My Chromebook

I discovered something. I can stream music from Google Play and write using the dictation function on Google Docs at the same time. I did not think my Chromebook could multi task like that. My iPhone can't. In fact, I really can't listen to music and do much of anything else on my iPhone. I am continually surprised at what I can do on my Chromebook. You would think that a system with so little memory and power would have many more limitations. It also made me realize that much of the limitations on other systems is the size of the operation system. Chrome OS is light and fast and thus it lets the machine do many more things than would not be possible on another operating system (using the same hardware).

What do you think?

My Chromebook

Usually at this time of year I buy a new Chromebook. I do so for my birthday which is coming up. This year though, I think I will keep the one I have and not buy a new one. Why? Because the one I have is working perfectly, so there is no need to replace it. Then I looked at all the new offerings and there is nothing better that is available. The new Acer model has basically the same chip as the machine I have now. So buying a new one would not be different at all. I could buy a cheaper model from another brand, but they have slower performing chips, so why do that? I could buy a model with more memory, but the one I have has memory enough for all I do. So, I will keep the one I have and save my birthday money for something else. Maybe next year there will be something better to upgrade to for the same price or less?

What do you think?

Another good reason to own a Chromebook

I was sitting in Starbucks today and the gentleman sitting in front of me spilled his drink on his laptop. Unfortunately for him, the laptop stopped working immediately. Also unfortunately for him it was a MacBook Pro! Having witnessed that, I started thinking to myself. "If that had happened to me and my Chromebook, it would not be that big of a deal. I could easily go and afford to buy a new one." That is another good reason to own and use the Chromebook. If you crash it, or destroy it, or ruin it, you can just go out and buy another one. In fact, I could almost buy one every month or so if I needed to. That is how inexpensive Chromebooks are. I would also not lose very much of my data since most of it (especially the important stuff) is stored on Google Drive. I'm glad I own a Chromebook!

What do you think?

Hacking a Chromebook for $$

Google is offering $100,000 to anyone who can hack a Chromebook. At first I did not pay attention to this story. I thought it was just a gimmick (and it is). But then I thought "I have never seen Microsoft or Apple make this type of an offer". I take it for granted that my Chromebook never gets a virus. I have used a Chromebook for two years now and I have never had an issue with a virus or malware or any other "ware". I wish I could say the same for my Windows laptop. To be fair, Windows 10 has been much better, and I have not had any major issues with my Mac Mini, but I spend all my time using my Chromebook. It is my Chromebook that is exposed on the net for hours a day. But, it has never had an issue. For me, that is one of the best things about using a Chromebook. I never have to worry about a virus and I never have to pay for security software. How awesome is that?

What do you think?

My Chromebook

I am at an event and I am using my Chromebook to write and keep me entertained. I love using my Chromebook. It does everything I need it to do. I know I have written this before, but I want to restate what I feel. With my Chromebook I do all my internet work. I visit my favorite sites, I check on the news, and I do all my blogging on it. I also use it to do some of my writing and all of my editing. For me, my Chromebook is perfect. Now I wish I could do everything on it (like programming and writing music), but it does just about everything I need to do. I also wish it had more offline functionality, but since I am rarely away from WIFI, it is not much of an issue for me. I love the fact that it is so inexpensive to use. I also like that I can do all I need to do for free. For that I am thankful for all the sites and companies that provide free applications and content.

What do you think?

My Chromebook

Yesterday I wrote about my iPhone and how it has transformed my writing life. I want to write about my Chromebook today because it is the other device I use extensively. Currently I do most of my writing using the dictation function on my iPhone using Pages. That's only part of my writing process. After I do some writing I pull up what I have written on my Chromebook. I edit what I have written and I also add some more writing. Then I use my Chromebook to publish what I have written to my blog. I could use my iPhone to do that, but it is not a user friendly experience. Plus the size of the screen makes it difficult to work with. Using my Chromebook is perfect though. It is fast to get online. I have access to full desktop web sites (not the mobile ones). I also have a nice sized keyboard to type with and a track pad. So my Chromebook has become my "finishing" device (I also do a bit of writing on it). The combination of using my iPhone and my Chromebook has worked perfectly for me.

