The Pixel C as a Laptop

One of the Pixel C's main attractions is its keyboard accessory, which attaches to the tablet via an unusual magnet system. The keyboard is meant to transform the device from a basic Android tablet into a laptop-like car, capable of editing documents and browsing the spider web with greater ease than before. But what is it actually like to use the Pixel C as a productivity-focused device?

Well for starters, the keyboard is really weird, both in its design and the way information technology connects to the tablet. Rather than the tablet only slotting into the keyboard dock, you first take to magnetically attach the tablet in the correct position, later which yous can accommodate the position of the hinge. To shop the tablet with the display facing downwardly like a laptop, you have to pull the tablet away from the very strong magnets, rotate and flip the unit, so identify it confront down on the keyboard.

Sounds confusing? That's because it is. Google even acknowledges this fact, and includes a double-sided A4-sized instruction sheet in the box for connecting and disconnecting the keyboard. Seriously, if your production requires a huge fix of instructions just for attaching a keyboard, your design needs re-thinking.

One of the meliorate aspects of the keyboard is the manner it wirelessly connects to the Pixel C. Provided you take Bluetooth enabled, the connection process is essentially automatic, and wireless charging delivers power from the tablet to the base of operations. Every time I continued the tablet to the keyboard, I was able to type nearly instantly, which surprised me considering how much problem I usually take quickly establishing Bluetooth connections.

Unfortunately, the connection isn't very reliable. Despite the tablet reporting information technology was continued for the entire fourth dimension, often when I typed on the keyboard I saw letters repeat themselves erroneously, or keypresses not registering at all. This isn't a nifty typing feel at all, and I found myself getting frustrated at not being able to blazon fifty-fifty basic search entries without the keyboard stuffing something up.

Then at that place's the issues with the keyboard layout. The spacing and travel altitude of each of the main letter of the alphabet keys is adequate, but some crucial function keys – especially enter, correct shift, tab – are as well small for comfy typing. The left control and alt buttons are massive, and the lack of a caps lock central (replaced by an unnecessary search button) doesn't make this a very well idea out keyboard.

Furthermore, there is no way to access any of Android's fundamental navigation functions (Habitation, Back or Recent Tasks) from the keyboard. You lot'd think that maybe Google would accept included at least a abode button in the position of the Windows key on a standard keyboard and so you don't need to reach upwardly to the touchscreen to render to abode. Merely no, instead they included a dedicated key that brings upward a touchscreen panel displaying symbols they couldn't fit on the keyboard.

And and then y'all'll also notice there's no trackpad... and FYI, Android does support mouse input. Likely a design trade-off since in that location's no space left on the keyboard dock because of how the tablet attaches to the base of operations. I like using a trackpad to navigate with precision, so its omission on this keyboard is annoying, particularly when compared to the Surface Pro keyboard covers that practise include i.

There are also a number of issues with Android itself that makes using this tablet like a laptop virtually impossible. No multi-tasking certainly hurts. Every time you want to scan to a unlike app, you'll demand to use the recent apps button, which is normally fine on an amusement-focused tablet, but on a laptop it's slow and clunky.

The Pixel C's inability to bear witness more than one app on the screen at a time is a downright hindrance when you're trying to be productive. Are you lot writing a Word document, perchance a review of a mediocre Google tablet? Well at that place's no way to browse the spider web simultaneously. Taking science notes? You tin't bring up a computer at the same time. The listing goes on.

Some might say that the Pixel C and Android tablets in full general are suited to amusement, and the OS' strengths lie there. To an extent this is true: there's a groovy selection of apps and games available on Android, and tablet versions are getting better every twelvemonth -- although the catalog still has some glaring omissions.

Nonetheless, when you lot offer a keyboard attachment alongside a well-made Android tablet, transforming the device into a laptop of sorts, I expect to be able to do more than than merely watch Netflix and play Candy Crush. I look to be able to do laptop-like tasks, content creation and other work, where the keyboard is really useful. In its current class, Android is not an OS where this is really possible.