Today, Google introduced a new, high-end Chromebook but my prediction is that it will be a flop.
Unlike previous Chromebooks made by Samsung, Acer, Hewlett-Packard, and Lenovo, the new Chromebook Pixel carries the Google logo as the manufacturer. I suspect it is actually built by an unnamed manufacturer in the Orient. The specifications of the Chromebook Pixel exceed that of all other Chromebooks. The video should be great: the screen packs in more pixels per square inch than even the Retina displays used on many Apple laptops. However, the new Chromebook from Google has an Achilles heel: its price.
With a base price of $1,299 (£1,049 U.K.) and a few available options that could send the price even higher, I cannot see this Chromebook ever becoming a success in the marketplace. I don't care how good the screen is, that is still a lot of money for a computer that will compete with other Chromebook computers selling for $200 to $450! After all, any Chromebook is simply a "window" into cloud-based applications and requires a working Internet connection for most functions. For $1,299, anyone can purchase a good Windows, Macintosh, or Linux laptop with gigabytes of hard drive space and the ability to run everything any Chromebook can do as well as run many, many more applications that what is available for Chrome.
As much as I like my (low cost) Chromebook, I would never pay $1,299 for a replacement.
You can read more about the Chromebook Pixel in the Google Chrome Blog at http://goo.gl/m8TdB.
