Scalzi Says $999 Dell XPS Googlebook Impresses on Hardware but Stumbles on Android Phone Sync
Updated
Updated · John Scalzi's Whatever · Oct 12
Scalzi Says $999 Dell XPS Googlebook Impresses on Hardware but Stumbles on Android Phone Sync
1 articles · Updated · John Scalzi's Whatever · Oct 12
Summary
$999 Dell XPS Googlebook left John Scalzi with a broadly positive first impression on hardware, but he said Googlebook OS still feels unfinished in early use.
The 13-inch launch model packs 16GB RAM, a Snapdragon X Elite, 512GB SSD and 120Hz touchscreen, which Scalzi said deliver fast performance in a solid ultrabook design despite sparse ports and only middling battery life.
Google’s marquee phone-laptop integration was the biggest flaw: his Pixel connection repeatedly dropped after longer disconnects and often required restarting both devices, undercutting one of the platform’s main selling points.
Gemini was pervasive but mostly optional in his testing; Scalzi singled out Rambler voice dictation as the one AI feature that clearly earns its keep, especially for email and short-form writing.
Scalzi said Googlebook looks more useful than a Chromebook for users deep in Google’s ecosystem, but limited full-featured apps such as Word and Photoshop still make it a poor Mac or Windows replacement for many.