What do you think?

Chromebooks in the classroom

My wife is going to be working at a new school here in Southern California. One of the things that she was told they would be doing is using Chromebooks. I think that is awesome. I believe Chromebooks are perfect for the classroom. No, they are not the best at doing everything, but they are perfect for students. Why? First they get the job done. Second they will be seen as a tool for learning and for schoolwork and not a cool device for playing games. Third, they are affordable to buy and continue using. I think the new school my wife will be working at is making an awesome choice. I also believe that there are many other schools and school districts making the same choice. That's why I believe Chromebooks will have a future for a long time.

What do you think?

Chromebook pro ans con

I answered this question today:

What are the pros and cons of the Chromebook computer?

Here are my thoughts:

Pro:
1. Inexpensive to own and run
2. Fast on the Internet
3. Access full desktop web pages not mobile sites
4. Super long battery life
5. No infections from viruses
6. Great for basic computing

Con:
1. Limited to web apps
2. Must have WIFI
3. Can't do more than basic computing
4. Printing is limited

I own just about every kind of device and I always come back to using my Chromebook. It just works the best for all I want to do.

Chromebook and web pages

One thing I enjoy about my Chromebook is that when you access webpages on the Internet you get the full desktop version. That is one thing about using a tablet or a Smart phone that I find annoying. I do not like mobile websites. They do not have the full breath of functionality that the desktop version does. But, using my Chromebook I have access to the full site. Not only that, my Chromebook is actually much faster accessing the Internet then any other device I have. So I find that my Chromebook is the best device to access the Internet fully and quickly.

What do you think?

Chromebooks v. Windows laptop

I was reading a review of a new Chromebook model last night. The comments regarding the new device were not what caught my attention. What caught my attention were comments in regards to buying a Windows laptop instead of a Chromebook. The reviewer made the point that buying a $200 Windows laptop would be much better than buying a $200 Chromebook. I disagree. Sure the Windows laptop will allow you to download programs that the Chromebook will not, but the inexpensive Windows laptop will not run anything that would justify owning one. For example, you might be able to download Photoshop but because of the lack of memory and a poor performing main processor you will not be able to do much with it. What you end up owning with the cheap Windows laptop is a cheap Windows laptop that can only do a few more things than a plane Chromebook.

Having owned both types of devices I think the Chromebook is a better value. First, Chromebooks usually have better quality components because in order for Windows laptops to be as cheap as a Chromebook they skimp on quality. Second, Windows laptops are way slower than Chromebooks. Third, Chromebooks marks have double the battery life. Fourth, sure you might have more functionality with the Windows laptop, but you have to pay for it. Once you buy the Chromebook you really never need to pay for anything else. Finally, with a Chromebook you never catch a virus. For me, that is one of the best selling points for owning a Chromebook.

If you're going to buy a $200 laptop, buy a Chromebook. If you want greater functionality then don't buy a $200 Windows laptop. Buy a $500 Windows laptop and spend a little extra money for a better machine. In the end, if all you are going to do is some basic things with a laptop, save yourself the money and buy a Chromebook. I use mine all the time and enjoy it. I think it is the best value for the money market.

What do you think?

Continually surprised by my Chromebook

I am continually surprised by my Chromebook. For example, this weekend I attempted to watch the Super Bowl through AppleTV. Unfortunately, for some reason, the video feed was not working. So all I did was fire up my Chromebook, plug it in through the HDMI port to my big screen TV, and to stream the game through the Internet. Not only was I able to enjoy the game, the picture quality was outstanding, the sound was terrific, and I truly had an enjoyable experience. I was able to do all that on a laptop that cost me less than $200. If it is possible to do that on a laptop that costs less than $200, why are all the other laptops so much more expensive? I know that I lose some functionality by using a Chromebook, but I have yet to run across something that I am not able to work out in someway or fashion. My Chromebook continues to surprise me.

What do you think?

