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Googlebooks hit stores from $899; first reviews call the OS half-baked

Google's Android laptops went on sale Oct 4. The Verge says the phone links work well, but the software still feels unfinished.

$899cheapest Googlebook

Hype check

Hype7
Real5
As advertised

The noise matches the real change.

Why it matters

Googlebook is Google's Android-based laptop platform and a rival to Chromebooks and Windows. Early testing shows good phone features and rough edges.

For most people

Watch: it shows Google's plan to replace Chromebooks with Android.

The details

  • Preorders opened Sept 21 for five models from Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP and Lenovo, starting at $899.
  • US sales began Oct 4; Canada, the UK and other regions followed Oct 5.
  • Acer, ASUS and Lenovo models use Intel chips. Dell and HP use Qualcomm Snapdragon, per The Verge.
  • Google admits a small handful of complex apps and games need developer tuning on Intel models.
  • The Verge found Continue On works mostly with Google Docs and Sheets, and casted apps can look pixelated.
WaitWait for full reviews unless you want an Android-phone-first laptop.

Updates

  1. Google is rolling out a smoother first-time setup for its Better Together phone features and fixed a bug that left the pairing QR code on screen. Samsung support now works for some owners, but Galaxy phones need One UI 9 (Android 17), which has reached only part of Samsung's lineup.

Receipts

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Written with the help of AI tools and checked against the sources above. How we work

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