Pixel C review: Google's first tablet makes rookie mistakes

All of a sudden, pretty much every computer maker wants a Surface-like convertible of their own. Apple's got the iPad Pro, of course, but Lenovo,Dell and HP are getting in on the action too. And now there's the Pixel C from Google, a premium hybrid tablet built in-house (just like theChromebook Pixel), with a keyboard accessory that attaches via frickin' magnets. Much like the iPad Pro, the Pixel C seems like an experiment to see just how far you can take a mobile OS into productivity territory typically handled by desktop platforms. But while it certainly feels like an obsessively designed device, it's a bit too clunky to recommend, especially compared to the Surface 3 or other Android tablets.

Pros

• Premium build quality
• Keyboard feels great
• Noticeably fast for a tablet

Cons

• Keyboard is another $149
• Android still isn't built for desktop-like multitasking
• Still not a wide variety of great Android tablet apps

Summary

The Pixel C, while an intriguing first effort at making a convertible, is simply tough to recommend. It's well built, but Google has made some surprising usability mistakes with the Pixel C, and Android just isn't cut out for productivity as much as Chrome OS or Windows yet.

The first reaction I had upon holding the Pixel C was basically, "Boy, this feels expensive." Its polished metal case is unmatched among Android slates -- it's the closest thing the platform has, build-wise, to the iPad. Still, it's a tad hefty for a premium tablet today, clocking in at 1.13 pounds. In comparison, Samsung's high-end Tab S2 tablet is just 0.86 pounds (and significantly thinner too), and the iPad Air 2 comes in slightly under a pound. Those might not sound like huge differences, but they're noticeable when you're holding a tablet with one hand for an extended period of time.

The Pixel C is more directly comparable to the Surface 3, which starts at the same price and weighs slightly more (1.37 pounds). But those differences seems a tad more excusable with that device, since it's a full-fledged Windows PC, with support for all existing Windows software and an interface better suited to multitasking. It's pretty clear that Google sacrificed a bit of portability with the Pixel C in exchange for better productivity. It's the first tablet to use NVIDIA's Tegra X1 processor, and that likely affected how thin it could be.

Even more surprising than the weight of the Pixel C is that of its keyboard accessory, which also features an all-metal case and clocks in at 0.87 pound (a touch heavier than the Galaxy Tab S2!). Sure, it's well built, but it just feels like overkill. At least the keys actually feel good, with 1.4 millimeters of travel and great responsiveness. The Pixel C keyboard definitely takes some getting used to — it's far more cramped than typical keyboards, and you'll also have to deal with some slight repositioning, like the skinny, vertical Enter key. It also doesn't have a touchpad, you'll have to stick with your fingers to manipulate the screen (or get a Bluetooth mouse, if you're really desperate for a traditional pointer).

The Pixel C snaps together with its keyboard via embedded magnets: Just lay the tablet down flat on the top of the keyboard, and raise it up to lift the magnetic stand. While it's certainly unique and surprisingly strong (you can lift the Pixel C up right from the keyboard), it also introduces some usability issues. You can only tilt the Pixel C forward so much before it jumps off of the stand, for example. That's something I ended up doing constantly while testing it.

The screen also tends to wobble as you're typing, especially if you're balancing the Pixel C on your lap. And to properly remove the tablet from the keyboard, you have to lay it down flat and slide it off, which seems counter-intuitive. After a while, I started to miss the Surface's built-in kickstand. Those darn magnets are even an issue when the Pixel C is closed over its keyboard. You can't just tilt it open like a laptop; you actually have to slide the Pixel C across the keyboard and then left it up. It's sort of like opening a giant pistachio. Again, it's not that obvious, though it's something I got used to quickly.

Beyond its keyboard accessory (which costs an additional $149), the Pixel C is a relatively nondescript Android tablet. In addition to the smooth metal case, it has polished chamfered metal edges (which get scratched up faster than you'd expect), stereo speakers and a USB-C port for charging. Expect to see more tablets adopt USB-C charging over the next year, as we move away from the ubiquitous micro-USB port.

Despite my issues with it, I'm still mostly impressed with what Google accomplished with the Pixel C's hardware. It needs to be refined, for sure, but it's nowhere near the abject failure that was the first Surface RT. (A device that, at times, made me want to throw it out the window in frustration.) That's a win, I guess.

