Google Has Announced a New Laptop Platform Called GoogleBooks.
Chromebooks have been a huge success for Google, but they have their limitations. While they’re great for school and light work (especially if you’re a Google devotee), they’re not necessarily the best choice for more intensive or professional computing. For that, people often turn to two primary platforms: Mac or PC. Google seems to see an opportunity to add another platform: the company apparently wants to attract Android users, who may choose one of the other two platforms for their computing needs. After all, iPhone users often choose Macs, so perhaps Android users will also choose a suitable Google computer.
GoogleBooks is a new notebook from Google.
Introducing GoogleBooks , a new notebook platform developed by Google. The company announced the new product line during The Android Show: I/O Edition on Tuesday. Since the year is 2026, these notebooks are built with artificial intelligence in mind. And, being Google, the AI used here is Gemini—specifically, Gemini Intelligence , which Google also announced during its presentation.
From what I’ve seen, the operating system looks very similar to Chrome OS. There’s a dock at the bottom of the screen with various apps, a menu bar at the top, and apps run in floating windows. These are standard features. However, Google is particularly excited about the new Google Book cursor, which the company calls the “Magic Pointer.” Like a regular cursor, you move the Magic Pointer around the screen to interact with various elements. But if you gently shake the Magic Pointer, it activates Gemini, which then tells you what actions it can perform on your behalf. For example, you can shake the Magic Pointer over a date in an email and get the option to schedule a meeting. You can select two photos in your photo library, shake the pointer, and see the option to merge the two images into one.
Because it’s designed to be seamlessly cross-platform (following Apple’s example), you can run your Android mobile apps on your GoogleBook. This doesn’t simply mean installing a version of Android on your GoogleBook; rather, you can run apps from your phone on your laptop. Google has several ideas for how this could be used: you could run the DoorDash app on your GoogleBook if you want to order lunch while working on a Google Docs document, or open Duolingo to take your daily language lesson without leaving your laptop. (This can already be done using these companies’ web apps, but I understand the direction.) Similarly, you could use the “Quick Access” feature to get files from your phone to your GoogleBook without having to send the files to yourself.
Google announced it is rolling out a new Gemini Intelligence feature, “Create Your Own Widget,” to Google Books. This feature allows you to use Gemini to create your own widgets. You can create a widget showing wind speed and precipitation forecasts for any city, or one displaying all upcoming concerts at a venue near you. This is an interesting application of generative AI, and it’s only natural that the company has included this feature not only in Android but also in Google Books.
Unlike other major manufacturers, Google doesn’t put a large “G” on the lid to identify it as a GoogleBook. While there is a small “GoogleBook” logo under the keyboard, these devices will come with a “light bar” on the lid. This light bar is functional, not just decorative, so it will actually glow while you’re using the laptop.
According to Google, the company has partnered with Acer, ASUS, Dell, and HP to produce the first batch of its GoogleBooks. Google states that each laptop will be crafted using “premium materials and technologies” and will come in a variety of shapes and sizes. However, the company is not yet revealing details, and it is unclear which company manufactured the device shown in the renders.