Living on a Chromebook - The First Year

Living on a Chromebook

The First Year - Impressions, The Future, and What’s Next

Where have you been!?

Sorry everyone for the lengthy break! As I was reviewing my previous entries in this series, I was shocked not to find an entry detailing the first month milestone; I was convinced that I had made such a post. However it turns out that I had only thought about it, outlined the post, and then promptly forgot to actually write the post. Please except my apologies.

Why have I been so slack? First and foremost (aside for the first month post, which I should have definitely done!) I didn’t want to make a post, just for the sake of making a post. I really had hit most of the topics I wanted to cover and had no serious value to add to the discussion. I needed sometime to elapse so I could have a better grounding in what the ACER C7 Chromebook can actually do. Next, I have just simply been swamped! Between my real job, a near full-time university course load, and family life…what little “free” time I had, I want to spend using my chrome book rather than writing about it.

But all that being said, enough has changed to merit a post.

In this entry I will discuss, other than my self-indulgent introduction, a general overview of the last year, comment about being cloud-based, speak about other Chromebook operating systems (OS), sum up my impressions, and conclude with what is next. So, without further  delay, let us begin!

How has it been?

First and foremost, let me clearly state that I still love this laptop! The Chromebook is an excellent personal computer. Its form-factor makes it easily portable, and its capabilities (capture in my previous articles) will be meet the needs of most users. I remain convinced that this is an excellent platform as it stands now, for kids and people who are not naturally computer savvy, and that, as Google continues to quickly develop the capabilities of it browser and hence the OS, this system will be quite usable by all levels of technical ability and complexity of needs. 

In General, I have found I could do just about everything I wanted/expected to be able to do from a laptop. From accessing email, social media, RSS feeds, banking, etc, to being able to find many applications capable of  replacing those I had been using on my Windows machines. In general the transition to ChromeOs was almost seamless, and simple. But somethings did not quite meet my expectations.

One of note for me was the lack of robust replacement to some application, for example - Skype. I like using Skype, for a few reasons, and found not having it on the Chromebook to be a pain. While Google Hangouts is getting better, it: a) does not have near the functionality of Skype (never-mind trying to figure our who is actually available and who isn’t - come on Google…that’s an easy one!), and b) there is no easy way to migrate all my Skype contacts over to Hangouts.

The other issue that kept just driving me nuts, was the lack of a robust word processor, and in fact the entire processing suite - documents, presentations, and spreadsheets. All are functional, and getting more so all the time, even allowing for offline use. But if you have a complex paper to write with citations and ridged formatting requirements, or you want to do something a little more creative, you will find Google Docs frustrating. But for all basic editing, spreadsheets, and visual presentations, the existing applications work fine.

The Cloud

The integration within the cloud is a wonderful thing. I have had to wipe out my Chromebook several times, not once because of any failing of the Chromebook or the OS, due to me tinkering with the system; more to follow below. But each time I have done so, or chosen to do so in order to get it back to a “pristine” state, it has been simple and flawless. From the moment I start the wipe process to being back up and running is less than 20 mins. Even when I utilize a second OS (see below), which entails two full wipes and an install of another OS, I will be back in business within an hour, or so. Windows certainly can not make that claim. More importantly, once the Chromebook has wiped itself and you have logged back in, ALL your data, passwords, applications, etc will all be available….everything….right away….as if you didn’t even wipe it. Having spent decades wiping and reinstalling everything piece-by-piece on my various Windows systems every 6 to 12 months, this is an almost magical joy. Of course, if you are storing material on the local HDD/SDD (depending on your model) without backing it up to Google Drive, then it will be gone - be forewarned!

Alternative Operating Systems

This is where the ACER C7 Chromebook shines over all others. Yes most every Chromebook can install another OS, but most only have a small internal SSD because it is expected that you will save the majority of your work in the cloud, and do not need to run application from the local drive. But when you use an alternative OS, it turns your Chromebook into a more conventional laptop, and you will need/want more local storage in order install local applications and have material at hand to work with. 

Why do this? Simply because it removes any need to be connected, unless you want to be. It allows for familiar applications to be run and installed on your computer - I.e. Skype, Open/Libre Office, Steam, VLC, Minecraft, etc, etc. 

But I am a little ahead of myself. Alternative operating system you say? Yes, I do. In fact I don’t, but several other people have done the hard work of making this possible, and many more have written in great detail about how to make it happen on a Chromebook. So I won’t repeat it here. If you want to give it a try just google about it and you will find some excellent instructions. In general, because ChromeOS is essential a linux distro, it is possible to load a more familiar linux distribution on a Chromebook. Due to the nature of the processor in most Chromebooks, and the lack of a traditional BIOS you can not directly boot any Linux Distro from a USB.

