More Chromebook

I continue to love my chromebook the more I use it. Here are a few more things I've learned over the past couple weeks. First, I added Google's document view extension. Before that when I would click on a link from a website or an email with a Microsoft Word or other document I had to download it, then go to Google Docs to upload and convert. The extension gives you the ability to instantly view those documents in the browser. You can then decide later if you want to save it or convert it. If you just want a quick and dirty ability to read those email attachments this is very fast.

I'm also going to be taking more advantage of online storage. On my old laptop I have so many files that I save and later refer to. While I can still do that with my chromebook the whole point is to store files on the cloud. If my chromebook ever dies then it's easy to replace. So I can save pdf's on google doc storage or other places like Dropbox. When it comes to Word files or Excel I can easily convert those to google docs and save them.

While UCM has not given faculty their new google gmail accounts I do have the calendar and google docs pieces from UCM google apps since I was previously using them. For the docs I am going to have remember which account, personal or school, I am placing them. I really have not kept them entirely separate. For the calendar I also have personal and work appointments. As of December 1 I am putting all of my future appointments into the google calendar and phasing out my Groupwise. And I have a lot already added. The issue is that while I can view both personal and work calendars and I thought it would be nice to keep them separate, my office professional and others on campus won't see my personal, which then makes it difficult for people to see my free time. So I'm going to have to put everything into my work calendar. This isn't really a chromebook issue, but it is related to google and living on the cloud. Additionally, I'm now using Google Sites for my faculty website. I can then edit it from any computer and don't have to worry about downloading or using any specific software. However, I don't like the url so have kept my old UCM site and use that address as a redirect to google.

Since I can't skype I have used the Google Talk video conferencing. Worked good.

I've added Awesome Screenshot for Chrome OS and also Explain and Send Screenshots. They seem like good extensions that will make life easier. While there is a built in screenshot shortcut it seems like there are more features with these.

By the way, in regards to battery life I've carried my chromebook with me around conferences and have been able to go the entire day easily. I didn't think it would last that long, but as it goes to sleep in between sessions and doing other things that really stretches the battery life out. I suppose it wouldn't last as long if you used it continually as it's only rated for about 6.5 hours, but in real life it can go all day.

Some of all of this is due to the specifics of the computer manufacturer. However, the computing requirements for Chrome OS and the features that laptops are being built for (no optical drive, small solid state hard drive, smallish screen, etc.) means that it is light weight, portable, and has a long battery life. My old laptop seems so heavy and slow and old in comparison. My goal is to leave my UCM laptop in my office for the few things I might need it for and then use my Chromebook to take home, to meetings, and to conferences.

I would also like to see how much I can do this next year with only my Chromebook. I've already converted my fall class roster to a google doc spreadsheet as well as the list of advisees. I've converted my syllabi to google docs and linked those on Blackboard instead of attaching those files for my students. So far so good. It's exciting.