Google has started preorders for its $899 AI laptop, Googlebook. TechCrunch reported on Sept. 21 that Google is positioning Googlebook, unveiled in May, above Chromebooks and putting Gemini features front and centre.

Googlebook is based on Android OS and focuses on AI functions. It includes an AI cursor called Magic Cursor, widget-building features and an AI dictation function called Rambler.

Rambler refines unstructured spoken memos into readable text. Magic Cursor can select part of a webpage and hand tasks to Gemini, or check whether an email looks suspicious. Users can also select multiple images and visualise them together.

Google is trying to combine AI with the desktop point-and-click approach through Googlebook. TechCrunch reported there is also an assessment that Magic Cursor is similar to Android's Circle to Search, making it hard to see as a key differentiator that would drive purchases of a new device.

Google's goal with Googlebook is to move Chromebook users to Gemini.

Google said about 50,000,000 Chromebooks are used by students and teachers at schools. In May, Google said it would continue to support existing Chromebooks, but many devices would move to the Googlebook experience in the future.

Googlebook also includes a 12-month Google AI Pro subscription. It provides 5TB of cloud storage, Gemini Advanced tools, and three-month access to some services including YouTube Premium and Adobe Photoshop. Device updates are supported for up to 10 years.

Preorders are under way on the Google Store and at Best Buy, among others. It will be released in the United States on Oct. 4 and in Canada, Britain, Ireland, France, Germany and Australia on Oct. 5. It has up to a 2.8K OLED display, a haptic glass trackpad, a backlit keyboard, Intel and Qualcomm processors and a dedicated NPU. Battery life is up to 14 hours.