I really wanted to try out the Googlebook, but I can't.

My local BestBuy has signs all over the store promoting it. Except there are absolutely none to be found. The staff at this BestBuy has absolutely no interest in helping you.

Me: Do you have any GoogleBooks?

Clerk: Let me check (types away at his computer)

Me: I mean floor units. I really just want to get my hands on one and test it out, kick the tires...

Clerk: They're over there next to the Dell display.

Me: Over where?

Clerk: Right over there.

Me: Can you show me? (He would not do so)

I walked over and couldn't find a single Googlebook. There were other customers in the computer area wanting help but no one would assist them! I left.

Walmart: No Googlebooks

Costco: No Googlebooks

Target: I didn't have a chance to drive over there.

Meanwhile, Costco, BestBuy, Walmart, and Target all have iPhones, iPads, MacBooks, MacBook Neos, etc. I believe they've had Neos since "Day 1."

And then there's all the tech vloggers canning it.

Did Google think this out?

Hey guys,

this is not a rant or so, it's just some thoughts regarding the Googlebook OS and my slight disappointment about the rumors and facts I heard about GooglebookOS.

To make it clear, I do not own a Googlebook and didn't have the chance to test one yet. So all I can do right now, is watching and reading and try to figure out where GooglebookOS really stands.

But let's begin where it all started for me.

I'm a long time ChromeOS user. I think I started about six or seven years ago with initially installing it on old Atom based Dell Venue Pro 8 tablet (by Brunched Install). After my excitement regarding the OS I bought my first ChromeOS laptop, an Acer CB714 with Intel Gen 8 Chip and 8 gigs of RAM. (Which still runs fantastic).

And after that I installed CrOS on a bunch of Mini PCs and other devices I used (all brunched). 

Finally I bought an Acer CXI5 (which I then quickly changed for an ASUS Chromebox5, after my disappointment bout the lame Celeron Processor in the CXI5)

The CB5 was a good deal on a local market for with the i7. I upgraded the RAM to 32GB, and now the CB5 deals as my main home PC device. 

So, all in all, I think I could call myself something like an ChromeOS enthusiast. 

At the time of the CB714 I was amazed.

Yeah, it was not like I was able to use all my Windows apps (from my ~20 years of using Win), ...but hell was that a fast system! Over the years the Linux integration got better, CrOS 'matured', and had more options and possibilities.

So yeah, I like the system really much and I really enjoyed how fast it was in all the years and how good the integration of linux apps into the OS became. 

I mean this is really like a phenomenal integration of linux, because it's like 'idiot proof'. If you destroy it, just delete it, start over (but you don't lose your whole sys). If you managed to backups on Linux, hey even better. Just go back.

I didn't have all the 'fiddling' I always had to experience when trying other Linux Distributions, because the 'main' thing I need, was always usable... 

Over the years things like CrossOver or other great tools, and lately even the possibility to use real Windows-Apps on the CB5 came along!

(that last feature even made me try reaching for a real Chromebook of the latest Intel generation with Intel Core Ultra 5 100 series) .

Of course, not all is perfect with CrOS:

The slow Android integration. The lacking settings (I always was annoyed 'bout the things you couldn't set, which I thought should've been a standard to be able to configure in every OS).

No real color settings, no battery settings like 'after X minutes go to sleep', 'do that if this', no 'automated backup of the whole CrOS', 'no automated Linux backup', the need to set up my SMB-connections over and over. The lack of a 3rd functions key on the keyboard, ...and other things.

...but, even though CrOS became the one powerful daily driver in my setup.

And now, ...there's GooglebookOS. 

The first news about the new AluOS were exciting. I was curious and optimistic that it could turn out to be great. The integration of AndroidCore into ChromeOs core sounded great.

Then came the day where those court files where published, where it was stated that you would need powerful machines to use AluOS, because it would become more like a 'fat' OS. Not that small/minimal base, but a fat whole OS.

(don't recall if I remember this correctly, but think it had to with those plans to force Google to sell Chrome because of the market share, ...which would have meaned to sell ChromeOS at all (OS is the Browser/Browser is the OS)).

That didn't mean it would become something bad, ....but let's say it stopped a bit of my enthusiasm. I feared the Android Part could become too ...'big', and getting a clunky sys which looses this feeling of being so secure and 'light'.

