Chrome OS has advanced a lot in recent years, but it's still not Windows 10. Traditionally, Chromebooks are fairly inexpensive, which has partly been responsible for their rise in popularity.
So, then, Google announces a new Chromebook that starts at $999. The Pixelbook could be described as Google's answer to Microsoft's Surface lineup, showcasing the best of its software on the best hardware. But that's one expensive Chromebook.
Not convinced that a $999 Chromebook is worth the money? Here are 10 great Windows 10 laptops you can buy for less.
More: Google Pixelbook hands-on at Android Central
ASUS VivoBook S15
The ASUS VivoBook S15 doesn't have a touchscreen, nor is it a convertible. But it is a sleek, sophisticated-looking Windows laptop that's well equipped and very well priced.
For $800 you get a seventh-generation Core i5 processor, a combination of hard-disk drive (HDD) and solid-state drive (SSD) storage, a full HD display, USB-C and dedicated graphics from NVIDIA in the form of a GeForce 940MX GPU. It's no gaming PC, but it's a very capable all-arounder that doesn't break the bank.
Dell Inspiron 7000 2-in-1
The Pixelbook may have a touchscreen that folds right around, but Windows laptops have been doing that for years. Almost every manufacturer has some take on the design, and Dell's Inspiron 7000 2-in-1 is a great example.
This 15-incher can be had for as little as $650 with a seventh-generation Core i5, 8GB of RAM, a 1080p touch display and USB-C among its array of ports. It looks good, too, and it's built to last.
HP Omen 15
It's possible not only to get a gaming laptop for less than a Pixelbook but a pretty good gaming laptop at that. HP's 15-inch Omen is a perfect example, coming in at just over $900.
For that, you get a 15.6-inch 1080p display, seventh-generation Intel Core i7 quad-core processor, 8GB of RAM and a 4GB NVIDIA GTX 1050 GPU. Sure you can play Android games on a Pixelbook, but you can play proper PC games on an Omen.
HP Envy x360
HP makes some incredible Windows laptops, such as the Envy x360, a mid-range convertible that can be yours in 13.3-inch form for around $800.
There's still a lot of hardware involved, though, and the Envy represents great value with its full HD touch display, backed up by a seventh-generation Intel Core i5 processor, 12GB of RAM and 1TB hard drive. Spend another $100 and you can get one with a Core i7, 16GB of RAM and 256GB SSD, which is worth it if you can stretch to it.
Lenovo Yoga 720
The Yoga 720 is pretty close to what you'll get from a Pixelbook, in that it's a good looking, well built convertible laptop with a touchscreen display. Unlike the Pixelbook it only costs around $770 to get one with some great specs.
Specs like a seventh-generation Core i5 processor, 8GB RAM, 256GB of SSD storage, pen support, JBL speakers and USB-C Thunderbolt 3 all add up to one great-value Windows laptop.
ASUS Zenbook 3
The ZenBook 3 is a beautifully-made, ultra-compact notebook that comes with a full HD display, a fingerprint scanner, a great keyboard and in some cases, a stunning blue and gold paint job.
And while it only has a solitary USB-C port on the outside, ASUS throws in a dongle, admitting it knows its customers probably aren't ready for that world just yet. You also get a Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM and speakers by Harman Kardon at a price not far over $700.
Acer Swift 7
You might have seen thin laptops before but you haven't seen them like the Swift 7. It's almost impossibly thin, and it's about $100 less than the $999 starting price of the Pixelbook.
You're getting a seventh-generation Core i5, 256GB of SSD storage, 8GB of RAM, and USB-C, in probably the slimmest laptop you'll find anywhere. You only get a 1080p display without touch, but still, it's an incredible piece of engineering.
Microsoft Surface Pro
The Surface is a class-defining product, and Microsoft's latest Surface Pro starts at $799. The keyboard is extra on top of that, but even then you're under Pixelbook budget.
You get a gorgeous 2736 x 1824 touch-display with pen support, a seventh-generation Core m3 processor from Intel, 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The higher-end models cost a fair bit more, but a Surface Pro is hands-down one of the best portable Windows machines around, especially if you want to use a pen.
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Gaming
Make no mistake, this is a proper gaming laptop. While you'll be getting the "older" model and spending $899 to get a good one, it's still comfortably less than a Pixelbook with a lot to offer.
Like a seventh-generation Core i5 quad-core processor, SSD storage, 8GB of RAM, a 1080p anti-glare display and the crowning glory, a 4GB GTX 1050 Ti GPU from NVIDIA. So you can work all day, then relax with some of the latest PC games.
Acer Spin 5
For $899 you can get Acer's convertible Spin 5 kitted out with an eighth-generation Core i7 processor, 8GB of RAM, 256GB of SSD storage and a convertible 1080p all-touch display.
At 13.3-inches it's super-portable, it's got all the ports you might need, including full-size HDMI and USB-C 3.1, a fingerprint scanner for Windows Hello, and a battery life of up to 13 hours. All for $100 less than a Pixelbook.
