Comment by cco
16 hours ago
For those wondering why this isn't using the Pixelbook brand, the Reddit post sheds more light.
A Googlebook is something "above" a Chromebook (maybe the AI featureset imposes hardware demands that Chromebooks can't service) but is still made by third parties. I suppose they're keeping Pixelbook for first-party devices.
The most interesting part to me is the "Create your own widget". I'm really interested to see bespoke UI become a first class citizen. Why _can't_ I just ask Gemini to build a widget that serves the data I want how I want it?
Building "small" UI is for the birds, just expose the API and the basics and let users tell the AI what UI they want.
They just show that for widgets but I think that will be a big thing in the future
Everyone and their mom will have their own hyperspecific custom apps prompted into existence
Something like Claude Code with stricter sandboxing built into the OS for consumers
Not just desktop either but also on phones
This just oozes design by committee. Googlebook is the most confusing name they could chooses, some asinine compromise...
Most people who haven't reddit would assume googlebooks are made by google
What name would you have chosen?
- Chromebook with Gemini
- Chromebook Pro
- Geminibook
- Googlebook
They all have their pros and cons.
I'm not sure what the difference from Chromebook, but if it's more capable then Chromebook Pro would do.
If they want to compete with Apple then focus on Pixelbook, maybe (ditch other vendors).
Another option would be to buy Ultrabook trademark from Intel.
Yes, they could have done a chromebook or pixelbook variant. No sane reason for a third brand that dilutes the other two aside from internal google politics/promotions and to show shareholders.
This does nothing for the customer and you can see a brand called Apple which has been successful with the Air, pro and neo under one brand.
Chromebook Pro is the obviously better choice in your list. Googlebook is clearly the worst.
alphabook
gbook