u/FrankLucas347

▲ 49 r/AndroidPC+1 crossposts

I'm fed up with the negativity surrounding GoogleBooks

I'm fed up with all the negative posts I see that criticize GoogleBooks.

Especially the arguments about the prices being too high for an "Android PC."

Some people need to understand that we don't buy Android devices solely because there are many affordable options. There are people like me who buy Android devices simply because we love the operating system.

There are many people like me who simply love the Google ecosystem. Whether it's smartphones, tablets, Wear OS smartwatches, tablets, Google TV, or even Chromebooks.

Beyond the operating system, I use Google services extensively every day, including the Office suite, Gmail, Keep Notes, Tasks, YouTube, YouTube Music, Translate, Gemini, Maps, and many more. There are so many that I can't list them all.

 And I think I'm far from being an isolated case.

And why should people like us have to settle for mediocre devices?

Just because we use an Android tablet, a Chromebook, or these new Android PCs, does that mean we don't have the right to beautiful screens?

Don't we have the right to enjoy excellent processors, good speakers, good trackpads, and simply excellent build quality?

And guess what? All of that combined can only result in a premium product. It's the hardware that primarily dictates the price of a device, not the software inside it. The price of your Dell XPS won't magically be cut in half just because you decide to choose Linux instead of Windows.

If Google had chosen to launch Googlebooks with poor-quality hardware for around 300-400 euros, you'd be the first to complain too.  The press and YouTubers would have immediately torn apart all of Google's efforts in the public eye.

These high-end devices are just the starting point. We already know that much more affordable entry-level and mid-range devices are planned for the future.

And I'm also willing to bet that other manufacturers like Samsung and Xiaomi aren't going to sit idly by.

Where I agree with some is that Google's very long-term commitment will be crucial. Admittedly, Google's past in this area isn't exactly glorious; I'm still smarting from the Stadia debacle as I write this.

What I'm rather confident about is that it's simply Android. Once all the features we expect from a PC are present, maintaining this range of devices won't require too much additional effort from them, much like with tablets.

 If all Chrome OS features are already available on these Googlebooks at launch, we can already assume that the vast majority of features we expect from a PC are already present.

And if that's the case, for me, the Googlebooks operating system is already an improvement over Chrome OS. The seamless integration of Android smartphones and Gemini, and the even more advanced task continuity, are already compelling features for me.

reddit.com
u/FrankLucas347 — 13 days ago
▲ 10 r/AndroidPC+1 crossposts

Why are there such big differences between Aluminium OS and the Pixel's desktop mode ?

These screenshots reveal two major differences between ALOS and the Pixel's desktop mode.

The first difference is that it's impossible to place applications, folders, files, and widgets on the desktop, whereas this is possible on Aluminium OS.

Pixel Android 17 Desktop Mode

Aluminium OS Android 17

Secondly, there's a significant difference in the user interface regarding quick settings and notifications. On Pixel smartphones' desktop mode, it's exactly the same extended interface found on tablets. On a tablet, this makes sense, because the interface must remain adapted to touch. Whereas on a PC, the interface needs to be compact to maximize screen space and the amount of information displayed. On Aluminium OS, the result is very clean and well-executed.

Pixel Android 17 Desktop Mode Quick Settings and Notifications

Aluminium OS Android 17 Quick Settings

The most surprising thing about all this is that ALOS and Pixel's desktop mode run on the exact same software base, Android 17. Even more surprising, everything I just mentioned has been present on Samsung DeX since One UI 8 and Android 16.

Samsung Dex OneUI 8.5/Android 16 Desktop and Notifications

Samsung Dex OneUI 8.5/Android 16 Quick Settings

We also know that Android native desktop mode was developed in close collaboration with Samsung. So why is Pixel's desktop mode so inferior to Aluminium OS and Samsung DeX?

u/FrankLucas347 — 4 months ago
▲ 53 r/AndroidPC+1 crossposts

Samsung is currently preparing Galaxy Books running on Android with One UI 9! This means that it will most likely run on Aluminium OS.

Source : https://9to5google.com/2026/04/30/samsung-galaxy-book-android-laptops-report/

Some time ago, I made a post explaining why the switch from ChromeOS to Android wasn't a bad thing at all. It surprised quite a few people, but I put forward a very controversial argument: the arrival of traditional smartphone manufacturers in the "Chromebook" market.

I explained that brands like Samsung, Xiaomi, and Oppo would finally be able to manufacture Android PCs with their own custom software overlays (One UI for Samsung, HyperOS for Xiaomi, etc.). For me, this is a major advantage, as it will diversify the market and attract new manufacturers beyond traditional PC players like Lenovo and Asus. My intuition was correct.

Looking at Google's recent history, the pattern is always exactly the same when it comes to deploying a major evolution of the Android platform.

Whether it was Android 12L to revive the tablet market, Wear OS 3 to revive the smartwatch market, and recently Android XR for mixed reality, they worked closely with Samsung to develop all of this. The recent native desktop mode of Android 16 followed the same path.

With Google's conferences fast approaching, it's highly likely they'll officially unveil Aluminium OS. A showcase device will also probably be revealed, and Samsung will most likely have the exclusive right to unveil the very first PC featuring this new platform.

I'm really looking forward to seeing the final result.

u/FrankLucas347 — 6 months ago