Google, much like what that did with the Nexus 9, have quietly dropped the entry level Chromebook Pixel from the Google Store. The $999 premium Chromebook is gone although you can still pick up the beefy $1200 model in the store. The timing of the removal from the store is not coincidental. Just last week Google and HP announced the far more affordable, yet premium, Chromebook 13 G1 that has an all metal body and starts at $499. That’s half the cost of the base Chromebook Pixel with an improved processor and essentially the same high resolution display.
The challenge facing the Chromebook Pixel has always been price. While the platform continues to make inroads in education and SMB (Small-Medium Businesses), most of those devices have
Chromebook Pixel
been in the sub-$350 price range with the demand or need for an ultra high end device just hasn’t been there for a lot of people and organizations. Still, for the ultimate Chrome OS experience, the Pixel was at the top of the list, no questions about it.
If you still want to get a Pixel, you can do it. At the Google Store you can get the top end model with the Intel i7 processor, 16GB RAM and 64GB of Storage for $1299. These ship within 1-2 days upon order. As of now, this is the only Pixel model that is available to purchase.
With Google I/O happening in a couple of weeks, it will be very interesting to see if the company releases a new Chromebook Pixel. My bet is no between the Pixel C Android tablet and this new collaborative effort with HP. That new Google/HP model is a far more palatable price for many who wanted more than just a basic Chromebook and I suspect that Google’s efforts, much like the Nexus lineup, will be a collaborative one with other manufactures on top-end Chromebooks.
