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Samsung Chromebook Pro
- Thread starter mclld
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This is the first Chromebook that can be a legit computer AND tablet hybrid IMO. It meets all the requirements I needed before I bought another Chromebook and dumped tablets for good.
Minimum of a 2k screen - check
4gb of RAM - check
Touch screen with stylus support - check
Solid CPU and GPU - check
Expandable storage - check
Android apps capable - check
Multiple usb-c ports - check
Only thing that might be missing is a backlit keyboard?
My tablet buying days are officially over.
Microsoft should copy the slot for the pen for the Surface, that is way better than a magnet
It's my next device...for sure.....would have preferred them to use or give us the option of a intel kabylake processor but I will not complain since that processor will run android apps perfectly........
Glad it doesn't have a detachable keyboard so I won't have to buy a case for this device...just slip it in my brief case and go....
Looks to be an iPad Pro killer and replacement for the Galaxy Note Pro tablet line since ChromeOS now runs Android apps.
SoC supports 10-bit 60fps 4K h265 HEVC and VP9 hardware accelerated video decoding so no need for time wasting transcoding or conversion and Samsung usually has first rate playback software out of box vs iPad Pro even with 3rd party paid app support that is iffy. Something the current high end Macbook Pro also doesn't support.
$500 includes keyboard, trackpad and pen vs $1067 for iPad Pro 12.9 + keyboard (no trackpad) + pencil.
SoC supports 10-bit 60fps 4K h265 HEVC and VP9 hardware accelerated video decoding so no need for time wasting transcoding or conversion and Samsung usually has first rate playback software out of box vs iPad Pro even with 3rd party paid app support that is iffy. Something the current high end Macbook Pro also doesn't support.
$500 includes keyboard, trackpad and pen vs $1067 for iPad Pro 12.9 + keyboard (no trackpad) + pencil.
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Did you get that somewhere else, or I am missing where it says that in the linked article? The thing I read about the processor was how many cores, frequency, and who made it.
It's really nice, and I'm jealous they put in the digitizer/stylus/silo but their windows tablet doesn't have one. I still wouldn't give up my SP4 for it, but I won't blame anyone else for choosing it. Especially after they get Google Play store on chrome.
Honest question: does anyone legitimately prefer this 360-degree rotating touch screen form factor to a detachable tablet in the style of the Surface line? Lenovo tends to make these their flagship pen-enabled products, and now it seems like this Chromebook may be the spiritual successor to Samsung's Galaxy Note tablets, which I really liked. I've never understood the benefits of this design for anything other than using the keyboard space to cram in more stuff (like a dGPU)… it seems more or less useless for a low-powered Android device.
Battery life mainly. Just look at the Surface Book. It's almost the perfect device for me, but the battery life is so bad when you detach the keyboard.
Also, cramming everything a computer needs into the display half messes up the balance when using it like a tablet.
I prefer a detachable tablet, but if a 360 degree device is light enough I wouldn't kick it out of bed. I can see having more battery as being nice, but the ipad series gets some darn good battery life without needing a permanent keyboard. One advantage though is having a firm keyboard with full travel keys. But I suppose you could accomplish all that with a detachable hard keyboard, so I do agree with you.
I prefer the detachable keyboard style (a la iPP, Surface Pro). In fact, my favorite example of this so far is the Samsung TabPro S. It works in the same fashion as Apple's detachable or the Type Cover for the Surface by getting the necessary power directly from the tablet but isn't an exercise in origami like Apple's and doesn't require the added bulk of the kickstand on the Surface. The Samsung's keyboard doubles as a thin case, covering both the front and back but is easily removable as it's held in place using magnets. The keyboard itself is quite usable and the trackpad is decent as well. Overall, it lends to a really slim, light package with the TabPro S tablet.
Only problem I have with the TabPro S is that it runs Windows.
But that's solely as issue with my preferences. Put Chrome, or even better, Google's Andromeda OS, on it, add the onboard style S-Pen, and I'm a very happy camper.
Devices like this are proof that Google's Pixel experiment has paid off. Their goal was to push OEMs to make devices like this Chromebook Pro. I had passively been in the market for a Chromebook and this leak/announcement really looks awesome. Lots to like here.
To the computer geeks - is it possible to use this to view Kindle books and make Skype calls?