Display

While the Pixel C's 10.2-inch LCD screen is plenty sharp and colorful, it lacks the wow factor of Samsung's Galaxy Tab S and S2 Super AMOLED displays. It's running a 2,560 by 1,800 resolution (a bit higher than quad HD), so you'll definitely have a hard time making out individual pixels. The Pixel C's unique aspect ratio makes it more like a piece of A4 paper, which is a bit taller and wider than standard letter size paper. Perhaps I'm just spoiled with screens these days, but I suppose it's a good thing when an otherwise unremarkable display looks pretty darn good.

I didn't notice any issues when I loaded up movies and games on the Pixel C's screen. The interface felt a bit more cramped than the Surface 3 though, which has a slightly larger 10.8-inch screen (though it's a slightly lower 1080p resolution), but it wasn't particularly noticeable since I use Android tablets very differently than Windows machines. Google claims the Pixel C's screen also covers a wide range of the sRGB color gamut. I'm no display expert, bur colors overall appeared accurate.

Software

The Pixel C was built specifically with Android 6.0 Marshmallow, but really, it doesn't feel much different compared to the previous generation of Android Lollipop slates. Perhaps that's because Marshmallow is more of an optimization update than a whole hog upgrade. As we noted in our review, the latest version of Android is all about refining the overall experience, with some design tweaks (hooray for improved copy and paste!), more granular app permissions and several features that help to preserve battery life.

If you've used any Android device before, you probably won't notice much new. But for newbies, it's a far more welcoming platform than ever before. For example, Marshmallow's most distinctive new feature, Now on Tap, uses the company's virtual assistant to unearth details about whatever you happen to be looking at. That could be finding more details about an artist you're listening to on Spotify, or just digging up information about a film based on a review you're reading. I wouldn't call it a groundbreaking feature yet, but it portends an interesting future for Google Now.

While there still aren't as many tablet-focused Android apps as I'd like, the few that are out there feel pretty great. Using Gmail and Evernote with the Pixel C felt about on-par with typical desktop apps, with multiple panes of information and all-around speedy performance. Google needs to push developers to take Android tablet apps more seriously though. I've been reviewing Android slates for years, and it's a shame there still aren't enough great big screen apps.

Unfortunately, Google still hasn't added any sort of split-screen functionality in Android 6.0, so you'll be stuck using one app at a time as always. That's something Samsung's offered for years with its tablets (albeit, with only a small selection of apps), and Apple has notable lifted the idea in iOS 9. And let's not forget Windows 10 slates, which can juggle app multitasking with ease. Google will likely be enabling the feature soon though — intrepid developers have already discovered split screen functionality hiding within configuration files.

Performance

	PIXEL C	SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S2	IPAD AIR 2 **
Vellamo 2.0	6,294	4,522	N/A
SunSpider 1.0.2(ms)	670	1,096	303
3DMark IS Unlimited	40,980	11,892	21,659
GFXBench 3.0 Manhattan Offscreen (fps)	N/A	13	32.4/24.6
CF-Bench	34,948	41,341	N/A
*SunSpider: Lower scores are better. **Not all of our Android benchmarks are cross-compatible with iOS.

Given all of my frustrations with Android battery life over the years, Android 6.0's power refinement was the upgrade I noticed most while using the Pixel C. After charging it up completely, I used it on and off for several days with only minor drops in power. It's now resting at around 10 percent after being on, and used to type this review, for the past three days. In our standard battery test, which involves playing an HD video on a loop, the Pixel C rested around eight hours and 15 minutes. Google, meanwhile, claims it should get around 10 hours of battery life.

	BATTERY LIFE
Google Pixel C	8:15
Apple iPad Pro	10:47
iPad mini 4	13:04
iPad Air 2	11:15
Microsoft Surface 3	9:11

The other big surprise about the Pixel C? It's a freaking scorcher. As you can see from the benchmarks above, it's around four times as fast as the Galaxy Tab S2 in the 3DMark gaming benchmark, and around twice as fast as the iPad Air 2. It's also significantly faster than other Android tablets we've tested when it comes the Vellamo and SunSpider browser tests. You can thank NVIDIA's beefy Tegra X1 processor for all that.

