????云計(jì)算已經(jīng)火了一陣子。不過(guò)沒(méi)多少人認(rèn)為所有的計(jì)算都能在云端完成?！皼](méi)多少人”的意思是——除了谷歌（Google）總部的智囊們，沒(méi)多少人這么看。

????谷歌之前已經(jīng)開(kāi)始與多家硬件商聯(lián)合生產(chǎn)Chromebook，現(xiàn)在，它開(kāi)始認(rèn)真測(cè)試技術(shù)用戶(hù)是否完全能在云端實(shí)現(xiàn)數(shù)字生活這個(gè)想法。采用Chrome系統(tǒng)的低成本筆記本最早在2011年發(fā)售。它們只運(yùn)行基于網(wǎng)絡(luò)的應(yīng)用，而不運(yùn)行傳統(tǒng)的桌面程序，也避免了光驅(qū)和大硬盤(pán)這類(lèi)傳統(tǒng)的筆記本配件。

????Chromebook起初反響平平，后來(lái)卻逐漸受到市場(chǎng)青睞。不過(guò)總的來(lái)說(shuō)，人們購(gòu)買(mǎi)它的主要原因還是價(jià)格便宜。我個(gè)人對(duì)250美元的三星（Samsung）Chromebook贊不絕口，不是因?yàn)樗卸嗝春?，而是因?yàn)椋旱谝?，我家里已?jīng)有幾臺(tái)蘋(píng)果Mac電腦了；第二，以這個(gè)低價(jià)位就能買(mǎi)到一臺(tái)筆記本，而且我能接受一臺(tái)只能上網(wǎng)的電腦的各種缺點(diǎn)，比如說(shuō)沒(méi)有iTunes或iPhoto，沒(méi)有Skype，沒(méi)有Minecraft（如果你不知道這是什么，隨便問(wèn)個(gè)三年級(jí)小孩吧），而文字處理和電子制表程序也不夠好。

????現(xiàn)在，谷歌相信一些人想要完全過(guò)上云生活——不僅僅是因?yàn)樗阋恕€因?yàn)樗?。周四谷歌發(fā)布了Chromebook Pixel。這款筆記本的時(shí)尚感和速度能與任何超級(jí)本媲美。【超極本始于英特爾（Intel），以提振一路下滑的PC機(jī)銷(xiāo)量。不過(guò)到目前為止，好運(yùn)尚未降臨?！抗雀璧腜ixel擁有全尺寸鍵盤(pán)和高分辨率觸摸屏，像許多新PC機(jī)一樣采用Windows 8系統(tǒng)。谷歌分管Chrome和應(yīng)用的高級(jí)副總裁桑達(dá)?皮采上周四在舊金山發(fā)布Pixel時(shí)說(shuō)：“我們認(rèn)為這是一款革命性的產(chǎn)品，它將引領(lǐng)人們的云生活。”也許吧。不過(guò)關(guān)注點(diǎn)在于，即將運(yùn)往全球各地的Pixel價(jià)格高達(dá)驚人的1,299美元，這還是只支持Wifi的版本。將在四月發(fā)行、使用長(zhǎng)期演進(jìn)技術(shù)、連接高速細(xì)胞網(wǎng)絡(luò)的版本價(jià)格將高達(dá)1,449美元。

????這款產(chǎn)品很可能不好賣(mài)?；ㄉ媳冗@臺(tái)基礎(chǔ)版少100美元的價(jià)錢(qián)，你就能買(mǎi)到13英寸的蘋(píng)果Macbook Air。起初正因?yàn)樗娜藲?，才促使了超極本的誕生。Air可能沒(méi)有觸摸屏，不過(guò)你可以在上面進(jìn)行任何你想要的云計(jì)算，同時(shí)還可以運(yùn)行任何桌面程序。可以?xún)?chǔ)存照片、音樂(lè)和視頻。如果你愿意，還可以把它們備份在云系統(tǒng)里。

????誰(shuí)會(huì)買(mǎi)Pixel呢？皮采說(shuō)大多數(shù)公司已經(jīng)接受了云計(jì)算的概念，同時(shí)使用Gmail和其他谷歌應(yīng)用來(lái)滿(mǎn)足自己的生產(chǎn)需要。市場(chǎng)缺少的就是真正好用的Chrome系統(tǒng)筆記本，尤其是對(duì)軟件開(kāi)發(fā)商、以及需要高運(yùn)算速度和高分辨率屏幕的超級(jí)用戶(hù)而言。皮采說(shuō)：“就我個(gè)人經(jīng)歷來(lái)說(shuō)，這是我用過(guò)的最快的筆記本?！?/p>

????Cloud computing has been around for some time now. But not many people believe they can do all their computing in the cloud. Not many, that is, outside the brainaics at the Googleplex.

????With its line of Chromebooks made by various hardware partners, Google (GOOG) began testing in earnest the idea that tech users could live their digital lives almost entirely in the cloud. The low-cost laptops, which are powered by the Chrome operating system first went on sale in 2011. They only run Web-based applications, not traditional desktop programs, and eschew the trappings of traditional laptops such as an optical disc reader or large hard drive.

????After a sluggish start, Chromebooks are gaining momentum. But by and large, people buy them because they are cheap. I personally raved about the $250 Samsung Chromebook not because it's a great computer, but because a) I already have a couple of Macs around the house, and b) at that price, I could afford to get an extra laptop and put up with the shortcomings of a Web-only device: no iTunes or iPhoto, no Skype, no Minecraft (if you don't know what that is, ask any third-grade boy), and subpar versions of word processing and spreadsheet programs.

????Now Google is making a bet that some people will want to live entirely in the cloud -- not primarily because it is cheaper -- but because it is better. On Thursday, it unveiled the Chromebook Pixel, a laptop as stylish and fast as any ultrabook. (That category was created by Intel (INTC) to help boost flagging PC sales; so far, no luck.) Google's Pixel has a full-sized keyboard and a super-high-resolution display that works as a touchscreen, like many newer PCs running Microsoft (MSFT) Windows 8.

????"We think this is a real game changer in how people can start living the cloud," said Sundar Pichai, the senior vice president in charge of Chrome and apps at Google, as he unveiled the Pixel in San Francisco on Thursday. Maybe. But the catch is that the Pixel, which will ship next week, costs a jaw-dropping $1,299 for a WiFi-only model. A version with LTE to connect to high-speed cellular networks is coming in April and will cost $1,449.

????That's likely to be a tough sell. For $100 less than the base model, you can get a 13-inch MacBook Air from Apple (AAPL), the popularity of which essentially spurred the creation of the ultrabook category in the first place. The Air may not have a touch screen, but you can do all the cloud computing you want and run just about any desktop program. You can store your photos, music and videos, and yes, back them up in the cloud if you want.

????So who will buy the Pixel? Pichai says that plenty of businesses have already embraced the concept of cloud computing and use Gmail and other Google apps for most of their productivity needs. What's been lacking is a really good Chrome-based laptop, especially for software developers and other power users who demand speed and high-resolution displays. "In my personal experience, it's the fastest laptop I used," Pichai said.