Image used with permission by copyright holderFor quite some time now, Google’s Chromebooks have served as a menial alternative to more expensive Windows PCs. Simplistic by design, they’ve always seemed to be targeting those less familiar with the ins and outs of a proper desktop operating system.

　　As a result, when Google launched its first-generation Chromebook Pixel back in 2013, many were baffled by the $1,300 barrier of entry. Now, of course, it’s priced more reasonably starting at $999, but even so, none of that will matter soon enough, as it looks like a more capable version is well underway.

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　　This news stems from Jacob Gwiazdzinski who discovered a thread in Google’s Chromium OS code review group based around the name “chell,” which appears to be a next-gen model of the Chromebook Pixel, complete with a multi-colored lightbar — a component featured in every Pixel device leading up to this point. Notably, though, the first round of HP Chromebook 11 computers had the same lightbar in place.

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　　Spec-wise, the chell board will reportedly boast a sizable 16GB of RAM, a Skylake CPU, and a backlit keyboard.

　　While all of this sounds quite fascinating, what’s more intriguing is the question of whether or not this Chromebook Pixel will offer something a little more appetizing than an entire operating system based around a web browser. This is especially worth considering after the myriad rumors suggesting a convergence between Android and Chrome OS.

　　If these pan out to be true, a $1,000-plus Chromebook might finally be worth the colossal ton of pocket change. But then again, that all depends on what the operating system is and how it functions on a conventional notebook. The Pixel C was a step forward for Google’s Chromebook revitalization initiative, but it wasn’t exactly an ideal laptop solution either.

　　Perhaps we’ll find out more come May when Google hosts its I/O developer conference.