Even before I ran those benchmarks, the Pixel C tackled just about every task I threw at it, from playing 3D games like Fast and Furious: Legacy to launching and juggling multiple apps at once. At times, it felt like I was using a desktop with a beefy processor, and not just an Android tablet. That speed sort of made up for the fact that Android still isn't great at multitasking, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't constantly aware of the Pixel C's limitations. Using one app at a time is fine if I'm focusing on long writing projects, but it's no way to get through a day's worth of computing.

Surprisingly, I never felt limited by the Pixel C's keyboard. Once I got used to its quirks, I didn't have an issue touch typing at my normal speeds — in fact, I used it to write most of this review. It feels about as good as the Surface Pro 4's Type Cover, which is an impressive feat, considering it took Microsoft several swings before it completely nailed a decent keyboard (though the Surface Pro 3's was close).

Configuration options and the competition

The Pixel C starts at $499 for the 32GB model, and you can also bump up to 64GB for $599. But if you want that keyboard — and really, why wouldn't you? — you'll have to shell out another $149 ($20 more than Microsoft's Surface Type Cover). Just like I've said about the Surface, though, it's a real shame that Google is making you pay extra for an essential accessory. If computer companies really want to sell us on convertibles, they'll have to be more transparent about what these things actually cost. (And seriously, do whatever it takes to bundle the freaking keyboards.)

So after all that, I'm sure you're wondering if the Pixel C can actually take on Microsoft's Surface 3. Really, the answer to that depends on how much you like Android. The Pixel C is built expressly to prove that Android can be a serviceable platform for productivity. But to truly love it, you'll have to live with the lack of multitasking and a limited amount of tablet apps, neither of which are an issue with the Surface 3. Given that I cut my computing teeth on Windows, I'm far productive working in that environment. But the Pixel C might just be perfect for an Android fanatic.

Another option, if you really want Android: Just snag one of Samsung's Galaxy Tab S slates and a decent keyboard (Logitech's tablet keyboard is a good start). Personally, I'd recommend trying to find one of last year's models, which is plenty fast and sports a dazzling screen, but paradoxically it also has better battery life than the Tab S2.

Wrap-up

The Pixel C, while an intriguing first effort at making a convertible, is simply tough to recommend. That's especially true when there are plenty of cheaper and better equipped options out there. But it's also an intriguing first effort by Google. It's a sign that the search giant is serious about taking on Microsoft when it comes to hardware, and that it's willing to push an established platform like Android into new territory. With a thinner design, a revamped magnetic latch and (if rumors are true) an OS that unites Android and Chrome OS, Google might be able to turn the next Pixel C into a convertible truly worth considering.

Toshiba Radius 12 review: A 4K laptop with compromises

Toshiba hasn't always made the best laptops. The company is perhaps known for the sort of bargain-basement machines you'll find at big-box stores like Best Buy, and when it has dabbled in flagship systems, its efforts have sometimes fallen short. The Radius 12 could be different, though. It ticks off almost all the right boxes, with a 4K, Technicolor-certified screen option and a 2.9-pound design -- particularly impressive for a convertible like this with a 360-degree hinge. And though the entry-level $1,000 model makes do with a lower-res, lower-tech screen, even that configuration offers some impressive specs for the money. All good things, and yet, I can't recommend it -- not now, anyway.

Pros

• Gorgeous 4K, Technicolor-certified screen option
• Lightweight design
• Keyboard is more comfortable than it looks
• Fast performance
• Robust audio
• More ports than some of its competitors
• Generous entry-level specs

 

Cons

• Worst-in-class battery life
• Less premium design than rival machines
• Frustrating touchpad

Summary

Toshiba's Radius 12 convertible has the ingredients of a great ultraportable laptop, but unfortunately, it would seem that its greatest asset is also its greatest weakness: That gorgeous 4K, Technicolor-certified screen option results in worst-in-class battery life. Hopefully, with future chip improvements, Toshiba won't have to make this kind of compromise.

Hardware

The Radius 12 is a halo product, but you wouldn't necessarily know it at first glance, with the machine powered down. Though the lid is fashioned out of faintly brushed metal, the smooth, plasticky surfaces throughout make the device feel less than premium.

Then you pick it up. The machine is so light that it nearly excuses the drab design. (I say "nearly" because there are, in fact, machines like the 12-inch MacBook that weigh even less and manage to feel more luxurious in-hand.) And while it might not be much to look at, it's well-built underneath its ho-hum surface; the screen doesn't wobble when touched, and the palm rest doesn't flex when you grip it between your fingers.

