Google’s new Googlebook: Is it a worthy laptop contender or an overpriced Android gamble?

Google has entered the laptop market with a curious new line called Googlebook, created in collaboration with industry giants like Asus, Acer, HP, Dell, and Lenovo. These Googlebooks differ from the familiar Chromebooks, which are known for their budget-friendly hardware and ChromeOS. The naming choice of Googlebook, however, could confuse consumers, as Google already has a digital reading service called Google Books.

Googlebook OS, the underlying platform for these laptops, runs on Android. This familiarity with Android among smartphone users should make the transition seamless. Syncing daily tasks and mobile applications between the laptop and smartphone should be straightforward. However, the real challenge lies in the software ecosystem. While Google Play Store offers access to popular mobile apps, the lack of native desktop applications is a significant drawback.

Most software relies on a translation layer, converting phone-centric apps for use on a PC screen. Google classifies these apps under three broad categories to manage user expectations.

The Googlebook's cost is another point of contention. Priced at $899 in the US, the local price is expected to be around R18,000, making it pricier than Apple's entry-level MacBook Neo, which starts at R13,999. Despite the attractive internal storage of 16GB, the lack of dedicated desktop software significantly impacts the Googlebook's value proposition. The ecosystem compromise, particularly the shortage of true native applications, makes this initial Googlebook lineup a high-risk purchase.