Chromebook Pixel is Real and Available Today, Starts at $1,299

We covered a leaked video about a Google product called the Chromebook Pixel earlier this month, but we weren’t sure if the product was legit. The answer came today, as Google officially announced the Pixel on the Google Blog, and provided us with details on specs, price and availability.

The Chromebook Pixel features a 12.85-inch touch-screen display, which is also high-res (2560 x 1700). The aspect ratio is an unusual 3:2, though that shouldn’t present any major issues. The laptop is powered by an Intel i5 processor running at 1.8GHz, and packs in 4 GB of DDR3 RAM and a 32 GB solid state drive for storage. Other notable features include a backlit keyboard and 1 TB of free Google Drive storage.

The Pixel will start at $1,299 for the Wi-Fi version of the product, and $1,449 for an LTE-equipped model that is compatible with Verizon’s high-speed LTE network.

Since the Pixel is a Chromebook, it’s powered by Chrome OS and runs Web apps only. With this context, the Pixel’s high-end specs feel like overkill, and the high price is certainly scary when you consider the fact that a Retina MacBook Pro can be had for $1,499.

Will this be a winning product for Google, or is it simply too much computer for Chromebook enthusiasts? We’re certain to find out in the coming months. In the meantime, you can purchase the Chromebook Pixel today in the Google Play store.