At the moment (and this is changing almost as quickly as I write this - so be gentle in your comments about how wrong I am!) you can dual boot your Chromebook in an Ubuntu environment using Crouton or Chrubuntu, or replace ChromeOS entirely using a select number of distributions which have been tweaked to work on ChromeOS laptop - Bohdi and !# (crunchbang) to name two.

I have only used Crouton myself, because I wanted to be able to switch on-the-fly from Ubuntu (I primarily used X11 and Unity depending on my mood) back to ChromeOS, and only Crouton allowed for this. <name> required you to select which OS you want to start at boot-up, similar to dual booting with Windows and Linux on a traditional machine. 

If you haven’t done so already, give it a try. It is very, very easy to do and if you do not like, or you mess it up, it is even easier to reset you system to normal as I mentioned above. But again, as mentioned previously, back-up your information before you try this. If you really mess your system up, there are instructions online which will allow you to create a recovery USB stick so you can reset you Chromebook if it won’t do so on its own, which has happened to me. (Lesson learned, do not turn off the computer when installing an OS! I was unwisely trying to triple boot)

Disclaimer to follow - any action you take with your Chromebook is your action alone, and done so at your own risk; I, or those authors of the webpages who suggest how this can be done, are not responsible for your system crashing or failing!

The End

Overall I have loved every movement of my experience on my Chromebook, and as I mentioned in one of my first posts, I had and continue to have zero buyer’s remorse - this machine was worth every single penny! While I have just recently stopped using my Chromebook, now one of my younger children has it as their personal laptop - and now they are as excited as I was. In fact I would say more so, as it is their first laptop.

So as you can see by the sub-heading, this is the end of my life on a Chromebook, it served me very well, but for some of the main reasons I needed a laptop in the first place, it just could not entirely fulfill my needs. Most notable was the need to easily be able to work disconnected for longer periods of time, and still have a system which would allow me to produce what I needed to do on a daily basis. Had I been able to remain connected (which my job does not allow for) this could  have been easily overcome. 

Final Words

What now, you ask? Or maybe you don’t, but I am going to indulge myself (as normal) and tell you anyway. Two days ago, I purchased a 13” Macbook Pro Retina, and I have drunk the Kool-Aid! OMG. 

I have resisted going Mac for many years, mostly because I am a PC gamer (the selection of games for Mac is still limited) and I couldn’t justify a Mac laptop simply as a “nice to have.” Recently, I have found myself needing a more capable personal laptop, which was just enough to “convince” myself that I “needed” to get one…right now! So I did. I will likely (but not until end-July I suspect due to work requirements) do a first impressions write-up about my experience, so I won’t go on about it much now. I will however say that the Retina display is amazing! It is as good as they claim, and all your friends who have one have been raving about.

Thank you!

I have entirely enjoyed the experience, the feedback, and sharing my thoughts with all of you. Thank you for both your time and your attention, and I look forward to the next time!

Living on a Chromebook – Week One (or so!)

14 June, 2013

Living on a Chromebook – Week One (or so!)

A thousand apologies for the delay in getting this blog posted.  I am afraid preparations for a business trip and family commitments had to take priority, and it was further delayed by poor internet access.  This blog should have been renamed “Month One”, but I have restricted my comments generally to those issues from the first week.

This post will cover how I am feeling about my Acer C7 Chromebook after using it almost exclusively for the last week. Is it all I thought it would be, have I been able to switch to a ChromeOs world, and will I keep on using it?  These are the questions we are all dying to know, so let’s get started!

Over all Impression

Over all the Chromebook Acer C7 has not disappointed me at all. I had some transition issues with the keyboard, but that was simply my hands getting used to a new typing position. Other than that the physical transition from my Windows desktop and Android Tablet has been very smooth.  Is it what I expected?  I would have to say is has fulfilled my expectations, and I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to embrace the cloud world.  I had dabbled in it before, primarily using cloud storage, but that was really it.  The Chromebook forced/enabled me to much more fully integrate myself in to the cloud and allows my computing experience to transition from tablet, to PC, to Chromebook, to any other connect system nearly seamless.  Yes, anyone can do this with any system, but it is the natural state of the Chromebook, which makes it intuitive and simple.

Was I able to Transition?

