Google Chromebook

I've had my new Google Chromebook for four days. Here are some initial impressions for those who might be wondering.

First, you have to understand that this is a completely new operating system, and there are only two options at this time: an Acer and a Samsung. I bought the Acer because it was slightly smaller (11.6 inch display), lighter, and less expensive. It's a little big for a netbook but smaller than most laptoptops. With an estimated 6 hour battery life it should be great at work when my UCM Dell can barely get through a single meeting.

The display is very sharp, and the webcam is also better quality than my Dell. It's got a couple USB ports, a HDMI, a 4 in 1 memory card slot, and a small solid state hard drive. The small hard drive is purposeful because the device is really meant to live online.

It's not Microsoft Windows, it's not a Mac. There are a few little quirks that make sense, but feels a little weird. For instance, there is no taskbar at the bottom of the screen as there is no need for a start menu. This saves valuable screen real estate. So the clock, network signal, and battery life are at the top right, in place of the minimize/maximize buttons. Since the browser is the computer, your desktop is the Google Chrome browser. There is nothing to minimize. If you try and close all the tabs, you just get the new tab displayed. Surprisingly, I placed my 11.6 inch Chromebook next to my 14 inch Dell, and I can see exactly the same amount of space on any webpage.

As for the keyboard, there is no caps lock key. They replaced it with a key just to open a new tab. The top row of keys are dedicated to browser functions such as back, forward, reload, increase/decrease brightness and volume, etc. Additionally, there is no delete key (use backspace instead), and all the keys are labeled with lower case letters instead of the traditional upper case.

So how does it actually work? Like advertised, it boots fast. They are not lying when they say it only takes 8 seconds to boot. And waking from sleep is almost instant. I could probably turn this thing on and off 20 times before my Dell even gets me to the log in screen. I can't tell you how much I like this.

When you turn on the machine for the first time it updates the OS automatically, and then does so as needed after that. You also set up the machine with your profile to log in by taking a picture with the webcam and then logging in with your google account. You can set it up for multiple users at the log in screen and/or have a guest login. Guests basically get online but can't store or save anything, like bookmarks. It's like working in incognito mode.

How did it go that first day? Worked beautifully at home. Logged into my home wireless without a hitch. At work, not so well. It was only after an hour of struggling and no help that I got online by using the university wifi guest login. Apparently the network didn't like my standard username/password. But it's not a problem because I don't need network access, don't need shared drives, don't need anything else but wireless.

I also went to the computer settings (which opens a new tab by the way) and had it sync with my google account. All of my bookmarks and extensions instantly transferred. I've been able to use just about everything and access everything just fine. There have only been a couple quirks, but have been able to get around.

For one thing, google says you can't really hook up a printer, so instead you use google cloud print. Basically you have to go through another computer to print. Therefore, it feels like a chromebook really needs to be a secondary computer. Or maybe I just print too much. But setting it up was really easy. I enabled cloud print on the Dell, then did it on my chromebook, and tried printing a document. It worked perfect. In all, about 30 seconds to set up.

Another issue is that you can't install software, so there is no Microsoft Office, or even Open Office. You have to use Google Docs. I love Google Docs and have been using it more and more. The problem is other people still use Microsoft. However, I did uncover that you can save the office file to the computer and then go to Google Docs. You upload the file to Google Docs and it converts it to a Google Doc for you to read, share, and do anything else. So it works. It's just an extra step. Hopefully future updates will make this more seamless. I don't know why it just doesn't automatically open it as a Google Doc.

In playing with websites and some extensions I stumbled upon a problem because I wanted to do a screen capture. I've been using a free tool called Greenshot, but can't install it on a chromebook. There is a google screenshot extension, but it surprisingly doesn't work with the Chrome OS (only Chrome on a Windows machine). However, I found a keyboard shortcut to take a screenshot and then it also saves it to the local hard drive whereupon I can then upload it to wherever I need it after that.

That brings up the file manager. Under tools you can open a new tab which shows locally saved files and downloads. Nothing complex, and kind of limited, but again the idea is to do most of your work on the cloud. The one thing I can't find is how much storage space is left. That's odd.

What it comes down to is trying to figure out what you can do and what you can't, and finding alternatives. Instead of skype (since it has to be installed on a Windows/Mac), you use Google Talk and their video conferencing. Instead of Microsoft Office or Open Office use Google Docs. Instead of Greenshot use the keyboard shortcut for a screenshot. Use other online and web based tools like Picnik to edit photos online, and Picasa to store them.

While I don't think that I can do 100% of my work with a chromebook, it's probably pretty close. And it will get closer every month as more and more is done online. Some people in certain fields may have more problems because of tough software requirements. But look at what we do for teaching online. Blackboard is completely online and interfaced through a browser. Include gmail, google talk, and other online sites, use social media like Google+ and Facebook, take some screenshots, and I'm probably 98% there. I can enter grades and do other university stuff through the MyCentral website. I even have a personal faculty webpage through Google Sites than I can do online instead of having to mess with a downloaded web editor. What's missing is Adobe Presenter. I don't have an online alternative for creating those types of files yet.

In the end, the chromebook is powerful and fast, light weight, long battery life, and I live 98% online already. I'll just have to keep my Dell for those few times when I need something else. I think that machine will spend less time being used and my chromebook will be my primary device to bring back and forth home, to meetings, etc. Not perfect, but definitely happy with it.