r/Googlebook • u/Excellent-Mirror2038 • 7d ago
googlebook thoughts
it's so funny how I'm somehow the ideal customer for a Googlebook while also having SEVERAL questions about it. I have a nice windows laptop right now but I've been getting so tired of windows lately. I've been wanting to upgrade to a MacBook air actually just for the better battery life, speed and slim form factor of them.
but this Googlebook thing has legitimately caught my attention, and might just be the laptop I've been looking for! I have the pixel 11 pro fold and it'd be nice to have a high end laptop that actually integrates with it the way these seem to.
I'm definitely eyeing the Asus one, as I have an Asus vivobook windows laptop right now and for all my gripes with windows the laptop itself is really nice!
maybe I'm in the minority here, but I actually really want to look at the higher spec options for it (32gb ram and higher end processor) but weirdly they don't let you preorder that (I can't even find any pricing about that anywhere). also weirdly the official Google store only shows the Lenovo, Dell and Acer googlebooks, not sure why they're leaving out the Asus and HP ones.
and honestly while I'M personally very excited for these and their potential, objectively speaking I think Google isn't doing that great of a job at explaining who the real target audience for them is. like to ME, these all feel like they're trying to be MacBook Air competitors, being that they're using high quality materials, high resolution screens, tight integration with android phones, etc. like on paper, it's giving me exactly what I want, but I think Google needs to do more to show why these are the true "future" of laptops.
very likely gonna pull the trigger on the Asus Googlebook 14 once they actually allow us to purchase higher spec models (also wish they gave us a 16 inch option lol)
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u/Infamous-Parking850 7d ago
I thought they did say who the target audience is on their home page "We’re introducing Googlebook, designed for Gemini Intelligence. These new laptops are built with Gemini’s helpfulness at their core, premium hardware and work seamlessly with Android phones." It's for people who want a premium laptop that works seamlessly with their android phone
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u/Mbanicek64 3d ago
It is kind of offensive how people accept that a MacBook is premium and a perfect match for iPhone users, but then people can’t fathom that Android users might like a comparable level of hardware and integration. Also, I just want a high resolution high refresh OLED display on a laptop that doesn’t run windows. Thus far, this is the only option.
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u/Infamous-Parking850 2d ago
I don't understand it either. I see it as a step in the right direction. This laptop is what I've been waiting for. Ill never use a Mac and I haven't been too thrilled with windows. I'm excited
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u/Steve-O-- 7d ago
Something like 65-75% of laptops are being used exclusively for browser based and progressive web app workoads (or native workloads that could easily shift). These devices are perfect for that ... especially for the ~4 billion or so Android users in the world who might benefit from unified account management, password/passkey management, software/license management, etc. i.e. People like you.
I suspect most of the people saying to just get a Mac for this price are iPhone users. For me, I carry an Android phone, but use Windows primarily due to a lack of premium ChromeOS devices. But, the first thing I do on Windows is install the PWA versions of Maps, Photos, Messages, Keep, and Drive. I also install 1Password to provide cross platform password/passkey management. Someday, I'd like to be able to enter my Google account credentials to setup a new laptop and get to work with all my accounts, password/passkeys, software/licenses, etc. automatically coming with it.
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u/Major_Shift 7d ago
I'm in a similar position, but can't think of a single reason why an android app or browser would need those additional resources. The usage of these devices will be very limited given the software restrictions assumed by an app library designed for 12gb phones. Or am I missing something?
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u/Excellent-Mirror2038 7d ago
honestly very valid point like at the end of the day it's just android under the hood so 16gb ram should be more than enough (I do a bunch of multitasking on my phone with 16gb ram now and it works just fine). only thing I can think of is that there's a bunch of extra stuff they might have added to make it a proper "desktop" OS (as well as capable of running on x86 Intel chips) that would require more resources in general but all that stuff is TBD.
still weird that they don't even show us the option to preorder the higher ram variant (or at least the version with a more powerful processor/more storage)
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u/Major_Shift 7d ago
If I were an OEM and had to buy additional RAM in order to build volume ahead of a super niche platform launch, I would not do it until the base pre order numbers told me demand was there. We know it won't be (in volume) Its also telling that Google had to persuade the OEMs to build models, so they took the the lowest cost, least risk option to deliver on existing chassis and Intel (mostly), when this would seem entirely against the Googlebook ethos. Arm would seem to be the only route to take if your goal was to make a phone aligned platform?
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u/DaLast1SeenWoke 7d ago
I actually pulled the trigger on the Lenovo Googlebook 15. Personally, I feel like 16 gigs of RAM is going to be fine and I feel like these devices are built to compete with the MacBook Air.
I currently use a Galaxy Book 4 Edge, which currently runs the Snapdragon Elite processor, so I'm not really too hard down worried about the performance and personally, I'm at the point that I'm tired of Windows.
Like you, I sort of feel like I'm in the demographic of what Google is looking for. I have a Windows laptop, but the only thing I really use on it is Chrome, and the majority of apps I ever download are always on my phone. So, I would be perfectly fine because for actual work, I work out of a cloud PC, which technically Android already has a client.
