Dell announces a premium Chromebook that may finally hit that sweet spot

The rest of the design received a makeover as well, with a new woven carbon fiber shell and magnesium alloy palm rest, plus a lightweight, sturdy aluminum base. The Dell Chromebook 13 joins Dell’s Chrome portfolio and further showcases the commitment Dell and Google have made to developing innovative and flexible solutions to meet the evolving needs of the mobile workforce, according to Dell.

Consumers can also choose between an anti-glare screen or a touch screen with Gorilla Glass.

Google Inc.is trying to win over corporate customers with the Dell Chromebook 13, which offers more flexibility to run a variety of apps that haven’t been easily accessible on previous Chromebooks.

Dell’s Chromebook 13 has one USB 3.0, one USB 2.0, an HDMI port and a MicroSD port. It also has an AC port so you can charge it when the battery runs out, which, by the way, has been reported to have a 12-hour lifespan. “People are able to collaborate seamlessly with a 720p HD video webcam, a Full High Definition IPS display and dual array microphones all designed to integrate with Google Hangouts”.

Dell’s Chromebook 13 starts at $US400 and goes up from there. The Chromebook is supported by Dell’s unique IP from Dell KACE, providing inventory management and service desk support. Users can tap into their applications through the Dell Wyse vWorkspace desktop virtualization software.

Dell has outed a new Chromebook that sits nicely in the middle of the cheap and cheerful and over the top expensive parameters. For strict enterprise environments, IT administrators can rely on Dell Content Filter subscriptions to create firewalls and URL filtering. But between its specs and a work-focused update to Chrome OS, it could be a good mid-range laptop option.

The Chromebooks will remain a part of Google later this year after the company splinters under an umbrella organization called Alphabet Inc. that will oversee a hodgepodge of businesses and experimental projects delving into medical research, city management, drone delivery and driverless cars.