The Chromebook has been marketed as the device for everyone, with a variety of affordable, lightweight, and fast laptops available, powered by Google’s barebone cloud-centric Chrome OS.

Today, however, Google takes its first step into the premium laptop market with its newest Chromebook, the Pixel, featuring a Macbook Pro-esque design and a high-resolution retina-like touchscreen display.

And unlike previous Chromebooks, this latest offering has partnered PC manufacturers left behind by Google’s sole handling of the Pixel.

The question on everyone’s mind though: What is this device for? Well, according to Google, the Pixel is “for what’s next.”

Vagueness aside, the Chromebook Pixel is a beautifully crafted device; but the limitation of the operating system will make it a purely aesthetic purchase, which Google appears to be embracing.

Chromebook Pixel Lightbar

Unfortunately, the exterior of the Pixel is where the beauty ends. The laptop is powered by a disappointingly weak processor with integrated graphics. And despite being run on a lightning fast solid state drive, the device’s base model only comes with 32 GB of storage.

The technical specifications, while proving Google took their time in molding a perfect design, also show the Pixel’s lack of real computing power:

Screen
  • 12.85″ display with a 3:2 aspect ratio
  • 2560 x 1700, at 239 PPI
  • 400 nit screen
  • 178° extra-wide viewing angle
  • Gorilla® Glass multi-touch screen
Inputs:
  • Backlit Chrome keyboard
  • Fully clickable, etched-glass trackpad
  • HD Webcam
  • PORTS
  • 2 x USB 2.0
  • mini display port
  • 2-in-1 card reader supporting: SD, MMC
Design
  • Active cooling with no visible vents
  • Machined from anodized aluminum
  • ENERGY STAR® certified
Weight
  • 3.35 lbs / 1.52 kg
Power
  • Intel® Core™ i5 Processor (Dual Core 1.8GHz)
  • Intel® HD Graphics 4000 (Integrated)
  • 4 GB DDR3 RAM
  • 32 or 64 GB Solid State Drive
Audio
  • Headphone/microphone jack
  • Built-in microphone array
  • Integrated DSP for noise cancellation
  • Powerful speakers tuned for clarity
Battery
  • Up to 5 hours of active use (59 Wh)
Networking
  • Dual-band WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n 2×2
  • Bluetooth 3.0™
Extras
  • 1 TB of Google Drive Cloud Storage for 3 years
  • 12 free sessions of GoGo® Inflight Internet

Overall, the Chromebook Pixel appears to be a message to Apple, to make the company aware that Google also has the ability to put out incredibly designed products. Though it’ll need a full desktop operating system that can rival Mac OS X for whatever’s next.

The 32 GB base Chromebook Pixel is available now through Google Play for $1299. The 64 GB with LTE varient will be available in 6-7 weeks for $1449.