At First Blush, I'm Pretty Impressed With Google's New Chromebook Pixel Laptop

GoogleI've only been testing Google's new laptop, the Chromebook Pixel, for about a day now, but I've been enjoying it so much that I wanted to share a few initial impressions with you.

If you're unfamiliar, the Pixel is the first laptop Google has ever made. It runs the Chrome Operating System, which is essentially just the Chrome web browser you're used to along with a few extras. The Pixel has a high-resolution touchscreen that's sharper than the Retina display on Apple's new MacBook Pro.

Anyway, here are a few thoughts:

• The design and build quality are absolutely stunning. It feels just as good as a MacBook without blatantly copying the design.
• The screen is gorgeous, although some apps and photos look slightly pixelated because they haven't been updated yet. (The Retina MacBook has the same problem).
• Chrome OS has come a long way over the years. The (sort of) new desktop mode feels much more familiar than being stuck in a Web browser the whole time.
• Many Chrome apps are just websites and weren't designed specifically for Chrome. I was bummed I couldn't use Spotify.
• The 1 TB of free cloud storage on Google Drive is a nice touch. Unfortunately, you can't access your files unless you're connected to the Web.
• The touchscreen works well, but I don't really see the need for it on a laptop. The trackpad is perfect.
• My first reaction after spending a day with the Pixel is, "Wow, I want one of these." But it's hard to justify spending $1,300 on a computer with limited capabilities. No matter how great it looks and feels. If the Pixel sold for $999 or less, I'd probably consider getting one to replace my MacBook Air.

I'll have a full detailed review of the Chromebook Pixel in about a week.