Specs Shootout: Chromebook Pixel vs. Macbook Air, Macbook Pro Retina 13

Google has announced its intent of storming into the ultraportable laptop market with the announcement of the brand new Chromebook Pixel netbook. The Chromebook Pixel will run on Google's own Chrome OS, that also powered the earlier Chromebooks, but instead of relying on other manufacturers like Samsung and Acer, the Chromebook Pixel will be completely designed and manufactured by Google.

The Chromebook Pixel's premium design and pricing make it interesting competition for Apple's Macbooks. Of course, there are certain things that set these laptops apart- the Chromebook Pixel's 13-inch display is also touch-enabled whereas the Macbooks aren't (although it's rumoured that Apple are also headed the touchscreen route for its notebooks). The Macbooks run on a “proper” operating system capable of running full-fledged productivity applications. The Chromebook Pixel, on the other hand has the specs to do the same, but instead relies on an operating system that's mainly designed to run web apps and work on the Internet.

However, there's no denying the fact that the Chromebook Pixel can be a useful (and premium) alternative to similar laptops already in the market. Let's compare some of the important features of the Chromebook Pixel with Macbook variants:

	Google Chrome Pixel	Apple Macbook Air 13-inch	Apple Macbook Pro (13-inch Retina)
Display Size (in inches)	12.85	13.3	13.3
Display Resolution (in pixels)	2560 x 1700 (239 ppi)	1440 x 900 (128 ppi)	2560 x 1600 (227 ppi)
Display Aspect Ratio	3:2	16:10	16:10
Dimensions (L x B x H)	297.7 x 224.6 x 16.2 mm	325 × 227 x 17 mm	314 × 219 × 19 mm
Weight (in kgs)	1.52	1.34	1.62
Processor	Intel Core i5-3427U (Dual Core 1.8GHz)	Intel Core i5-3427U (Dual Core 1.8 GHz)	Intel Core i5-3230M (Dual-Core 2.5 GHz)
Graphics	Intel HD 4000	Intel HD 4000	Intel HD 4000
RAM	4GB	4GB	8GB
Storage (Capacity/Type)	32 GB/SSD	128 GB/SSD	128 GB/SSD
Battery (in Watt-Hours)	59	50	74
Operating System	Chrome OS	Mac OS X 10.8 (Mountain Lion)	Mac OS X 10.8 (Mountain Lion)
Price (in USD)	$1300	$1199	$1499

It's clear from looking at the specs that the Chromebook Pixel will have a really hard time enticing buyers. While the new Google notebook looks fantastic and offers a touchscreen, the Macbooks offer a much better value proposition. At only $100 more, the Macbook Pro Retina gives you an equivalent display, better hardware, an arguably better OS and better battery than the Chromebook Pixel while only weighing a little bit more. The Macbook Air, on the other hand, offers similar specs but also costs $100 less and comes with Mac OS X while being lighter and only falling short in terms of display quality.

We believe that for the Chromebook Pixel to be able to properly compete with the Macbooks and Windows ultraportables, Google will need to put more work into Chrome OS and also look at pricing it more competitively.

Has the Google Chromebook Pixel piqued your interest? Do you think it will be able to compete against both the Apple and the established line-up of Windows powered Ultrabooks? .