With the exception of gaming, which I still primarily do on my Windows PC, I have been able to find the exact or at least similar applications to meet my needs on ChromeOS.  I have been using Google Docs, spreadsheets and presentations in place of MS Word and Libre Office and it has been completely satisfactory, with one exception which I will discuss shortly.  gReader, an Android news feed application similar to Google Reader, I have replaced with Feedly, which is very nice, but I can easily use Google Reader as another option if I desired.  Where I use Feedly to track very specific websites, I use Google News for a quick, “what’s happening around me in the world” application – so no change and no impact with switching platforms.  I have traditionally not been one to upload and edit photos very much, so I haven’t really worked with any one specific program, like Photoshop for example.  But with the new auto enhance features available right through Google, I am happy to let the system do it for me – of course, I am just looking for a half-decent picture and that may not meet needs of everyone. For those of you who are avid photographers and need a system which will allow you to have more direct control over how your pictures are transformed, there are a wide range of applications to meet any level of expertise – from simple tools such as PicMonkey, to more robust solutions like Gimp, which is more akin to Photoshop.  So, thus far I have not had any problems doing anything I need or want to do on the Chromebook.  Pretty much any application you use now, you can find a corresponding app for ChromeOS

But it can’t all be sunshine and lollipops, can it?  No, you are right, it is not. One of the “problems” I have had is working offline.  What I have not made clear, and this is because I hadn’t fully appreciated it, is that while the Chromebook can operate offline as I have written about previously, it really doesn’t like doing so.  “No kidding,” you yell! “That’s why we have been nervous buying a Chromebook.”  Yes, I understand that, but fear not it isn’t all doom and gloom. 

As mentioned in some of my previous posts, the Chromebook has several application that will operated when it is not connected to the internet – Google Drive (with both Docs and Slides), Gmail, and many more will all work offline.  But there is a very important catch; they will not work at all offline unless you open/run them at least once connected before trying to use them offline!  This is why many of the game apps which should run in offline mode did not; I had installed them when I was online, but hadn’t tried to play them until I was offline.  This would not normally be a problem, because you most people will install an application and then run it right away to see if it works and that it is the right application for their needs.  However, if you have recently wiped all the data from your Chromebook to reset it, allowed all you apps to sync and then went somewhere where you can not get internet access without launching any of the application, nothing will work that isn’t normally native to ChromeOS.  This is exactly where I find myself at the moment, and why I am writing this entry on Windows Laptop – insert frowning face here!  So my bad luck for not having accessed the internet after I reset the Chromebook, but I had run out of time and wasn’t thinking the process through.  But as soon as I am next connect, all that will be quickly rectified and I will me back to being able to work smoothly both on and offline.  I must say that, as I am typing this piece, I sorely miss the auto save feature.  Oddly enough (insert sarcastic tone here) shortly after I had written that last line, this Windows Laptop blue screened and I lost a chuck of this blog and had to retype it.  Even offline, each time you type something in the Chromebook it is immediately saved.  The only way to loose something is to create it in offline mode and then have something happen which physically wipes it off the HDD, and with a linux based OS, that is not likely to happen.

Conclusion – Will I keep using it?

While there are some limitations to Chromebooks, they are all manageable as long as you are aware of them and come to this OS with reasonable expectations – I remain completely satisfied with my purchase.  I believe this style of holistic computing is the future, and that you will see the other Operating Systems evolve shortly too better match the vision of Google OS and/or Ubuntu.  For the price of this fully functional laptop (and remember you can put linux on it if you do not like using only ChromeOS) it is worth making your own foray on to this system.  If you approach it with realistic expectations, and an understanding of what you are getting, you will not be disappointed.  In answer to the question, I absolutely will continue to enthusiastically use and explore this wonderful computer!

 I hope these blog entries have helped to answer some of the question you may have had, and I look forward to sharing my next major experience with my Acer C7. Until then, share and enjoy!

<Edit – I was finally able to link my Chromebook back to the internet, after re-imaging it, and it once again is able to function as I had come to expect in offline mode.  Good lesson learn for myself, but only a minor inconvenience.>

21 May, 2013

Living on a Chromebook - Day 5

Hello again fellow Chromebook enthusiasts!  I trust you have enjoyed the previous entries.  I encourage you to leave feedback and ask any question you may have about this kind of computer.  I will happily endeavour to incorporate your input in future entries.

As I was pondering my next write-up, it occurred to me that the title of these entries may be a little confusing or misleading.  Specifically, that by using Day 1 or Day 5 that there is an impression of sequential daily entries.  This is not the case however, I am only providing entries when I have something to say, and I am using the day-count to let people know how long I have been working on the Chromebook.

Offline Blues

Okay, speaking of misleading, that title is a little bit also.  I am not suffering from Chromebook offline blues, I am just encountering some of the limitations function offline currently has. So in this entry I will talk a little more on the core Google applications and may speak on some of the additional applications I have been using, and then finish-up with a where I am overall in my quest to move solely to a Chromebook. Lets get started!

