PixelBook could be in line for official Windows 10 certification
Ever since Google unveiled the Pixelbook in October last year, it was plain to all that with options for Intel’s 7th Gen Core i7 chips, was overpowered for a device running just Chrome OS out of the box. Many wished that, at least like a MacBook, the Pixelbook could dual-boot Windows 10, as it has all the qualities of a highly desirable Windows 10 2-in-1 machine. That dream looks suspiciously like it could become a reality.
Google has already been working to bring official support for Linux virtual machines to the Pixelbook via project Crostini, which would begin to tap into the full potential of its hardware. XDA-Developers have spotted commits and code-reviews on the Chrome OS developer threads that reference WHCK (Windows Hardware Certification Kit) and HLK (Windows Hardware Lab Kit). Although not mentioned by name (as Chrome OS developers are loath to do), HLK support would mean the ability to incorporate officially supported drivers for Windows 10 on the Pixelbook.
This is big news for fans of the Google Pixelbook. Not only will Pixelbooks be able to support Linux apps, it could ship directly from Google with a Windows 10 partition set up out of the box for dual-booting purposes. Not only would this put the Pixelbook well and truly in the sights of Windows 10 PC customers, but it could also help to convert would-be MacBook buyers to Google’s notebook hardware as well.