Chromebooks still selling well

I was just looking at stuff over on Amazon and I noticed that the best selling laptop is the Acer Chromebook 11. How can that be? I keep reading how Chromebooks are not selling as well as they could be, or that they have a small market share, but I think that Chromebooks are selling well and will be for the foreseeable future. I also noticed that most of the reviews are positive. How could that be considering that you can't do everything on them? I think Chromebooks fill a niche and that is why they are doing much better than anyone expects.

The niche Chromebooks fill is the one for an inexpensive laptop. Chromebooks are the least expensive laptops you can buy (currently $159 on Amazon). They also have all the free applications you could ever want and need. In other words, once you buy a Chromebook, you never have to spend another dime to use it. They never get a virus or malware. They also have amazing battery life. Now you can't do everything on them, but you can do all the basic stuff. I own several other laptops and tablets, but I keep coming back and using my Chromebook. It just works great for me.

What do you think?

Tim Cook dismisses Chromebooks

There is a story out that Tim Cook (CEO of Apple) dismissed Chromebooks as just cheap “test machines”. I think this is very interesting. The last time a major CEO dismissed Chromebooks was when Steve Ballmer (former CEO of Microsoft) did back in 2009. Since then Chromebook market share has grown. This is especially true in the education sector where Google has estimated that Chromebooks will outnumber all other devices in schools by the end of 2015. Since Steve Ballmer is no longer the CEO of Microsoft, does this mean Tim Cook will eventually be out as well? I think it is not a good idea to underestimate Chromebooks. They fill a need no one else is addressing and thus they will continue to increase market share especially in the education sector where they are well suited.

What do you think?

The best part of using a Chromebook

I could list some apps here, or some other thing I enjoy doing on my Chromebook, but that is not what I like best about my Chromebook. The best part about using my Chromebook is the battery life. I have been using my Chromebook for more than an hour and have only used 96% of the charge. How awesome is that? According to the the battery charge graphic, I have over 9 hours left to use my Chromebook. No other device (even my iPhone) last that long! The best part is that even when I am doing something like watching videos, the battery life is still longer than any device I own. So I basically get a fully functioning laptop with amazing battery life. Yes I have to be connected to the internet for full functionality, but at least I know I can go all day without worrying about how long I can continue working on my Chromebook Not bad for something that cost me less than $200.

What do you think?

What is a Chromebook good for?

A Chromebook is essentially an internet terminal. In other words, a Chromebook uses the internet like a terminal uses a server. So what ever you can do on the internet, you can do on a Chromebook. It turns out that you can quite a bit on the internet. You can create all forms of documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. You can do basic photo and video editing. You can write music. You can build web pages. You can write code. You can do just about everything you can imagine. Is using Chromebook just as good as using a regular laptop or desktop? No, but it comes close enough. The best part is that you can own a Chromebook for less that $200 and do all I mention basically for free. You can also do all that without worrying about getting a virus or malware.

So I guess you can say that a Chromebook is good for just about anything.

What do you think?

Chromebook functionality

I have been playing with several the "productivity" apps that are available for Chromebook. First I used Google Docs and Sheets. I found that they work great on my Chromebook, but not so great on any other device. Then I used Microsoft Word and Excel. They worked great on my Windows laptop and Mac Mini, but were just okay on my iPhone, and not so great on my Chromebook. Finally I used Apple's iCloud and Pages and Numbers. They worked great on my iPhone and Mac Mini, and are actually not to bad on my Chromebook. On my Windows laptop I use iCloud, which is exactly like it is on my Chromebook.

Now all the apps are free to use online and usually free on a smartphone or tablet, but the Microsoft products are not free on a Windows or Mac platform (you used to have to pay for the Apple products, but they have been free lately). Also, all the online versions of the apps do not have the full functionality of the offline versions (except for Google which is basically online for all platforms).

Which one is the best? I actually like using Apple's software. The experience on my Chromebook and Windows laptop is pleasant, and it works very well on my iPhone, iPad, and Mac Mini. In fact, that is what I am using right now to write this post.

