First look at Googlebook: A premium Chromebook alternative for Android users - ZDNET

Our gifting experts are obsessively searching for holiday gifts that are unique, thoughtful and suitable for any budget. Googlebooks use an all-new OS that merges Android and ChromeOS with more premium hardware. Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. Google has announced an all-new laptop lineup, called Googlebook. Yes, you read that right — the new product category is a step up from the Chromebook in terms of performance and features, merging ChromeOS and Android into a single operating system. This new, unified OS is a risk for Google that could potentially pay off big. Chromebooks already had integrations with Android smartphones, but Google says the new operating system will bridge the gap, bringing MacBook-like features to Googlebook. Details are sparse, however, as we’re expecting more information to be unveiled at I/O, Google’s developer conference, on May 19. Also: Googlebook vs. Chromebook: Why I’m hopeful that both laptop brands can coexist Googlebook enters the laptop market at a crucial moment. When Apple’s $599 MacBook Neo dropped earlier this year, it completely altered consumer expectations for budget laptops, forcing both PC makers and Chromebook make