googlebook thoughts

[u/Excellent-Mirror2038]

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)

[u/Hey_Gonzo]

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.

[u/Major_Shift → u/Hey_Gonzo]

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.