It appears to be like just like the Google Pixelbook is not any extra, with stories that not solely has Google cancelled its upcoming Chromebook, nevertheless it’s additionally disbanded the staff who had been engaged on it.

This information, as reported by The Verge (opens in new tab), is an actual blow. The earlier mannequin, the Pixelbook Go, wasn’t simply among the best Chromebooks ever made, it was among the best laptops as properly.

It additionally comes as a little bit of a shock, as there have been hints that Google was engaged on a brand new Pixelbook as not too long ago as at this yr’s Google I/O. A Google spokesperson additionally hinted to us final yr {that a} new Pixelbook was coming.

Sadly, evidently the plans have now modified, probably partially to Google’s resolution to chop prices by cancelling or pausing sure tasks. Sundar Pichai, Google’s CEO, wrote in a memo (and seen by The Verge (opens in new tab)), that these measures “means pausing improvement and re-deploying assets to greater precedence areas.” It looks as if the staff engaged on future Pixelbooks have been redeployed elsewhere in Google.

Evaluation: Farewell, Pixelbook

The Pixelbook collection solely had two entries – the unique, high-end Pixelbook, alongside the extra inexpensive Pixelbook Go – nevertheless it actually made a mark.

The unique Pixelbook was speculated to showcase the potential of Chromebooks. Relatively than simply being low-cost gadgets for looking the online and firing off a couple of emails, the Pixelbook got here with a formidable 2,400 x 1,600 display, 256GB SSD, 8GB RAM and an Intel Core i5 processor – the form of specs that wouldn’t have appeared misplaced in a high-end laptop computer.

Its goal was to problem folks’s preconceptions of what a Chromebook is, whereas additionally performing as inspiration for different Chromebook makers (Google is, after all, additionally behind the Chrome OS working system that every one Chromebooks run, so has a vested curiosity within the success of all Chromebooks, not simply its personal). That was a troublesome – just about unimaginable – job, and so it will not be a lot shock to be taught that it didn’t succeed.

The principle drawback was the excessive value – launching at $999/£999 (round AU$1,500) and going as much as $1,649 / £1,699 (round AU$2,400), the dearth of gross sales confirmed the world was simply not prepared for an costly Chromebook.

The follow-up, the Pixelbook Go, was extra inexpensive, however beginning at $849 / £829 (about AU$1,250), it was nonetheless far dearer than most Chromebooks, regardless of providing wonderful efficiency and battery life, plus among the best keyboards we’ve even used on a laptop computer.

Once more, the Pixelbook Go remained a distinct segment product, regardless of glowing evaluations (together with from us).

With Google now apparently ending Pixelbook improvement, it looks as if there’s no urge for food for premium Chromebooks with value tags to match. Comprehensible, however we will’t assist feeling unhappy that this might imply Chromebooks are doomed to at all times be seen as finances gadgets, after they might have been a lot extra.