On a practical level, too, the chassis is home to a useful selection of ports, including a full-sized HDMI socket, two USB 3.0 connections, a smaller USB Type-C port, a full-sized SD card reader, a headphone jack and a volume rocker for when the device is in tablet mode. Compare that to the MacBook, which makes do with one measly USB Type-C connection, and doesn't even come with a dongle in the box.

So far in our tour we haven't yet powered on the Radius 12, but now would be a good time: The optional 4K display is likely the reason you're considering buying this in the first place. The glass stretches virtually from edge to edge, with the skinniest of bezels acting as a nominal buffer between the display and the rest of the machine. I remain unconvinced that 3,840 x 2,160 resolution is necessary on a display this small -- a slightly lower pixel count would still look sharp and would be less devastating on battery life, and there's not yet much 4K content to watch anyway. Even so, there's no question that the pixel density helps make the screen as gorgeous as it is.

Just as important, perhaps (or more so): The 4K version of the display (not the entry-level 1080p one) is Technicolor-certified, which means when you boot up the Radius 12 for the first time, you'll be hit not just with super crisp images, but vibrant, saturated colors. It reminds me of how I felt years ago when I tested the first phones and tablets with Super AMOLED screens: The Radius 12's panel is stunning in a way that most other laptops haven't yet come close to matching. Fortunately, though, color-accurate screens are becoming more common, and perhaps one day we'll even begin to take them for granted.

The audio doesn't disappoint either. For the Radius 12, Toshiba went with Harman Kardon, which it only does on its highest-end machines; for everything else, it uses Skullcandy's tech, which doesn't sound as good. In this case, the sound comes out of a speaker on the backside of the hinge, which means you should get unobstructed sound regardless of the mode you happen to be using the laptop in. Aside from the fact that the speakers aren't muffled on the bottom, the audio is balanced and the volume loud; I rarely had to pump it past the halfway mark when alone in my apartment.

Keyboard and trackpad

The Radius 12's keyboard is more comfortable than it looks. With a flat profile, and a handful of undersized buttons, including the Caps Lock, Ctrl, Shift and arrow keys, it'd be easy to write off as poorly designed. Somehow, though, I enjoyed typing on it in spite of myself. In fact, this thousands-of-words-long review you're reading was composed on the Radius 12. Even with the shrunken-down buttons, I rarely hit the wrong one when touch-typing, which isn't always the case -- the Lenovo Yoga 900 also has a few undersized keys, and the typing experience was at times so frustrating that I implored the company to reconsider the design on next year's model.

I also found that although the Radius 12's keyboard is flat, it feels sturdy; no matter how fast or vigorously I typed, the keys bounced right back. Whereas on other machines I might have to mash the buttons to make sure my presses register, that wasn't a problem here. I appreciate too how relatively quiet it is. The backlighting came in handy as well, though that's of course standard fare on notebooks in this price range.

If only I liked the touchpad as much. (What is it with this resurgence of bad laptop trackpads, by the way? I feel like I've hated every one I've tested in recent months.) The cursor doesn't always go where I want, and I found myself accidentally rearranging my pinned browser tabs (ugh!) many, many times. Even single-finger tapping frequently went awry: I'd try to hit send on an email or select messages to delete, and my tap wouldn't register. Two-finger scrolling can also be choppy.

It got to the point where I used my fingers to scroll when possible, and even used my finger where I really wasn't meant to -- things like the small "select" boxes in Gmail. Interfaces like that may have been designed primarily for a mouse, but ultimately, I found that my own digits were usually the more accurate input tool.