It's not like I don't like Android. I daily use it on my main phone, ...but it's a mobile OS in my eyes. Yeah DeX is a very nice and capable thing, ...but didn't ever beat the ChromeOS/Linux combo.

So I was in a 'let's see what it becomes'-mood and started saving some bucks for an eventual 'i need this now!!!'-moment. 

Then GbOS was released, and i sucked in all those reviews and thoughts. I did read many things on this sub, and honestly some were a bit disappointing from my view.

So today I'm asking myself for the reasons I should buy a new device with GbOS.

- CrOS has the (much!) better Linux integration 

- CroS seems to use less battery

- CrOS seems to have a better startup time vs GbOS

- Continuity seems to be a problem with the new OS (was always a problem on Android)

- all those Android Apps, which most of them where designed to be used by touch, now want to be a part of the main reasons  to be the 'better' OS? (I mean, I always preferred to use PWAs, and for the rest there was Linux!?)

- general Bugs on GbOS (okay, it's new. no hate bout thatl

- Problems with Phone integration features

- Some reports about problems with Chrome not displaying desktop sites, but mobile versions 

So, ...all in all, I'm asking myself about that whole point to try out GbOS or just stick with CrOS.

I'm still curious bout GbOS, ...but I just seems not to be the OS I hoped it would be.

If you made it till here, ...thanks for reading! 😄

Your thoughts on this? 

TL;DR: Google solved the android browser problem by putting ChromeOS Chrome on Googlebook OS, only to recreate the Windows tablet problem: actively blocking touch-friendly Google Android apps and ignoring basic tablet gestures. 

I am not exaggerating when I say I have been waiting for a platform like Googlebook OS for years. Over the past few years, I have been looking for the perfect 2-in-1 device where I don’t have to sacrifice either the laptop or tablet experience, and Googlebook seems like the platform that can provide me with my endgame machine (Yes, I am one of the people who were disappointed by the left out of the Lenovo Googlebook detachable at launch). However, with what Googlebook OS is right now, it seems like it’s a platform that’s lacking in both the laptop and tablet experience. It lacks in the laptop experience as it is already expected because it’s a whole new OS based on android, but surprisingly it’s also lacking in the tablet aspect because of some software decisions of Google and a clear lack of care on the tablet side. 

Ever since I got my hands on the Acer googlebook and shared my thoughts on the platform, I have gotten the same responses of “just get a tablet with a keyboard and trackpad.” As someone who has used android tablets as my main laptop for the past few years (up until earlier this year when I finally gave up), I can assure you that any tablet with a keyboard and trackpad is far from the experience of a true desktop OS, even for a non-pro, regular user like me. Every 2-in-1 that exists on the market leans one way or the other. With a galaxy tablet, yes Samsung Dex is basically the UI of a desktop, similar to Googlebook OS, but the browser on there just lacks way too many desktop features compared to the chrome browser we find here on Googlebooks. Many websites also just load weird on mobile browsers seemingly because not all sites are tuned for mobile browsers (even in desktop mode). It also lacks some keyboard shortcuts and the ability to remap keyboard shortcuts like other desktop OS (It’s still a little bit short but I’m actually very pleased with Googlebook’s OS’s ability to add keyboard shortcuts to many functions). Similar with iPad OS; even though iPad OS has become quite desktop friendly over the years, it still is far from a desktop experience compared to MacOS. It actually loads websites better than on android tablets, as it seems to load them the exact way as websites load in MacOS safari, but the rest of the UI is still short of MacOS (limited keyboard shortcuts remapability), limited trackpad gestures and customizability, and a file management system that just isn’t desktop-level. Even though Apple can probably make iPadOS as good as MacOS easily, they will likely not ever do that because the two product lines will sabotage each other’s sales, which is understandable. There is then the option of Windows tablets. Surface Pro actually has my favorite 2-in-1 hardware out of all 2-in-1s that exist right now (supreme build quality, built-in kickstand, 3:2 aspect ratio), but it also runs the worst OS for a tablet. The previous two I mentioned leaned towards the tablet experience, and the Surface Pro leans heavily towards the laptop experience. It is honestly mind-boggling to me why Microsoft even makes the Surface Pro when Windows does not even have a tablet mode that actually makes sense for a tablet. But even if they do eventually make a tablet UI for the Surface Pro, the apps supported there would still not have tablet-optimized apps. Perhaps the closest 2-in-1 before Googlebooks would be ChromeOS tablets, a laptop platform with support for android apps. While that is true, those android apps do not run natively (I care a lot about battery efficiency), and there just isn’t a true flagship 2-in-1 chromeOS tablet (I also need one that’s around 13-inch). 

