Googlebooks disappoints – A long-time Pixelbook user says Googlebooks feels like ChromeOS rebranded with AI gloss—without the software push needed for real laptop work, creative workflows, or reliable Linux and Android experiences. After waiting and paying premium prices for a differen
For years, the original Google Pixelbook was the laptop I trusted. It was a premium machine in both design and feel, and for a time it was good enough to live on my desk as my primary computer.
Then it stopped working for me the way I needed it to.
The hardware aged—an i5 processor. 8GB of RAM. and 128GB of storage—and the battery wasn’t up to the job anymore. But the bigger problem wasn’t just speed or endurance. I also needed software that simply wasn’t available on ChromeOS. and the Pixelbook started to feel like a compromise I couldn’t keep making.
So I waited.
I held out for when Google would make another premium laptop, something better than what ChromeOS had been. When the idea of “Googlebooks” landed. I let myself believe it could finally be the thing I’d been waiting for. I assumed that creating a new product category would mean a major break from any Chromebook that came before—powerful hardware. plus software that could handle more than the basics.
I wanted a real step forward, not a side-grade.
Editing photos, creating hero images, and managing all the files I generated became either a chore or something I couldn’t do on ChromeOS at the level I wanted. And I’d also wanted to make video content. Even without having started yet, I knew a Chromebook wasn’t built for what I had in mind.
That’s why I expected Googlebooks to change the equation.
Instead, the direction felt familiar in the worst way. The user says Google “has taken ChromeOS, slapped a new name on it, and doused the whole thing in AI.” And while they add it isn’t technically accurate—Googlebooks run Android, not ChromeOS—the practical difference doesn’t feel meaningful.
The feature Google showed off that got the most attention was Magic Pointer, a way to wiggle your mouse to summon AI features. It looked impressive on stage. But in this user’s view, it didn’t justify launching a new platform, especially when it also risks fragmenting Google’s laptop ecosystem.
Magic Pointer, they say, isn’t even exclusive to Googlebooks. That matters because it makes the new “category” feel less like a leap and more like a re-packaging of what already exists.
In terms of what the device will actually run, the expectation is that it will be similar to a Chromebook: web apps, Android apps, and possibly Linux apps. Google hasn’t mentioned Linux support for Googlebooks yet, but for now the user says they’re assuming it will arrive.
Even with those building blocks, the core problem remains software. In their experience, even with a newer Chromebook they tried last year, the platform still doesn’t match what they can do on Windows or Mac.
They point to specific gaps. There’s no Lightroom. They note that a Linux version of DaVinci Resolve can be installed, but they describe the experience as “far from a pleasant experience.” They also say the Linux experience on ChromeOS has been messy overall.
The frustration is amplified by how the gaming story has shifted—Google has pushed gaming Chromebooks and Steam support, and then, at one point, the gaming storefront dropped that support.
For Android apps, they argue the situation isn’t reassuring either. Google. they say. has been trying for years to convince Android developers to properly support tablets and foldables. and they question what the odds are that developers will suddenly do a better job for laptops—especially for essentials like mouse and keyboard support.
Their conclusion is blunt: Googlebooks aren’t the revolution they were waiting years for. In their view, they’re “nothing more than an evolution.”
That raises another question: what does “premium” actually mean here?
Google hasn’t said how much Googlebooks will cost. But the user expects they’ll be expensive, based on how many times Google used the word “premium” and on the hardware they believe some models will include.
They also challenge the value of that premium hardware. They expect Googlebooks will come with at least 12GB of RAM and a Snapdragon chipset. But they argue that without useful software to make the most of it, there’s not much point.
They contrast that with a different kind of laptop pitch. Word processing, browsing the web, and watching Netflix don’t require premium specs. As for AI features, they believe those alone may not be enough to make the device worthwhile.
The only elements that could genuinely make a difference—like a high-quality display and keyboard—could, in their view, exist in an affordable Chromebook. In other words, the user doesn’t see a clear reason to pay premium prices for a software experience they don’t trust.
The emotional weight behind the argument is hard to miss.
They acknowledge the skepticism looks “hypercritical” given they paid £1,000 for the original Pixelbook. But they say that back then, cheaper Chromebooks didn’t feel pleasant. The Pixelbook did—“with its gorgeous design and display.” They also say they were buying into an idea: that Google would make ChromeOS more than a glorified web browser.
It didn’t.
So now, after years of waiting, the disappointment is real—and personal. They say they won’t spend money on a device “in the hopes it will one day be able to do what I need it to.”
They also say the years they postponed buying a laptop while expecting Google to do the impossible feel wasted. They put part of the blame on themselves for having “unreasonable expectations,” but the outcome is still the same: the wait didn’t pay off.
And in the end, their wish is simple.
“I wish I’d bought a Mac years ago.”
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