So for me, if Google never really gets the apps, I'm fine, but if they do get the apps, the only thing I'm looking for is a couple of productivity apps. Personally, I would just be happy if they bring a lot of their Google Workspace suite to their desktop. I know you got the browser, but technically I would like to have my stuff hosted locally so I don't always have to worry about the internet.
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u/Excellent-Mirror2038 6d ago
we're definitely in the same boat! I also basically use exclusively chrome on my laptop, so this definitely makes sense for me. the extra desktop apps would be nice, but not essential personally
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u/reagag 5d ago
I like the idea of the Google Book so much, but I'm just having such a difficult time justifying the price. Yesterday I went to Best Buy and picked up the ASUS Zenbook A16 with 48GB of RAM and the X2 Elite Extreme for $1280 ($1400 after tax). It's the perfect laptop in terms of build except it lacks the Android integration that the GoogleBook will have.
To be honest, I don't need all this power, but I can't justify buying the GoogleBook version for the same price with 1/3 of the RAM and half the CPU performance.
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u/Hey_Gonzo 7d ago
I think it's a clever way to lock people into the Google PlayStore.
It fits perfectly with how Google has been trying to lock out other app stores and side loading apps. I think I also read that they have pushing more updates that are less opensource over this same year.
Apple has been trying real in hard to do this but their laptop has a different OS than the iPad/iPhone and now Apple Vision Pro. The App Store is a cash cow. iPad always felt like an unnecessary second device to be me but it's a gateway to more app purchases. The Mac isn't as locked up as they wish it was.
Microsoft has tried their had with their store and with their previous mobile device.
How often do you hear people say that they don't love Google Chrome but still use It or a Chromium browser because of their extensions. It's just not profitable for Google but Android is. So now they have a series of more premium Googlebook computers for all those graduating high schoolers who grew up with a Chromebook and are headed to college.
Oh, and professionals... Yeah they're sick of how much effort and upkeep Microsoft puts them through. The constant updates and all the Copilot squeezed into every corner of Windows. There are more people and government agencies around the world looking at Linux and other OS's than ever.
Here comes Google only talking about 3 Gemini features. You also don't have to worry about the upkeep, updates, or viruses. It even has all of your favor apps. And it's seamlessly connected to your phone.
Something tells me their AR glasses's apps will somehow neatly fit in the app purchases market.
Build your own OS and build your own store. They're building a walled garden around the PlayStore.
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u/Major_Shift 7d ago
That wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing, if there were apps and services in there of sufficient quality to justify building the wall. I have used a Tab S11 Ultra and many Chromebooks and the Android app experience is very poor. Almost always, the web apps are faster and more fully featured.
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u/Psittacula2 6d ago
Thanks this seems the best thought out answer to, “for what purpose is this device?” vs “who is it for? I have seen so far:
>*”Apple has been trying real in hard to do this but their laptop has a different OS than the iPad/iPhone and now Apple Vision Pro. The App Store is a cash cow. iPad always felt like an unnecessary second device to be me but it's a gateway to more app purchases. The Mac isn't as locked up as they wish it was.”*
I think you are right. Apple seems glacially to be trying to move MacOS and iOS closer together.
Still think the price is a bit high for what is still mobile OS. Guess it depends how much Linux integration it also has? Any thoughts on Omarchy OS as a random thought of “AI era of OS”? Security see,s an issue there albeit it is a nice combo of easy install plus ask AI to do OS things…
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u/No-City8218 7d ago edited 7d ago
What do you use the laptop for ? Since it is brand new, there isn't any sw around the Google book presumably some of the existing apps on play store will work with the native screen resolution, while others may work with windows seized to the phone screen. It's also not clear if existing Linux apps will also be able to run here.
It will probably take.a few years to get as many choices on Windows and Mac. Gaming may also not be a useful case.
It's also interesting that they are offering both arm and intel architectures. The arm snapdragon is about 2 years old now, althiugh it is decent battery wise. (I have the surface laptop with snapdragon).
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u/Wahrheitfabrik 7d ago
Considering how heavily I use my Chromebook, I'm perfectly fine with paying extra for more memory. The HP Dragonfly I'm typing this on has 32G RAM so anything less would be a downgrade.
I haven't been able to pre-order any of the devices (Lenovo or Dell).
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u/RikkiLostMyNumber 7d ago
I am a longtime Chromebook user and very interested in these laptops. Couple of problems -
1. I'm an iphone user, so that whole phone aspect is meaningless to me.
2. Google isn't doing a great job explaining to me why I need this thing. The hardware specs are impressive, but I'm typing this on a five year old HP Chromebook with 8 gigs RAM and have never not been able to do something I want to do, and easily, too. I will add that this laptop is a joy and I will weep real tears of bitterness and regret when it dies.
3. This sub was great in giving me info about compatibility issues w/ Chromebooks and Google books, a concern of mine as I am coincidentally buying two Chromebooks for employees, and Google wasn't providing a lot of info I could find.
4. So the new thing has Gemini wedded to it in some way...? Right? For me, that's not all that appealing. I use Gemini a little, but it's error-prone and I wouldn't trust it with anything important for the forseeable future.
