Google has started rolling out the first large software update for its Googlebook laptops, a little over a month after they went on sale. 9to5Google counts 31 fixes and improvements, along with security patches for every model.
Which laptops get it
All five launch models: the HP Googlebook 14, Dell XPS Googlebook 13, Acer Googlebook 14, Asus Googlebook 14 and Lenovo Googlebook 15. The HP and Dell models receive the most fixes, eight and nine.
What it fixes
- Typing at the lock screen. Keystrokes entered straight after waking the laptop now register.
- External monitors. Black screens when playing protected video such as Netflix on a connected display are fixed, as is a display driver crash that could restart the laptop when a USB-C hub was unplugged.
- Unexpected restarts. A firmware fault on some HP and Dell XPS units is fixed, and an interrupted update should no longer leave the laptop in a restart loop.
- Bluetooth. Audio and video stay in sync, and Bluetooth mice reconnect after a restart.
- Memory. On-device AI now uses less memory, which helps multitasking on the 16 GB models from Acer, Asus and Lenovo. TechRepublic reports that the change could free up to 6 GB on some laptops.
- Linux Terminal. Sessions stay connected after the laptop sleeps.
Why it matters
Googlebook is a new platform, and early buyers have been reporting the kind of problems this update targets. If you are choosing between a Googlebook and a Windows laptop or a MacBook Neo, it is worth waiting to see how the fixed software holds up. Our RAM calculator can help you decide whether 16 GB is enough for what you run.