The gap between Chromebooks and regular notebooks is starting to narrow
from both sides. Many laptop users are now utilizing their portable
desktops for tasks that could easily be accomplished on a Chromebook. At
the same time, Chrome OS, with a bit of help from Android as well as
CrossOver, is beginning to support more software beyond web apps. With
the new Google Pixelbook, Chromebooks are also catching up in hardware
features, not to mention price. Next year, we might even see even more
progress on that front, with Samsung now believed to be making a 2-in-1
detachable Chromebook tablet/laptop hybrid.
2-in-1 Chromebooks aren’t exactly unheard of, but what we’ve seen so far
are mostly of the “convertible” kind. This refers to laptops that fold
back 360-degrees to form a tablet, much like the Lenovo YOGA line and,
now, the Pixelbook. Detachables, in contrast, come in two separate
pieces, tablet and keyboard, and are arguably more portable because you
don’t get weighed down by the keyboard when using it as a laptop.
Rumors of a detachable Chromebook started to swirl months ago under the
codename of “Nautilus”. Source code in the Chrome OS repository bear
hints that the device will have a “base” and a “tablet mode”, implying a
detachable design.
But the biggest and latest clue may point to the manufacturer of that
Nautilus device. The name Jongpil Jung was associated with it, a
Samsung engineer who has also worked on the Chromebook Pro and
Chromebook Plus, both convertible devices. His involvement suggests that
Samsung will be making this Nautilus detachable Chromebook.
Samsung is no stranger to such a form factor, starting with its now
defunct ATIV series of notebooks to the more recent but seemingly
abandoned Galaxy Books pictured above. The new Chromebook could adopt
either design though hopefully it will be the latter, with its more
modern and more portable body.
WOW..............
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