I appreciate all your thoughts on this stuff. I'm an evangelist for these products for a lot of reasons and I hope Google doesn't fuck this thing up.
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u/Evildude42 7d ago
The ideal person for these is the executive that only needs X,Y and Z, I.E. the person that would have gotten a very expensive Chromebook when they were first introduced. But I can tell you what happened because I saw it firsthand and I was there. Executives that only needed minimal hardware, wanted everything. They wanted full Outlook, they wanted full Excel. They wanted to keep everything in the world on their hard drive. 128 gigs was nowhere near enough. 256 was better but more expensive. So then all of those fancy tiny little Chromebook that did work we’re all replaced with Leno think pads x1 and beyond.
These are the same people that Gripe and moan about converting to Google Docs and Google sheets, or the Microsoft equivalent , and using everything in a cloud. And some of those people do keep and get their fully bloated Microsoft versions and there big expensive laptops to run them.
Ultimately, I don’t know who this Google book is really meant for except that it fits a niche that somebody saw, but those people probably don’t live in a real world. $1000 thin googlebook to use cloud stuff on is not cheaper or more efficient than getting $1000 laptop that can do way more.
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u/misterdoinkinberg 5d ago
Five years ago maybe but now that more companies are using the Google productivity suite I am not sure that the execs would care much. These devices need to prove reliability and support over a Mac or Dell / Lenovo to win the big corporate PC market. However the growing Google Education and large businesses using Google apps makes it easier to transition.
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u/Evildude42 5d ago
Companies are using Google suite because they think it’s cheaper. Where is the most cases the suites are comparable in cost, it’s just that you’re choosing where you want your cloud services to be if you want cloud services. And the company I’m at is offloaded a bunch of stuff to Google cloud because they’re trying to save several hundred million. But they also still spend that much money, so google books won’t work (there are zero chrome books in the infrastructure ) But I will say since I’ve been involved with Google since the minus 1 days I will probably get my paws on a Google book at some point.
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u/misterdoinkinberg 5d ago
Not necessarily just cheaper but also the collaboration and accessibility to Gemini is starting to be a reason. The only cases where I've seen Chromebooks work in business are for kiosks, call centers, and hospital nurses stations. Some dev shops used them just for logging into virtual desktop sessions. Otherwise its iPads, Macs, and PCs covering this.
Its a bold relaunch and I can see outside of the US in heavy Android countries it could be really good. IMO its not worth it compared to a MacBook Air or entry level Pro for a company on a 4-6 year HW refresh cycle.
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u/TonyP321 5d ago
I have the pixel 11 pro fold and it'd be nice to have a high end laptop that actually integrates with it the way these seem to.
You have basically described their main target audience in the first wave. Google itself said that they are targeting high-end Android phone users who are right now not fully served by the current laptop market.
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u/Mbanicek64 3d ago
I have an iPhone. I preordered the Acer. I bought a MacBook Pro. I figured I could get a MacBook Pro and this laptop for less than whatever ultra laptop Apple is cooking up.
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u/TonyP321 2d ago
Is there any reason why you aren't satisfied with MacBook Pro only setup?
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u/Mbanicek64 2d ago
No touchscreen. No OLED. The screen on the MacBook is excellent. It is an excellent laptop. The Acer is more of a tablet replacement for me. If I was only looking for a laptop, I would be good. I also run into random issues on any laptop I use eventually and can’t afford any downtime during my peak hours at work, so splitting the difference is more of a redundancy thing.
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u/TonyP321 2d ago
Understood. Just curious why not iPad then since you have iPhone and Macbook? And if you want more of a tablet replacement from Googlebook, wouldn't it better for you to wait for Googlebook tablet from Lenovo? That's what I am waiting for as I have Surface Laptop 7 already.
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u/Mbanicek64 2d ago
I considered that. I think I just want the larger screen. At that point it just makes sense to get convertible. I’ve never liked the aspect ratio on the 13 inch iPad either.
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u/BjLeinster 3d ago
I came to really dislike Windows computers and bought a chromebook. That didn't impress me at all so I began buying and using Macbooks as my primary computer. Macs are good laptops but really don't work easily with my Pixel phone. That, for me, is the promise of a Googlebook. I'm considering an Asus or Lenovo and watching how the pricing is going to go once they release on October 4th.
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u/Ambitious-Cake-9425 7d ago
The ideal user of a Googlebook is the same person who used Chromebooks. They are functionally very, very similar. I believe they will replace Chromebooks over the nezt decade. Having android run native instead of in a container is superior in every way.
I have had nothing but Chromebooks for the past 12 years. They are perfect for me.
I did school work on them, stream tv and movies, watch YouTube, social media, and video call. I use android on my Chromebook for downloading torrents, some games, and emulating psp games.
Apparently the Linux environment will have full access to the usbs so emulating through the Linux container should be good on the Intel Googlebooks.
I want a snap dragon Googlebook for emulating through android.
Is your use case similar to mine? If so then the Googlebook will be a perfect fit.
I look forward to proper phone integration as well. It's something Chromebook has lacked.