Performance and battery life

	PCMARK7	PCMARK8 (CREATIVE ACCELERATED)	3DMARK11	3DMARK (SKY DIVER)	ATTO (TOP READS/WRITES)
Toshiba Radius 12 (2.5GHz Intel Core i7-6500U, Intel HD 520)	5,458	3,684	E2,865 / P1,622	3,605	552 MB/s / 489 MB/s
HP Spectre x2 (1.2GHz Core M7-6Y75, Intel HD 515)	3,395	3,307	E1,884 / P1,148 / X331	2,737	554 MB/s / 281 MB/s
Microsoft Surface Pro 4 (2.4GHz Core i5-6300U, Intel HD 520)	5,403	3,602	E2,697/ P1,556/ X422	3,614	1.6 GB/s / 529 MB/s
Lenovo Yoga Pro 900(2.5GHz Core i7-6500U, Intel HD 520)	5,368	3,448	E2,707 / P1,581	3,161	556 MB/s / 511 MB/s
Microsoft Surface Book(2.4GHz Core i5-6300U, Intel HD 520)	5,412	3,610	E2,758 / P1,578 / X429	3,623	1.6 GB/s / 571 MB/s
Microsoft Surface Book(2.6GHz Core i7-6600U, 1GB NVIDIA GeForce graphics)	5,740	3,850	E4,122 / P2,696	6,191	1.55 GB/s / 608 MB/s
HP Spectre x360 (2015, 2.2GHz Intel Core i5-5200U, Intel HD 5500)	4,965	N/A	E1,667 / P932 / X265	N/A	555 MB/s / 270 MB/s
Dell XPS 13(2015, 2.2GHz Intel Core i5-5200U, Intel HD 5500)	4,900	N/A	E2,114 / P1,199 / X330	N/A	515 MB/s / 455 MB/s

It would be inaccurate to say that Toshiba didn't cut corners -- it clearly made some tradeoffs here -- but when it comes to certain key specs, like display quality and internals, the company clearly wasn't messing around. The configuration I tested (valued at $1,300) makes use of a 2.5GHz dual-core Core i7-6500U CPU, along with 8GB of RAM, integrated Intel HD 520 graphics and a 512GB solid-state drive.

And it's just as fast as you'd expect it to be. The machine boots into the desktop in just eight seconds, while the SSD (made by Toshiba itself), reaches peak read speeds of 552 MB/s and top writes of 489 megabytes per second. While those read speeds are typical for a flagship laptop, the write rates are exceptional: Other machines can achieve little more than half those speeds. Need benchmarks? I've put some scores in the table above. As you can see, the Radius 12 delivers numbers that are just as good if not slightly better than similarly specced machines, like the Yoga 900.

	BATTERY LIFE
Toshiba Radius 12	5:12
Surface Book (Core i5, integrated graphics)	13:54 / 3:20 (tablet only)
MacBook Air (13-inch, 2013)	12:51
HP Spectre x360	11:34
Surface Book (Core i7, discrete graphics)	11:31 / 3:02 (tablet only)
Apple MacBook Pro with Retina display (13-inch, 2015)	11:23
iPad Pro	10:47
Chromebook Pixel (2015)	10:01
Lenovo Yoga 900	9:36
Microsoft Surface 3	9:11
Apple MacBook (2015)	7:47
Dell XPS 13 (2015)	7:36
Microsoft Surface Pro 4	7:15
Microsoft Surface Pro 3	7:08
HP Spectre x2	6:43

Toshiba rates the battery life at up to nine hours on the 1080p edition, and up to six and a half on the 4K model. Unfortunately, I only got to test the higher-res edition, which didn't quite live up to its six-and-a-half hour claim, at least not in my tests. With video looping and fixed brightness, I got five hours and 12 minutes. That's not surprising -- it is a taxing test, after all -- but even lowering the brightness to 50 percent from 65 didn't help; the machine still managed just five hours and four minutes. As I readreviews written by my colleagues at other tech publications, I see they encountered short runtime as well. Not surprising, I guess: a bright, super-high-res panel will do that.

So that's a shame. If you otherwise find the Radius 12 appealing, perhaps you'll consider the 1080p version, with the idea that you'd be exchanging some pixels for longer battery life. I too would be interested to test the entry-level model. If I do, I'll be sure to update this review with my findings.

Configuration options and the competition

As of this writing, the Radius 12 is available in two configurations on Toshiba's website. The cheaper one is listed at $1,000 (after instant savings) with a Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, 1080p screen and a 256GB solid-state drive. The second option is the one I tested, currently retailing for $1,300 with a Core i7 CPU, 8GB of RAM, a larger 512GB SSD and, of course, that higher-res 4K display. Either way, the inclusion of 8GB of memory and 256GB of storage is notable, especially at this starting price.

