| uwestolt | | Administrateur | | 6 messages postés |
|  Posté le 26-04-2013 à 08:56:41   
| Review Google Chromebook Pixel Notebook and battery life
The Chromebook series was launched in 2011 as a small, simple, affordable and always-connected notebook running Chrome OS, Google's browser-centric operating system that distinguishes it from a typical, now near-obsolete netbook. Its unconventional software and generally low SSD storage options, however, have so far limited the Chromebook's appeal to niche users, businesses, and schools alike. Still, our past reviews of Samsung Chromebooks have revealed them to be easy-to-use, fast, and generally well-constructed for the price. ASUS ZenBook UX51v Battery
As the latest entry in the series, the Chromebook Pixel is an almost complete one-eighty for the family. Whereas previous Chromebooks have launched with Intel Atom CPUs, 2 GB RAM, 4 GB solid-state drives and 720p displays for as low as $300, the Pixel houses a full-fledged IVB ULV Core i5-3427U with 4 GB DDR3 RAM, a 32 GB SSD and a unique 12.85-inch 2560 x 1700 resolution 3:2 display for $1299. Combined with Chrome OS, the Pixel truly is unlike what any notebook has come before. However, is its uniqueness enough for users to put down over one grand for a netbook-sized laptop? Or is there more to the system that makes it worthwhile? ASUS ZenBook UX32 Battery
Case
The 3:2 aspect ratio is unorthodox for a notebook, but it also allows for a unique and unmistakable boxy shape. The chassis of the Pixel is made almost entirely of aluminum alloy with flat sides, distinct edges and rounded corners with the sole exception of its rear, where the two round hinges are exposed and add additional volume. Its anodized surface, aside from giving the Chromebook a smooth matte surface, also benefits from detracting fingerprints much more effectively than other notebooks. The Pixel's overall minimalistic design does not aim to be the thinnest in the world, but its characteristic approach and matte gray colors make it just as polished and professional as a high-end Ultrabook and ThinkPad, respectively. Asus VivoBook S200 Battery
In terms of build quality, the Pixel is one of the best for a sub 13-inch notebook. The outer lid barely distorts with applied pressure and the device as a whole is very resistant to any side-to-side twisting. Similarly, the center of the keyboard does not easily depress as can happen to notebooks made mostly of plastic materials. The lid is resistant to twisting as well, due in part to its protective layer of edge-to-edge Gorilla Glass and its thicker profile when compared to other, more fragile ultrathins. Its dual hinges, while not as stiff as we would like, is robust enough to support the display at any angle reliably with little residual vibrations whilst typing. In short, the Pixel is a near-flawless amalgamation of a thin design and strong case worthy of its high sticker price. Asus VivoBook S200L3217E Battery
The Pixel does have a very dense and substantial feel to it due to the weight. At 1.52 kg, the Pixel isn't very heavy, but it is slightly heavier than many larger ultrathins like the 2012 MacBook Air 13 (1.35 kg), 14-inch ThinkPad X1 Carbon Touch (1.521 kg), Zenbook Prime UX31A Touch (1.46 kg) and the superlight Samsung Series 9 900X3B (1.16 kg). The thin 16.2 mm profile rivals that of a number of notebooks listed above as well, which means that the Pixel is hefty without being bulky or inconvenient. It's hard to find a noteworthy fault in the case. ASUS VivoBook S200L987E Battery
Connectivity
Physical connectivity options include the standard 3.5 mm audio jack, SD card reader, and 2x USB 2.0 ports; no USB 3.0 options are available. Almost all the ports are located on the left edge, which is beneficial for right-handed users. With the Mini DisplayPort, we were able to extend to a 1920 x 1200 resolution external monitor - complete with sound - without any problems. Options to mirror the displays, however, are not available with the Chromebook. How the Pixel handles a detected external display is indeed opposite to how it was done on older Chromebooks where mirroring was the default and only option supported. ASUS VivoBook X201 Battery
Perhaps more disappointing is the lack of an RJ-45 port, especially for a device that practically relies on a consistent Internet connection to function at its best. A USB-to-Ethernet adapter, which is standard amongst several Asus Zenbooks, would have been an excellent accessory to throw in for Pixel users. ASUS X201E Battery
Performance
Processor
The Pixel is the first Chromebook in the series to utilize a Core ix CPU of any kind, more specifically the 1.8 GHz ULV Core i5-3427U. The Ivy Bridge core brings a large improvement in terms of performance over the standard Atom and Celeron processors of past Chromebooks and can be found in a number of recent midrange to highend ultrathins including the 2012 MacBook Air 13, Dell Latitude 6430u, Toshiba Portege Z930 and ThinkPad X1 Carbon. Roughly speaking, it achieves the same performance as the budget Sandy Bridge Core i3-2330M while operating at lower core clocks and half the power envelope. See here for more information and benchmarks on the Core i5-3427U. ASUS P30 Battery
The full hardware specifications list of the Chromebook can be retrieved by inserting "chrome://system/" into the URL of its Chrome browser.
System Performance
Browser-based benchmarks were run on the Pixel as Chrome OS, after all, revolves around the performance of its browser. SunSpider JavaScript v0.9.1 completes in 225.2 ms, similar to the VivoBook S200E (220.1 ms) and still much faster than the Atom Z2760 in the IdeaTab Lynx (706.5 ms) and the Celeron 867 in the 2012 Samsung Chromebook (443.9 ms). ASUS P30A Battery
Futuremark Peacekeeper, which tests HTML5 and browser rendering abilities, returns a final score of 3613 points, much higher than recently released high-end tablets like the iPad 4 and Nexus 10 and over twice the score of the 2012 Samsung Chromebook (1601 points).