Tested

Disclaimer - please note that I am endeavouring to ensure all my information is correct and accurate, however I am a new user to ChromeOs. Some of the things I think do not, may in fact work.  I happily encourage anyone to point out any areas which are incorrect!

Google Drive:  I would say that, next to ChromeOS itself, Google Drive underpins the Chromebook and makes it what it is, or is not.  Drive is a fantastic resource that, when connected, gives you to access all your files in almost any media, allowing you to open, use, edit, and then save them (automatically) for the next time you need them.  Drive will interface with Gmail, Chrome Browser and many third party applications so you can send items directly to your cloud drive.  When you are offline however this is not the case.  So does this mean all your important information is lost to you when you are not connected?  Not so.  As mentioned in my Day 1 post once you set-up Drive to work offline (see here for how to do this) some of your files, regardless of what folder you have them in will be available when you can not be connected.  But it appears to be limited to documents, spreadsheet, presentations, and drawings, and it did not allow me to see my media files or .pdf files.  Which I feel I should have been able to, so I will have to do a little research on it to see if I am missing something. If I access my Google Drive files through the file manager, again offline, I can see all my files and folders at the top level of Drive.  But if I try to open the folders, it will not display the contents because it is unable to reach the internet.  When in offline mode with Drive you can not delete, rename, copy or move files (really Google, really?) but you can open existing files and edit them, or create an entirely new file - this holds true if you try to do it through the file manager as well.  At the moment I seem to only be able to create a new Document, Presentation, or Drawing, but not a Spreadsheet, Form, or Lucidchart. Nor will it let me access my photos (they are only stored on-line) excepts those already physically on the laptop, or open a Google Template (again, as these are located on-line only).  Any photos you have already on the laptop can be opened, viewed and edited - but more on that at a later date.

Google Docs:  As mentioned off and on throughout my blog entries, the document editor is very capable.  Not perfect, and not as full-functioning as editors such as MS Word, OpenOffice, or LibreOffice, but strong enough for most everyone’s needs, almost all the time.  In on or offline mode, all the formatting features are available, as are most insertion functions, but you can not insert images or drawings. I am not sure why this is, but I suspect it is because Docs is presently only set-up to insert images and drawings from Drive directly, and is not configured to do so from local storage.  Also, as mention previously, you do not have the benefit of spelling or grammar check when in offline mode, again because the program appears to be relying solely on on-line sources.  However, once you regain your connection whatever you have created offline it is automatically synced to the cloud, and will then be scanned for spelling and grammar issues.  In fact, when it is working, I find the on-line Google checker to be better than MS Office.  Particularly the grammar check.  Where MS Officer will allow a grammatical error to slide if a nearly correct word is used, Google will catch the error and suggest the correct word.

Google Spreadsheet: So far I find no appreciable difference between the Google version and MS Word or OpenOffice/LibreOffice.  That being said, I am a really simple spreadsheet user, and I have only checked that it will open my existing sheets correctly.  So far all have opened and appear to function as intended.  I will try to make a sheet using Google shortly, and in fact I had intended to before I started typing this.  However, I began this without my WiFi connection and you can not create a new spreadsheet when in offline mode, or at least I am not able to at the moment.  Once I re-establish my WiFi connection I will check if I need to purposely set sheets to work in an offline mode. Edit: It turns out that this is not a feature available offline...yet.  But it is forthcoming.  

Google Slides:  Here I am a fair bit more accomplished than I am with spreadsheets, thanks to the nature of my work and its love of PowerPoint.  For those of you familiar with MS PowerPoint or the similar programs from OpenOffice or LibreOffice you will feel right at home on Slides.  Bear in mind that if you are trying to make a presentation offline, the same basic limitations noted above for documents applies here as well.  But you have enough editing options available to get the basics of the presentation created offline, and then it can be refined and enhance once you are connected again.

Google Keep: This is the replacement to Google Tasks and Scratchpad, which will be phased out shortly.  It is a simple application that allows you to quickly capture basic ideas and save them to the cloud once connected. As with all apps Google, this of course syncs across all devices you may own.  You have the option of making an itemized list, or a check list that you can then check off as you make progress through a “To-Do List” for example.  The notes will be presented in a grid or list format, and are reminiscent of post-it notes.  You can colour code you notes to help differentiate notes and group like ideas, and you can insert photos into your notes as well.  Think of this a light version of todo.ly meets SpringPad/EverNote.

