The Google Pixelbook is a bit of a weird duck among laptops, or tablets – or even among the portable / tablet hybrids. It's a Chromebook, which is now an established category, but with a very specific call; and it works with Android apps, which makes it look a lot like a competitor of the iPad. It's a great device in terms of material construction and overall performance, but it's obviously not going to work for everyone. It is, however, perfect for a use case, and perhaps more than any other gadget that preceded it: Travel.
Pixelbook was my companion for some recent trips, and it turned out more than equal to the task. The particular form factor is a big advantage, since the convertible keyboard that slips under the display means you can use it during the taxi and take off without getting any flack of flight attendants. It is also ideal for ensuring a comfortable viewing angle regardless of how little space you have, either because of the general design of the aircraft seats, or the neighbors who insist on going to bed, even though we all know that they are selfish and inconsiderate monsters.
The use in "entertainment mode", with the inverted keyboard and screen that comes up, proves the perfect solution for watching movies on the foldable meal tray, for example. And tent mode is also effective for lower viewing angles, depending on whether you may have failed. It is also a relatively compact laptop designed to be used as a laptop with keyboard when you want to work in the air.
The ability to use Android apps offers even more flexibility in terms of travel options, since you can do things like record Netflix broadcasts to watch them offline. One caveat here: I tried to do the same thing with Amazon Prime Video, and I found that the reading was stuttering in a way that was unacceptable to me, at least. This seems to be one of the bugs that still affect some Android apps when working in Chrome OS, and we hope that it will be resolved via future updates on the side of the Chrome app or Premium.
Pixelbook can also be an excellent offline player, supported by the Android application library, including the Kindle, and it's a great virtual notebook if your centers of interest are getting closer thanks Pixelbook Pen and its low latency. Physical controls and USB-C ports make it a bit more flexible than the iPad for editing photos in the air, and even though its operating system is based on a Web browser, it can do a lot in offline mode. The 10 hours of battery life that Google claims for the Pixelbook are especially true when you connect to the Web only intermittently or even between flights.
Another thing makes it a superior laptop either while traveling, or at any time: This keyboard. It's probably the most satisfying keyboard I've ever seen on a laptop, with a nice and responsive touch response, but with a minimum of noise, which is perfect for confined quarters like an airplane cabin (and distinctly opposed to the effect) of the current MacBook Pro type input means).
In the end, many mobile devices are moving well these days, but the Pixelbook seems particularly well suited to this task. It is also impressive to know where Chrome OS has gone to meet the needs of a larger number of customers. It is very close to being the only device I need to do everything, personally and professionally, and for many people. sure he's already there.