6 Fixes That Might Make the Chromebook Pixel Worth Buying

I call them Chromebook Pixel apologists . They ’re descend out of the woodwork to defend Google ’s super - expensive but flawed $ 1,299 laptop computer . You ’ll hear things like “ It obviously is n’t for everyone ” or “ You either get it or you do n’t . ” Count me as one of the people who do n’t get it . As I say in myChromebook Pixel review , the quality , sharper - than - Retina display , smash speakers and superior touchpad and keyboard all make this a lust - worthy machine . But the Pixel ’s looker is n’t much more than skin - deep . If Google really wants to win over more shoppers to its flagship anti - MacBook , it ’s going to have to treat the keep abreast effect head - on . And , yes , I ’m sorry to say that some of my repair will have to look for Chromebook Pixel 2 .

Google ’s Chromebook Pixel has its faults , certainly , but that does n’t mean it ’s completely unsalvageable . Laptop Mag ’s Ana Hurka - Robles explores six potential fixesthat just might make the Pixel 2 a buy .

1. Add Android App Support

Silos are bad , and yet it seems like the Chrome OS and Android teams at Google do n’t even jazz each other exist . The Chrome vane Store would be a heck of a lot more racy if Google forecast out a way to permit Android apps tend on its Chromebook . Doing this would not only vastly improve the pick of apps , it would rent Pixel owners do a lot more offline . Adding Android app support would also give the touch screen on the notebook more reasonableness for being . Would making such a move need a merger of the two program ? possibly , and as I ’ve suppose before , that would n’t be a unsound thing .

More : Top 20 Chrome Apps for Your Chromebook

2. Switch to a Tegra 4 Processor for More Juice

I sort of get why Google opted for an Intel Core i5 processor . It gave the society the muscle postulate for the Chromebook Pixels ’ 2560 x 1700 - pixel screen . The MacBook Pro with Retina Display also uses a Core i5 CPU with Intel HD 4000 graphics to power its 2560 x 1600 - pixel instrument panel . The trouble is that while the MacBook Pro has way for a heftier 74 watt - hour battery , the Pixel makes due with a 59 Wh battery . In our tests we insure a huge remainder in endurance between the two car : 7 hour and 38 minutes for the MacBook versus just 3:54 for the Pixel . A switch to Nvdia ’s more efficientTegra 4 processorwould tolerate Google to extend a lot more juice while upping the graphics operation - all without bloating the beautiful chassis .

More : 10 Laptops With the Longest Battery life history

3. Make 4G More Seamless

This fix characterize as low - hanging fruit for Google . aright now , if you want to shift between the Wi - Fi and 4GLTE connection on the Chromebook Pixel ( assuming you ’ve paid $ 1,449 for the 4 G variation ) , you need to change state the Wi - Fi radio off in the preferences carte du jour . Why ? You should be capable to easily toggle between the 4 G and Wi - Fi connexion correctly in the mini setting box on the bottom right-hand side of the screen . While Google is at it , please cannonball along up the sentence it takes to re - join to 4 G LTE from nap . I counted a long 30 seconds to get back to work , which is a long time to waitress when you ’re just wind the lid .

More : 4 G Mobile Hotspots Showdown

4. Go Convertible

If you ’re going to spend $ 1,299 or more for a touching laptop computer , it should give you the alternative of detach the screen or at least flip over the exhibit around so you may habituate the machine as a tablet . The Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga is one auditory sensation approach , which lets you change over from notebook computer to slate mode by folding the screen back . On the detachable front , the HP Envy X2 and Samsung Ativ Smart PC line both make detach and re - attach the tablet portion a picnic . Assuming Google finds a way to combine the good aspects of Android and Chrome OS , a Pixel transformer would be a surefire winner .

More : Top 8 Windows 8 Tablet - Laptop Hybrids

5. Enable Pinch to Zoom by Default

mayhap Google is skittish that Apple ’s lawyers are find out , but for whatever reason the Chromebook Pixel ’s pinch to soar upwards feature on the touch screen does n’t work with most websites out of the box . The good news is that you’re able to enable this characteristic yourself . First type “ chrome://flags ” in the address bar , then scroll down and select “ enable jot weighing machine ” . re-start your Pixel and voila ! This selection should be enable out of the box . Unfortunately , swipe to zoom does n’t form on most site with the otherwise awesome glass touchpad .

More : Top 10 Tablets Available Now

6. Include More Storage

Google is being quite generous with the Chromebook Pixel by offering a thumping terabyte of on-line store for three years . Between your file , photos , medicine and video , that ’s pretty much all you ’d ever need . Apps are another story , though . Every meter I tried to restart playing a cool plot on the Chromebook Pixel like “ Bastion , ” the notebook would re - download 41 MB of data . What ’s the distributor point of an 8 - arcsecond boot time and instant curriculum vitae prison term if you have to expect that long to get your plot on ? By offering more offline games and other apps and up the standard amount of repositing from 32 GB to 64 GB ( or even 128 GB , like most Ultrabooks ) , the Pixel could truly be the only PC you own .

More : How to Install an SSD Drive in Your laptop computer