When I heard that Aluminium OS (what we called the OS before Googlebooks was revealed) will be built on top of the android stack, I became extremely excited about the platform. I knew it would be everything I wanted in a 2-in-1, and it would probably put an end to my search for a true 2-in-1 device. Since it would be android, that means I can run all of the android apps I want, having as mobile-friendly of an experience as any other android tablet that existed on the market. At the same time, Google is positioning it as an OS for laptops, so I knew that using it as a laptop would definitely not be trouble-ridden as what I have been using (I was using galaxy tab s9+ as my laptop at the time). That is it, an equal emphasis on the tablet and desktop experience, which is exactly what I was looking for! Well, now Googlebooks are here, and I got my hands-on the Acer googlebook, which is a convertible that can be flipped into a tablet, and I am concerned that this may not be it. And it’s not because it can’t be, but because a “true 2-in-1” is just not what Google wants Googlebooks to be. This can be seen in many aspects of the OS, but my biggest one right now is that we are not allowed to run a lot of the Google android apps, but only the PWA versions. The best example of this for me is YouTube. A very good use case of a 2-in-1 is that when I am done with my work on my laptop, I can flip the laptop over into a 2-in-1 immersive YouTube experience. Google pre-loaded the YouTube PWA into Googlebooks, and is also the app that you would find on the Google Play Store. I totally understand that decision of preloading the PWA YouTube, as that is the version that is already intended for desktops. What I am disappointed by is that there is absolutely no way to run the android version right now, not from the play store, not from installing an APK, even when I disable the pre-installed YouTube PWA. That just doesn’t make sense to me, as it is android so I know that it is capable of running those android apps. I also feel like PWA should be installed from the browsers (as it is on any other desktop OS), and I should be able to get the android version app from the Google Play Store. It looks like Google is software blocking the android version of some of their Google apps because it doesn’t work well with keyboard and trackpads; they don’t want the OS to feel like an OS that’s simply android with some tweaks. This, along with some other things such as the lack of a way to go into PIP with only touch-controls when I am in tablet mode or the lack of a gesture to screenshot, shows that Google puts no focus on the tablet side of things even though there is already one right now, the Acer Googlebook convertible, and the soon-to-come Lenovo Googlebook detachable. So, right now, the Googlebook kinda feels like the Surface Pro, a tablet (or at least a device that can be a tablet) with an OS that isn’t designed for a tablet, which is just disappointing considering it’s built on the android stack. It’s also not like the laptop side is completed, as we all know, the OS is still half-baked for laptop use, pro-use or non-pro use. 

The selling point of Googlebooks for me has always been the versatility. The mobile-friendly interface that android already is, with the emphasis on the desktop experience. Yet, it seems like my vision and Google’s vision are polar opposites. For Googlebooks to become the dream device I have always been looking for, Google has to decide that they want to look after the tablet experience and not let Googlebooks be only laptops (starting with letting us run all the mobile android-version Google apps). My hope is that this will change by the time the Lenovo Googlebook detachable comes out, which if it does, I am almost completely certain it will be my favorite tablet/laptop I’ve ever used. 

Today I picked up an open box HP Googlebook for $1038! As a heads up the price in store for the open box was higher than what was shown online. I saw the deal for the open box online and headed over to the store. When I got there they told me the price for it was $1177 but they matched the price down to what was shown on the website. I'm happy I got an open box because now I won't feel bad if I don't like it and return it.

On a side note, did anyone else's HP come pre installed with Dropbox? The unit I got was factory reset and I did not install any apps from my phone during setup but Dropbox was installed after setup and pinned to the taskbar

I know I'll probably get downvoted for this post, however, I think it's reasonable to identify a key way in which Googlebook OS doesn't serve the needs of a professional user.

One of the important attributes of any professional operating system is persistence. Windows, Mac, ChromeOS, and Linux don't close applications that haven't been used for awhile, and Mac is even pretty good at restoring state across reboots.

Googlebook OS, which closes apps in the background and doesn't restore all desktops and Chrome windows on restart, is not suitable for long-running projects where the state of your work is supported by your open applications.

