Google Pixel Slate, practice: the best feature of the keyboard

Google makes a lot of Chromebooks. The pixel ($ 379 at Amazon) Slate is an attempt to create a tablet that is also a Chromebook, something like Microsoft Surface. Google wants you to think of Pixel Slate in terms of its beautiful screen, full Chrome browser, Chrome OS more like a tablet.

I'm just thinking of his keyboard.

I've been lucky enough to hang out with the 12-inch tablet at the Google event in New York, where Pixel 3 phones and Google Home Hub also debuted. The Slate is clearly designed to compete with the Microsoft Surface and its design for the workplace, but the Slate also seems to be at a striking distance from the iPad Pro, especially in terms of price.

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First look at the Google Pixel Slate tablet

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Last years Pixelbook was a great Chromebook, but very expensive. The Pixel Slate follows this familiar pattern, aiming for premium in a tablet-meets-Chromebook design.

The Pixel Slate starts at $ 599, but that's only for the tablet, no stylus / pen stylus included. The keyboard costs $ 199 more; the pen, an extra $ 99. And, the Slate starts with an Intel Celeron processor, 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage (not expandable). You can pay more for additional storage and faster processors, up to $ 1,599 for a Core i7, 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

The browser is its best software feature

The slate seems to shine the most when Chrome is open. The Chrome browser, like any Chromebook, is like a PC and extremely versatile. The new split screen options allow you to open multiple panels or applications simultaneously, like the iPad ($ 345 on Amazon Marketplace) or surface.

Slate is pretty, but it's great for a tablet. with a 12.3-inch screen, it looks more like a laptop. The display looks neat, but the general user interface, which aims to offer an Android Pixel feel, has not moved unhindered on the event demo devices. The flow of the interface was just not as fluid as expected. Or, simply, not a smooth butter like an iPad. This is a bit of a concern, especially for this price. At a successful product demonstration experience, I would expect the Pixel Slate to be on its best footing.

Yes, as mentioned above, Google Chrome can now create a split screen, displaying two panes at a time. Sometimes it seems useful. The new Slate pen is pressure sensitive and looks like the Surface Pen, but it sometimes seemed to leave spots of digital ink on the screen while the pen was not even in touch yet.

And the keyboard is the best hardware feature

The keyboard – a separate $ 200 purchase – feels good, though. The snap-on accessory includes sturdy backlit circular keys with generous spacing, a large clickable trackpad, and a rear magnetic mount that can be tilted at almost any required angle. The case can be folded while remaining attached and serve as a folio. It's pretty ingenious.

It's basically the iPad keyboard that I've searched for years: one with a touchpad, the other that looks like a laptop and that adds a front and back protection to the tablet while traveling.

This is not the perfect solution for a laptop: the keyboard and its back stand add to a large work surface, just like the Microsoft Surface Pro. This is not good either for the tours. But on a table, it was great to hit on it.

The Slate Pixel needs it to complete the Chromebook equation, but its extra price means that you spend at least $ 800 or more, for the storage and processor you want. The Slate seems to be a luxury that most people will not pay, and not quite the perfect Chromebook because it is not so friendly to the knees. But this keyboard is a perfect model for the next Apple.

No headphone jack, though – or SD card slot

Be prepared: the 3.5mm headphone jack is not there. Instead, the Pixel Slate has two USB-C ports. This may be where all devices go, but it will also mean a really boring need for dongles.

There is also no SD card reader, which means no easily expandable storage. It also means that you had better choose the level of storage carefully. Naturally, Google relies on unlimited cloud storage, but some things are useful for storing locally.

The Pixel Slate arrives later this year. We will have a full review when we have a template to use for more than a quick demo session. But at this price, the Pixel Slate is surmounted by a big question mark: who would buy it on a Microsoft Surface or an iPad?

Specifications:

• Starts at $ 599
• Intel Celeron processor, Core m3, Core i5 or Core i7
• Up to 16 GB of RAM
• Molecular screen of 12.3 inches with 293 dpi
• 8 Megapixel Front and Rear Cameras with Portrait Mode
• Two USB-C ports
• Support for 4K external display
• Pixel Imprint Fingerprint Reader
• Stereo speakers
• New version of Chrome OS
• Integrated Google Assistant
• Titan M Security Chip, which encrypts data and passwords
• Family Link Controls
• Includes a 3-month free trial of YouTube TV ($ 40 at Google Store)
• The 48Wh battery provides up to 10 hours of battery life
• Measures 11.45×7.95×0.27 inches (LWH)