Over in Cupertino, California at Apple's HQ, Jony Ive must be going, "hmmm...." right now...
Google just announced a high-end Chromebook, that is, a cloud-based laptop designed to run on the web which is powered by Google's CHROME OS.
.: google :.
Now, since Google's been able to make a stellar email program, with stellar office programs, and stellar video programs plus YouTube and a stellar photo management system, all of 'em for free, this device might as well be a nuclear weapon pointed at both Apple - who have amazing products - and Microsoft - who make software which the Chromebook Pixel just doesn't need.
The screen of the Pixel claims to trounce Apple's Retina display... which, if proven, shifts the battle in the "resolution arena" to Google's new toy. It also doesn't skimp on the other "stuff" people love... it's got an HD webcam built in, with advanced mics and noise reduction, and the screen reacts to the full range of gestures which you would use on any multi-touch phone or device.
These goodies - aren't cheap. This Chromebook costs what you'd pay for a MacBook Pro, albeit the Pixel seems to be better equipped with options suited for the web/cloud user. One could argue that the comparison is that of apples to oranges... that the Mac is more powerful all the way around, but with more and more people using laptops just to access web-based programs and the like, the Pixel more than packs a punch.