I was excited to buy a 32GB HP Googlebook, but now I'm not sure because I don't know if Google plans to make Googlebook OS a persistent operating environment. Right now it's hardly better than Android mobile OS. Which is great for casual browsing, staying up to date, looking things up, etc. But without support for long-running projects and interests, it is hardly suitable for professional work.

Where are you going with this, Google?

​

My local Best Buy has had marketing banners, endcaps, and promotional signage up for the Google Book for about three weeks now, but the demo tables are completely empty. No physical units to touch, no test devices tethered down—just empty promotional space.

Whenever I ask floor associates, nobody seems to have a clear answer.

For anyone who works at Best Buy, does third-party merchandising, or knows how these rollouts work:

Is this a firmware/demo-mode software delay on Google's end?

Are stores waiting on third-party vendor reps to physically set the security mounts and flash the devices?

Or are hardware allocations so tight that they can't even spare units for floor demos?

Has anyone seen actual live demo units on display at their local store yet, or is this happening everywhere?

Hi there, I am considering transitioning from my iPad Pro 12 M4 to either the Googlebook or the Alexa Amazon Tablet 12 Pro. I currently have the Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold, and have been enjoying the experience in both phablet and desktop mode, and potentially looking to make that jump into one of these options. Has anyone had the chance to try both the Googlebook and the Amazon Alexa Table 12 Pro with nanomatte display? I am curious about their performance with respect to each other and also against the iPad Pro M4. I wish the phablet / Desktop mode on the Pixel Pro Fold 11 was a little more powerful, but it's more of a phone + rather than a tablet/computer. Thanks for any insights on these two devices.

I have the original pixelbook from 2017. I have loved it and it still serves me well today but it is starting to get glitchy, slow, and the battery is poor. Is the googlebook a good replacement for me?

I mainly use my pixelbook for internet browsing, edit/create docs, work video calls and simple editing of photos and videos.

I have been eyeing up the Asus GB 14 pre launch but after seeing the reviews I'm unsure whether to invest.

I also have a Pixel phone and the idea of the integration (if it works) was also a pro for me

I sold my MacBook Air after using the Gbook. Made a few hundred bucks on the deal which is nice.

Why? Easy: My phone and laptop workflow are now really well aligned, more so than ever before and, relatedly, more so than with a MacBook.

My use case: I daily a Pixel 11 Pro Fold. I'm not a developer or creator. Am a professional who is heavy into Google Workspace and occasional use of Microsoft Office. I don't use any apps that require MacOS, Windows.

I really need efficient organization of and access to my stuff on a laptop, that's what I care most about.

The ASUS Gbook is killer, the best in my experience. It's light and feels great. I NEED a matte screen and this one is really good. The keyboard is excellent and things runs smoothly. Battery life is good enough so far.

I tried them all except for the Acer (don't need a convertible) and all of them had their awesome and meh. ASUS checked the most boxes for me. My #2 would probably be the Dell XPS-- I don't like small laptops generally but I liked using that one a lot.

I REALLY LIKE the software:

-- I have my work and personal widgets set on my desktop so most of the information I need in a given day is there. No searching in a browser or app, it is awesome.

-- My notifications appear and can be interacted with as they do on my phone. Again, easy and efficient...

-- Better Together is much better now than on day 1 and, overall, pretty damn good. Not experiencing many, if any, hiccups with that now.

-- No need to use Apple calendar, or Apple stocks, or Apple Notes, etc. in order for my laptop to render my Google preferences.

-- Two updates in two weeks is awesome-- gives me faith that this thing will regularly get better.

My Gbook does everything as well or better than my MacBook except (and here is the feedback for Google):

-- movement of apps/windows within virtual desktops needs work. MacOS or Windows is a nice template for this. I have work stuff on one and personal on another and sometimes they overlap, get misplaced so being able to move them more freely would be really helpful.

-- the virtual desktops I create disappear once I restart the laptop-- would be really useful if they persisted. Sucks to go through the effort and then restart only to lose all of what I set up.

-- the dock can't be moved to right or left side of the screen. This can be done on a Chromebook and would be nice to have.

Keep working it, Google.

I’d like to protect it with a skin; does anyone know where to buy one for a Dell? I can only seem to find them for Chromebooks.

thank you