Cheap and basic is the name of the game when it comes to Chromebooks. The vast majority of these Google-powered laptops are priced well under $350, leaving few options for those looking for a more premium Chromebook experience. If you are craving something a bit more upscale, the HP Chromebook 13 could be exactly what you're looking for.
Up until now, the only truly high-end Chromebook was the Pixel, but with a starting price of $1000, Google's flagship laptop is a bit out of reach for many users. The Chromebook 13 provides a happy midpoint between the Pixel and the sub-$350 fare, packing an all metal design and rather beefy specs.
At the lowest end of the spectrum, you're getting a Pentium class chip, but there are also configurations that will include an Intel Core M Skylake processor with up to 16GB RAM, a battery rated for 11.5 hours use, and a 13.3-inch display with a resolution up to 3200 x 1800. You'll also find all the usual suspects like a USB 3.0 port, 2 USB Type-C ports, a headphone jack, a microSD card slot, and other standard connectivity options like Wi-Fi.
Pricing is going to vary a lot here, but at the lowest end the HP Chromebook 13 will cost $499. Pricing isn't fully confirmed for the higher-end configurations but we'd expect pricing to go up to the $1000 mark. We'll update once we have clearer confirmation on the costs for the more advanced configurations.
The Chromebook 13 will open up for pre-orders today, though it's not expected to start shipping until sometime in May. Is it worth picking up? Depends on what you're looking for.
See also: Crouton: Turn your Chromebook into far more than a "glorified web browser" If you're keen on the idea of the Chromebook series but want something a bit higher-end, this model makes sense and could be perfect for pairing with Crouton. With Google gearing up to bring even more Android apps to Chrome OS, a high-end performer could make even more sense in the months to come, though it's worth noting that this Chromebook does not offer a touchscreen in any of its configurations.
What do you think of the Chromebook 13? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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