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Topic: Laptops

HP Pavilion 14-inch Chromebook lands in the UK, but it's no Pixel rival

Summary: HP has released its 14-inch Pavilion Chromebook in the UK, but with a spec list that focuses on the bottom line rather than performance, it's pitched as a rival to Samsung and Acer's offerings rather than Google's own premium Pixel.

Ben Woods

By |

HP has announced that its Pavilion 14-inch Chromebook is now available to buy in the UK — the PC maker's first Google Chrome OS-based device to be launched in the country.

The PC maker said the device offers a 35 percent larger screen size than most other Chromebooks on the market and hopes it will appeal to buyers on the strength of the HP brand.

HP_pavilion_chromebook
Image: HP

Key specs of the device include a 14-inch (1366 x 768 pixels) 200-nit display, 16GB SSD storage and a 1.1GHz Intel Celeron 847 processor. It also has 4GB of RAM, HP TrueVision HD Webcam and numerous ports, including an HDMI port, a combined headphone/mic socket, an Ethernet port and three USB 2.0 slots.

In addition to the onboard storage, buyers will also get 100GB of Google Drive storage space for free for two years.

Unlike many other Chromebooks on sale from competing manufacturers, the Pavilion Chromebook packs significant bulk and weight, primarily as a result of the larger than average display.

The overall dimensions of the device are 347mm x 238mm x 21mm and it weighs 1.8kg. To put that in perspective, the high-end Google Chromebook Pixel (which costs in excess of £1000) weights 1.52kg and is just 16.2mm thick.

However, unlike the Pixel, the HP Pavilion pricing starts from just £249 putting it in more direct competition with rivals such as Samsung's Series 3 Chromebook (£299) and the Acer C7 Chromebook (£199).

The device went on sale in the US at the beginning of February.

Topics: Laptops, Hardware, Hewlett-Packard, Mobility, United Kingdom

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With several years' experience covering everything in the world of telecoms and mobility, Ben's your man if it involves a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or any other piece of tech small enough to carry around with you.

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13 comments
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  • £249 for a browser?

    I can buy an excellent AMD powered Windows 8 laptop for the same price. Chrome book is a big fail.
    OwlllllNet
    Reply 5 Votes

    • Are you a student...

      ...paid by Microsoft or Apple to systematically post the same kind of shitty comment about Chromebooks?
      yphilogene
      Reply 1 Vote

    • Are you a student...

      ...paid by Microsoft or Apple to systematically post the same kind of shitty comment about Chromebooks?
      yphilogene
      Reply Vote

    • Because...

      ... it's kind of easy: 249$ laptop with AMD running Windows 8 is a fail.
      yphilogene
      Reply 1 Vote

      • Good comeback

        Not. Useless comment.
        Nobody buys any Windows computer at $249 because it will underperform.
        Gisabun
        Reply Vote

    • You really should stop using ie

      Browsers can be great :-)
      AleMartin
      Reply 1 Vote

    • hey shillboy

      microsort is moving most of their apps to the cloud slowly too. at what point will the cloud become awesome and local apps bad? I am guessing that the point will be office is a full cloud app too. are you aware that some ms apps are html5? and are you aware that the device that displays and functions these apps is basically a browser? u sir are a tool and most likely being paid to spread your crap agenda around.
      frankieh
      Reply Vote

      • There is a reason

        A Chromebook is a big brick because it relies on the Internet. Windows and Macs don't need the internet to [let's say] edit a video, work on your company's budget, develop software, ...
        Gisabun
        Reply Vote

        • welp you obviously...

          haven't used a Chromebook or Chrome OS in awhile, or you'd know that you can do all photo editing, docs, presentations, spreadsheets, calendars, email, etc. offline now. I used my new Chromebook for month out of the box while my VAIO was in the shop. Thumbs up.
          ilnewsome
          Reply Vote

  • Chromebooks are here to stay

    Chromebooks have come a long way since they first hit the market. Lower prices, improved performance and additional offline capabilities have made Chromebooks a realistic (and even attractive) option for many.

    With HP and Lenovo joining in, you now have four major laptop manufacturers on the Chromebook bandwagon.

    One obstacle to wider adoption of Chromebooks (especially in business) is the popularity of Windows applications, especially Microsoft Office. One way around this is with solutions like Ericom AccessNow, an HTML5 RDP client that enables Chromebook users to connect to Terminal Server or VDI virtual desktops, and run Windows applications (like MS Office) or even full desktops in a browser tab. So even if you purchase a Chromebook for casual home use, you can also use it to connect to your work applications if necessary.

    Click here for more information:
    http://www.ericom.com/RDPChromebook.asp?URL_ID=708

    Please note that I work for Ericom
    ATG4
    Reply Vote

    • Huh?

      Chromebooks sales are at 500,000 world wide after a couple of year. When Apple released the Apple II, it had better sales than that after it's initial couple of years.
      Chromebook sales have since flat lined and now the manufacturers are dumping stock to the suckers who'll buy them in Canada and Europe - if you can find them in a store.
      Gisabun
      Reply Vote

  • not sure about this

    I think if I got a CB I'd want wither a Pixel (if I won the lottery) or something more portable. This HP seems to fill an awkward space. I guess I just don't see the value in stretching 1366 x 768 out to 14 inches these days.
    frylock
    Reply Vote

  • It's true that...

    ... chrome os relies on Internet. That's the foundation of the system and what brings all its interesting aspects and limitations.

    It is absolutely possible to develop full offline native apps for Chrome OS. The File Manager for example is an example. The whole Chrome development platform is going in that direction: offline first, content security policy,...

    It just takes time to carefully build a platform for the long term.
    yphilogene
    Reply Vote
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