How would you use this device in guest mode or offline to edit documents, open text files, etc?
Is ARM fast enough?
How would you use this device in guest mode or offline to edit documents, open text files, etc?
Is ARM fast enough?
I don't know about Kindle books but:
Skype is there for ChromeOS
Guest mode is an option when you are at the log in screen
There are a variety of off line apps and G-docs works offline I do not have a text editor installed though
If an Exynos is capable of running a Note then it's capable of running a ChromeBook
You could run Kindle with the app. Google Play will come with this so if there's an Android app for it, this will run it.
In regards to ARM, the octane score for the Samsung chip should be around 10000, on par with the MediaTek in the new Acer R13.
After that Apple keynote, this Samsung has my name written all over it. A premium machine with a full touchscreen and pen for $500? That's literally a steal.
I have a first gen Chromebook Pixel (look at my username) it's the most fun laptop I've ever had and I've had some monsters. I won't claim to be a Chromebook master but what I will claim is that my Chromebook is stupid fast, has a nice touch screen, runs Ubuntu stupid fast, and it's got more pixels and a slower processor than the Samsung so my already great Chromebook becomes more awesome in Samsung dress. What's not to like??
After today's ridiculous Mac 'upgrades', my once strong affinity for Apple is continuing to slip away. I so hope the rumors of the Pixel 3 turn out to be true and that Andromeda OS is the real deal because think I'm ready to leave Apple in the rear view. Such a frustrating company at the moment.
I actually owned a 1st generation Pixel LTE as well and I still swear that it's the best laptop I've ever used (and that includes a Surface Book and multiple Macs).
The whole Chrome OS experience is so stripped down that the experience is nearly flawless if you get used to it. The whole OS just gets out of your way. That OS on premium hardware absolutely screams past anything for basic tasks. I've decided to sell my iPad Pro to pick up one these Chromebook Pros and feel 100% confident in my decision.
After today's ridiculous Mac 'upgrades', my once strong affinity for Apple is continuing to slip away. I so hope the rumors of the Pixel 3 turn out to be true and that Andromeda OS is the real deal because think I'm ready to leave Apple in the rear view. Such a frustrating company at the moment.
I feel you. The announcements today, while I think they are good upgrades, are so outlandishly priced that I genuinely don't want one, simply to not support Apple's thought process. I don't get it.
Agreed. I don't think the upgraded features and functionality are terrible per se (though I'm still not sure about the butterfly keys--feels unusual when I use my wife's rMB) but the pricing is insane. Thankfully, not in the market for a new laptop as my late 2013 15" rMBP is still chugging along nicely. I was hoping to see some love for the Mac Mini though...looks like Apple is letting that one die a slow death. Shame.
After today's ridiculous Mac 'upgrades', my once strong affinity for Apple is continuing to slip away. I so hope the rumors of the Pixel 3 turn out to be true and that Andromeda OS is the real deal because think I'm ready to leave Apple in the rear view. Such a frustrating company at the moment.
Couldn't agree more.
People better start getting used to dongles and adapters. Even to hook up an iphone you'd have to buy a $25 cable.
Apple upselling and up charging everything is getting really tiring, too. The lowest end MBP doesn't even have the touch bar or touch ID.
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Still waiting for official word on this, but it's going to be the successor to my 2012 MBA. I'd been thinking for a while that could get by on less of a machine, and I also have an aging 2012 Galaxy Note tablet that I use to make hand drawn math teaching resources for my online store. This one machine will likely replace both of those, while also removing the need to get my files from one machine to the other.
Given that the last couple of updates to Mac OS have only really been interesting if you also have an iOS device (which I don't), there's so little reason to replace my world-travelling 11" MBA with anything in the current line-up. The stylus and Android apps were the last thing holding me back from a Chromebook. now it seems like a no-brainer.
(Whee, back to my tabletPC days, but without Windows! Hello, 2004!)
Given that the last couple of updates to Mac OS have only really been interesting if you also have an iOS device (which I don't), there's so little reason to replace my world-travelling 11" MBA with anything in the current line-up. The stylus and Android apps were the last thing holding me back from a Chromebook. now it seems like a no-brainer.
(Whee, back to my tabletPC days, but without Windows! Hello, 2004!)