{"id":3202,"date":"2011-07-07T21:17:22","date_gmt":"2011-07-07T21:17:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/learningaloud.com\/blog\/?p=3202"},"modified":"2011-07-07T21:25:23","modified_gmt":"2011-07-07T21:25:23","slug":"first-impressions-of-chromebook","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/learningaloud.com\/blog\/2011\/07\/07\/first-impressions-of-chromebook\/","title":{"rendered":"First Impressions of Chromebook"},"content":{"rendered":"

I can’t resist a new gadget. However, I must have a way to convince myself that I am doing research of some type to make the purchase. I had convinced myself that I needed to purchase some type of android tablet, but after my wife’s iPad 2 arrived I decided that there was no way to meet even my minimal requirements that an alternative xPad of some type needed to be explored. Maybe in a year or so. Now, the chromebook seemed a different matter and I now own a Samsung (series 5)<\/a>, wifi online chromebook. This is the $429 machine (if this helps keep the following comments in perspective) and I must have a wifi source available to use this device (I do – and can use my mifi when nothing else is available). I am quite aware of the connectivity issue with any device and given the cost of a data plan (so much for the “unlimited” plans<\/a>) is the reality check, in my opinion, in any case for mobile student technology devices. Netbook, chromebook, smartphone – whatever the device – the usefulness of the device depends heavily on getting to the Internet.<\/p>\n

Anyway – back to the Chromebook (Samsung version). This device (not sure what to call it) has the feel of a real computer. I am certain less expensive chrome devices will be available, but the Samsung version feels solid, is larger than some of the netbooks I purchased, and has a keyboard with great “action”.<\/p>\n

I tend to evaluate devices according to whether or not I can do real work with them. So, mostly, I need to do Internet research and write. Internet research implies more than just reading online – I need to organize resources, download documents, etc. So, tools like Instapaper and Evernote are important to my work flow.<\/p>\n

If you have not worked with the Chrome browser, think of it like this (or at least here is how I understand it). When you open a tab, you can use this tab to connect to a web site OR you can use the tab to select from various services (apps) you have purchased (often for $0). So, for example, I can use services such as Instapaper or Evernote in this way from within the browser.\u00a0Chrome already assumes I am going to use Google apps (documents, calendar, etc.).<\/p>\n

Learning to work within the browser environment takes some exploration and some work arounds (at least it seems this way). For example, I wanted show the apps tab in this post. Working on a “traditional” computer I would know how to do this. I would capture the screen and then upload the file (perhaps after modifying the size of the image) to my blog. How to do this from within a browser. It turns out that a) there is a way to do screen capture<\/a> and b) the chromebook can store files.<\/p>\n

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In addition, there is are USB slots and external devices can be accessed. Here is where it gets tricky. Assume I am writing on one device, I have generated a doc file, I have stored this doc file on a flash drive, and I want to edit this file on the chromebook. I can see the files on the flashdrive from my chromebook, but I cannot open the doc file. To edit the file, I must connect to Google docs, upload the file, and then the file within Google docs is available for modification. I guess this makes sense within the world of chrome.<\/p>\n

Yes, I did write this on the Chromebook. AND – no I have not received an invitation to Google plus so I cannot comment on the Plus environment within Chrome. Maybe my wife will invite me.<\/p>\n

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I can’t resist a new gadget. However, I must have a way to convince myself that I am doing research of some type to make the purchase. I had convinced myself that I needed to purchase some type of android tablet, but after my wife’s iPad 2 arrived I decided that there was no way … Continue reading First Impressions of Chromebook<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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