Spec-wise, then, the Radius 12 isn't a bad deal, while the keyboard, lightweight design and colorful screen also make it worth a closer look. That said, the battery life and finicky touchpad will be a dealbreaker for some, in which case there are several other worthy options waiting in the wings. The most obvious comparison is Apple's 12-inch MacBook ($1,299 and up), which weighs just two pounds and features a 2,304-by-1,440, 226-pixel-per-inch screen. This too is a compromised machine. The battery life is significantly longer, offering nearly eight hours of video playback, but it comes at the expense of watered-down performance. Also, while the MacBook has a leg up in certain areas, like its easier-to-use touchpad, it's a step back in other ways, like that shortage of ports I mentioned earlier.

If you were looking for a Windows machine, particularly one with a convertible design, the Radius 12 is notable for how thin and light it is (a 360-hinge and touchscreen do add heft, after all). That said, if you can stomach a slightly heavier design, you'll be rewarded with much longer battery life. Case in point: HP's 13.3-inch Spectre x360 ($900-plus) starts at a heavier 3.17 pounds, but lasted about 11 and a half hours in our tests (and that was with last-generation processors; I'm sure it does even better with Intel's new sixth-gen Core CPUs). Throw in a comfortable keyboard, well-made design and bright screen, and it's one of our favorite Windows notebooks of 2015.

Another convertible to consider is Lenovo's Yoga 900 ($1,200 and up). At 2.8 pounds, it's actually slightly lighter than the Radius 12, despite having a larger 13-inch screen. It also competes with the Radius 12 on specs, with the base model including the same Core i7 processor, 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, plus a 3,200 x 1,800 display. The battery life is longer, though: about nine and a half hours in our tests. If I could change anything, I'd have Lenovo correct those undersized keys I alluded to earlier, and issue an update for the wonky touchpad. As with the Radius 12, where I have some similar concerns, it's more an annoyance than a dealbreaker.

Lastly, there's the Dell XPS 13 ($800-plus), my favorite Windows laptop of the year. The only reason I didn't mention it sooner is that it has a fixed screen, which may come as a disappointment to people dead-set on a convertible 2-in-1 design. Fixed or no, though, it's a very nice display: The glass extends nearly edge to edge, flanked by some very thin 5mm-thick bezels. That smart use of the screen real estate also means that the XPS 13 has a more compact footprint than other 13-inch laptops. Additionally, I like the build quality; I enjoy the comfortable keyboard and bright screen; and the performance is fast. Here, too, the touchpad can be a bit jumpy, and while the battery life is respectable, it's not best in class. Those shortcomings aside, it deserves its high rating.

Wrap-up

I like the Toshiba Radius 12 more than I thought I would. When confronted with the poor battery life results early in my testing process, it was easy to assume that between that, the flat-looking keyboard, and Toshiba's unimpressive track record in ultraportables, that the company had taken another wrong turn. In fact, the keyboard is more comfortable than photos would suggest, and while the runtime is indeed short, the Radius 12 can still lay claim to fast performance, a generous selection of ports and one stunning display.

With the battery life being as short as it is, it's still impossible for me to give the Radius 12 my highest recommendation, or maybe even a strong recommendation at all. But Toshiba got enough things right that even if you choose not to buy the Radius 12 now, it's still worth keeping an eye on. Perhaps as chip technology improves, Toshiba will be able to put out a machine that's just as light, and just as fast, with just as nice a screen, but that can last longer on a charge. That would really be something.

Visa wakes up to the sound of the internet

If you had to name the pre-eminent internet payments platform, you'd probably say PayPal -- a fact that sends Visa executives into a frenzy. That's why the big V has announced that it's embracing this new-fangled interweb thing that it's just now heard about. The firm has announced the launch of Visa Developer, a way to open up the financial giant's infrastructure to anyone who wants to use it. If you're a company that wants to sell stuff, you can hook your products up to Visa's back end and get all of its skills with very little effort.

Visa's already an investor in Stripe, but clearly wants companies to dump Silicon Valley upstarts like PayPal and Square. The pitch is to show that Visa's greater security, size, history, not to mention that most people already have access to a Visa card, is better than signing your life away to Google. That's not a euphemism, either, since Visa SVP Mark Jamison is already trying to stoke anti-tech company sentiment in his blog post. As far as he's concerned, the "frightful five" of Apple, Alphabet (Google), Amazon, Facebook and Microsoft are simply not capable of matching Visa's clout. Sure.