Google has finally launched its high-end alternative to the Chromebook. The Googlebook starts at $899, and the company is pushing interoperability with Android phones as one of the key selling points.

That's a slight shift from previous plans to promote the device's ability to handle demanding artificial intelligence tasks as the main attraction, though some AI features are still among the sales pitch.

The Googlebook is a major rethink of Google's laptop plans. Until now it's concentrated on the Chromebook with the core concept that most of the device's activity is carried out remotely through web apps. That significantly reduces the hardware requirements and in turn the price.

Seamless Android Integration

The new devices are higher spec and higher price, so will need something special to compete in the laptop market. Google thinks that might be the way it works with Android devices, the unspoken goal being to integrate as smoothly as iMacs do with iPhones.

That's partly achieved through the major under the hood change, albeit one that most users won't directly notice. Chromebooks run on Chrome OS, which is the same basic technology behind the Chrome web browser. Googlebooks run on a modified form of Android, meaning in some ways they are closer to larger tablets but with a physical keyboard.

In theory both Google (and eventually third-party) apps will smoothly switch between devices. One Google demonstration involved reading a Gmail message on the phone but being able to instantly reply on the Googlebook.

Another involved a music production app called BandLab. It's possible to be working on a phone then, when the phone is near enough to the Googlebook, immediately open the BandLab app on the computer with the same project opening in exactly the same state, complete with tracks that are being actively worked on. (Source: engadget.com)

AI Features and Pricing

There is still some AI involvement. For example, a "magic pointer" makes it possible to hover the mouse cursor over something on the screen and immediately perform relevant tasks involving the data or image in question. It's also possible to use natural speech language to ask the device to create a widget: effectively a small "program" on the desktop which performs a specific task.

Five models have already been unveiled, from Acer, Asus, Dell, HP and Lenovo respectively, with prices ranging from $899 to $1,299. (Source: zdnet.com)

What's Your Opinion?

Would you consider buying a Googlebook over a traditional Windows or Mac laptop? How important is seamless phone-to-laptop integration to your daily workflow? Do you think shifting from Chrome OS to Android is the right move for Google's high-end devices?