The JavaScript performance of Chrome, according to Octane V1, returns a score of 13171 points, which trounces the recently reviewed Microsoft Surface Pro (5124 points). Subjectively, the Chrome browser feels instantaneous and doesn't disappoint in responsiveness or speed. ASUS P30AG Battery
Temperature
The combination of a Core i5 CPU in a solid case with no exhaust grilles and an almost noiseless fan is bound to have surface temperature repercussions. Under an ambient temperature of 21 degrees C, surface temperature averaged about 10 degrees higher on both the bottom and top quadrants, simply from standing idle. Though still on the extreme end, high idling temperatures is common amongst ultrathins like the Zenbook Prime UX31A and ThinkPad X1 Carbon Touch, so users should expect warm temperatures even under low system load. The hot spot on the top left corner in particular was a bit alarming at a recorded 38 degrees C, but we fortunately found typing to still be comfortable as the palm rests are comparatively cooler. ASUS P30G Battery
The temperature gradient becomes much more obvious when under heavy load starting from the same corner hot spot at almost 45 degrees C. Heavy load was simulated by looping a 1080p video for an hour due to incompatibilities with Prime95 and FurMark. Thankfully, the temperature of the palm rests and keyboard are still usable, albeit with warm hands. The hot underside, however, does make use on one's lap much more difficult and is not recommended for extended periods. This is unfortunate given how easy it is to transport the notebook for use both indoors and outdoors. Though to be fair, the VivoBook S550CM and X1 Carbon Touch both suffer from an even more extreme temperature gradient, so heavy use is always best and more comfortable on a flat surface despite their high portability. ASUS P80 Battery
Battery Life
The 59 Whr Li-ion battery is, as expected, non-removable. Fortunately, it is also quite dense for a notebook in the 11- to 13-inch size range. The 12.5-inch ThinkPad X230, 13.3-inch Series 9 900X3B, and 2012 MacBook Air 13, for example, have batteries at 63 Whr, 37 Whr, and 50 Whr, respectively. Of course, these notebooks are not required to power screens with more than three or four times the pixels of standard 720p or 900p resolutions. ASUS P80A Battery
When idling and at its lowest brightness, we recorded a battery life of just over 6 hours and 15 minutes. For more realistic expectations, we set the notebook to 150 cd/m2 brightness (setting 10/16) and then proceeded to run our standard WLAN looping browser script. These conditions reduced battery life to about 4 hours and 49 minutes, which is close to the 5 hour estimate from Google. Continuous playback of 4K Youtube videos at maximum screen brightness yielded a bit less than 2 hours before automatic shutdown. ASUS P80Q Battery
At almost 5 hours of constant use in our standard WLAN test, the Pixel falls a little short compared to the competition including the ThinkPad X230, X1 Carbon Touch, and MacBook Air by at least half an hour despite having a larger battery. The low maximum runtime of a little over 6 hours also gives less breathing room for the user to extend battery life if needed. Still, the 4 to 5 hour window is good considering the display density and ULV Core i5 as long as users don't go in expecting a full day of use out of the Pixel. ASUS P80V Battery
The Pixel places itself in a unique position. On one hand, the overall quality of the hardware and construction, even down to the speakers, is one of the best in its size class. It's thin without being fragile, rigid without being bulky and substantial without being heavy. The minimalistic design is distinctive and hits all the right notes while the keyboard and touchpad feel remarkably roomy given the otherwise small size of the system. The low fan noise, optional LTE support and decent battery life only make it an even better companion for classrooms and traveling. Google truly deserves unequivocal praise for the fundamental hardware design of the Pixel. ASUS P80VC Battery
Meanwhile, the high resolution Gorilla Glass touchscreen display steals much of the spotlight, and for good reason. Everything about it from its bright backlight, crisp texts and even crisper images is similar or even better to what one may see on a Retina MacBook or iPad, though color accuracy is not yet quite up there when against some expensive workstations. Touchscreen functionality is responsive and even practical at times due to the orderly and uncluttered nature of the UI, making it a blast to use for games and some navigation. ASUS Eee PC 1025 Battery
Speaking of UI, Chrome OS remains tremendously simple and friendly to the end user. This is both a blessing and a curse, and highlights both the best and worst aspects of the Pixel. The lightweight software leaves a small footprint that is extremely fast and very secure, qualities that users with very sensitive data can appreciate. However, the humble OS may be too simple for some as compatibility and versatility are particularly stinted. ASUS Eee PC 1025C Battery
In the end, the Pixel is a straightforward notebook wrapped in an extraordinary case and display. The high-end hardware ultimately feels limited by the narrow scope of Chrome OS, so most users will likely get a bigger bang for the buck from a more established Windows or Mac platform, both of which can do much more than a Pixel and offer more customization options for lower prices. Buyers looking to install a Linux distro may be the exception, though such actions and resulting repercussions are beyond the scope of this review. The Pixel is certainly not conventional for typical day-to-day use, but Google has set the hardware bar very high not just for itself, but also for any future Chromebooks and Ultrabooks to come.
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