These apps also prove a point about which platform you use. It does not make that much of a difference anymore because you can get versions of each one for whatever platform you are using. So why spend hundreds on a Mac or Windows platform when you can have access to the same basic apps on the Chromebook? If you are looking for a way to do basic computing and save a lot of money, Chromebook is the way to go.

What do you think?

My Chromebook

There does not seem to much going on in the Chromebook world. There was a rumor that Google was going to merge Chrome OS with Android, but Google has dispelled that rumor. There are a couple of new Chromebook models on the market, but nothing earth shattering. My trusty Acer is running perfectly. It can now be purchased from Amazon for $149.99, which is a fantastic price. Where else can you get a functioning laptop for that price? I love mine because it is ultra fast online and it is the perfect machine for a writer. I also love the fact that I do not have to spend another dime to do all I want to do and I will not get a virus. I also love the fact that all the software updates from Google are free. I think the Chromebook is a great machine. Does it do everything? No, but it does enough and for only $149.99. That is awesome.

What do you think?

Chromebook Vs. Windows 8

I had a class assignment that required the use of Java to complete (I had to build a web page with a java applet on it). Unfortunately Java does not run on Chromebooks. So I powered up my Windows machine to do the work I needed. Unfortunately I never got to it. My Windows machine was so slow and full of bugs I couldn't even get a browser to work right. I ended up having to re-install Windows. Since that takes a few hours on the machine I have, I will have to find another way to do my assignment (since it is due soon).

Though I would love to have Java on my Chromebook, I am glad I don't. Why? Because of what happened to my Windows 8 machine. The machine was so full of bugs and problems that I had to start from scratch with it. In the two years I have been using Chromebooks (I am on my second one now) I have never had any of the problems I have had with my Windows machine. I have had no viruses. I have had no crashes. I have had no issues when I boot up. I have so speed problems. In fact, I am writing right now on my Chromebook as my Windows machine is re-installing the operating system!

So, though I would like to have Java, I love my Chromebook so much more the way it is. I would rather not have any problems and live without Java (and anything else I can't do), than live with the mess Windows (and sometimes Mac) ends up being.

Cheaper Chromebooks

Over the past couple of weeks there has been an announcement that there will be 2-3 Chromebooks becoming available that will be selling for about $150. Now they will be using a slower chip and will not have the highest of quality components, but they will be running Chrome OS and will do so efficiently. I have read a couple of reviews and no one is terrible disappointed with the new cheaper Chromebooks.

What do I think? I think if you can afford an extra $50 buy a Chromebook that's a bit faster with better components. On the other hand, if you are strapped for cash or you need to buy a truckload of laptops, then you might want to give a look at the cheaper Chromebooks. Them seem to run well (though not as fast), and they do everything a Chromebook is supposed to do (which is not everything to start with). I wonder how much lower will things go? Will we eventually have a usable laptop for $99? I think that might be possible one day, but I am not sure how much you will be able to do with it. It is great to know that prices are going down rather than up (in spite of inflation).

Using the MS Word app on a Chromebook.

I just started using the MS Word app on my Chromebook. Up to now I have used Google drive and a couple of other apps. I started using the MS Word app because it is the only one that I can use on the WIFI network at work. The school district I work for blocks all Google sites (must be because they have a contract with Microsoft for much of their IT).

So far I like what the app can do. First, it's free, which is great. Second, it is a web application, so you need access to the internet and it doesn't work offline like Google Drive does. Since I have a robust WIFI network at home and a decent one at work, I have no issues with being online (other than not having Google access from work). I also have a hotspot on my iPhone, so I am never without some kind of access to the internet. Third, it is a full functioning word processor, but it does not have all the functions found in a full version of MS Word. That does not bother me as well since I do not use all the functions anyway.

Finally, the app works well. I like all I can do with it. I also like how it saves my documents to the cloud automatically. I can also access my documents from several of my other systems and edit or add to them. Having this app on my Chromebook makes it highly functional. One of the biggest drawbacks to using a Chromebook is not having access to many of the standard software packages (Like Office and the like). This app is a fully functioning version of MS Word, so that is one software package that is not an issue in using a Chromebook.

So, can you use MS Word on a Chromebook? You sure can and it's free!