other layer of problem and complexity to every little thing.
As for the rumored Android-powered Pixel Laptop computer, the preliminary report claimed that it was being “in contrast internally with various different high-end laptops.” Seeing as high-end Chromebooks simply have not been profitable, I am not precisely assured that the Pixel Laptop computer would be capable to break the mould.
Let’s not overlook about units just like the HP Dragonfly Professional Chromebook or Framework Laptop computer Chromebook Version. Each of those $1,000+ Chromebooks have been discontinued, because the itemizing on Framework’s web site was additionally lately eliminated.
It is also a part of the rationale why the Galaxy Chromebook Plus and Acer’s Chromebook Plus Spin 714 are priced at $699. That is most likely what Google feels is essentially the most an individual can pay for a Chromebook.
So, whereas the Pixel Laptop computer would possibly be actively in improvement, it won’t see the sunshine of day if its worth is anyplace close to that of a MacBook, Floor Laptop computer, or Dell XPS.
To me, it simply appears like Google is engaged on totally different tasks, and particulars had been shared once they most likely should not have been. Then once more, possibly Google will determine to eliminate ChromeOS fully, whether or not it’s by way of stress from the Justice Division or not.
Not going anyplace
Though evidently the Pixel Pill 2 has been canceled, that does not imply you must ignore the present iteration. It is nonetheless fairly a helpful pill, particularly with the Charging Speaker Dock. Plus, you will discover it on sale as a part of the early Black Friday offers.