Google Calendar:  I believe most people will be very familiar with this application, or at least a similar application - Outlook, iCal, Jorte.  So I will not go into the details of the application.  I will say that you can use this application offline, and can therefore always have access to what is coming up next in your schedule.  Unfortunately it appears that notifications do not work unless you are connected. Additionally, when you are offline this application does not yet have the ability to add or edit appointments. I hope this is something they intend to add soon, and allow users to make changes which will then sync with the cloud when you are next on-line.  At the moment this is the largest dissatisfier I have since moving to the Chromebook.

Conclusion

I think that is enough to read and digest for one sitting, so I will end here.  Overall I am still very pleased with my Chromebook and continually find myself excited to use it, which I think is a testament to the value of the machine all on its own.  If you are looking for an inexpensive laptop, and do not need to make huge processing demands on it (ie Gaming), then this is well worth every penny.  This is particularly true if you have someone in your life who doesn't need all the “bells and whistles” and just needs to get on-line, and do basic word processing and the like.  Now, if I can only figure out how to get Terrafirma Craft running on it without having to install Ubuntu, I’d be set for all my portable computing needs!

My next post will most likely be on Friday when we reach the one-week mark. As always, I welcome your comments and input - you can directly shape how this blog continues, so do not be afraid to jump in!  Please +1 this blog, add me to your circles, and shares it around.

created - on an Acer C7 Chromebook, using Google Docs

Living on a Chromebook - Day 3

19 May, 2013

Living on a Chromebook - Day 3

Welcome back.  I hope you enjoyed the first entry, if you haven’t read it you can find it here.  IN the last entry I covered the basics of what a Chromebook is, the specifics of the model I am using, and went in to my initial impressions.

This time I will update you on some the issues I was having, begin to expand upon the capabilities of the computer, and provide some comment on how the transition is going on to the Chromebook from a “traditional” laptop, my Android tablet and my desktop Windows PC.

The Last 48 hrs

I have to say, overall I am still quite happy with this laptop and I am not having any “buyer’s remorse.” I am becoming quickly familiar with the keyboard and really like the feel of the keys. The small issue I was having with the left shift is really no longer a problem, and I rarely miss this key now; I can’t quite say the same thing regarding the backspace key, but it is getting better.

I absolutely love the small form factor of the Acer C7 laptop.  The 11.5” screen, combined with the light weight of only 3 lbs, makes this a delight for me to use, and use anywhere I like.  I am comfortably lounging in a chair with it on my lap while I type this, and I am completely comfortable.  I have used it in bed to read, surf and write - again without any issues - and I can just grab this computer and move it around anywhere with ease.  I foreseen no issues chucking it in a bag and taking it on the road.

With everyday life occasionally getting in the way of dedicated 24/7 use of my new toy, I also appreciate how quickly this machine boots/reboots, but especially the 2 second wakeup from sleep.  That is as fast as my tablet, and allows me to immediately pick-up from where I last left off. When I may only have a minute or two to work/play, saving 30 seconds everytime I boot makes a difference....plus, who likes to wait!

I still remain concerned with the limited battery, but this product makes not attempt to hide that it comes with a relatively light battery, which as mentioned previously is only 4 hrs.  So far that estimate has held true whenever I have gone unplugged, which I do most of the time until it starts to get low, or I anticipate wanting to remain unplugged, in which case I top it up.  For now, the battery life is more than sufficient.  That being said, when I compare how I just finished using my TF201 tablet for my last business trip, I am not sure this machine would have lasted the trip, but I will test that definitively next time I travel.

Tested

HDMI video out - so it has a port, but does this apparently diminutive machine have the chops to drive a 55” LED TV?  I am happy to say it had no problems, even on battery, using any monitor or TV that can take a HDMI input.  I was able to use it as a mirrored image, as an extended desktop, or as the primary display. Each performed smoothly and without any difficulty.  Initially the image did not fit the TV perfectly, the edges of the desktop were a little wider than the image rendered on the TV.  This was easily corrected by selecting the TV from the settings pop-up and using the arrow keys to resize.  What I haven’t tried yet, is if the Chromebook will remember those adjustments the next time I plug it in.

Video Playback - So, you have you Chromebook hooked-up to you massive TV, now what?  Well you can play back most video formats, and of course stream video from wherever you normal watch video online.  I have successfully played mkv, avi video files and they all played flawlessly on the native video app.  Video_TS and .iso files will not play natively, but you may be able to find an app at the Chrome Web Store that will allow you to play them - I have not checked for one yet. Streaming video, and this is over a WiFi connection as well, was equally smooth and of the same quality as any other platform.

Audio Playback - Unfortunately I only have mp3 files to test, but I have been able to play all my music with the organic applications, either from files save on the HDD, from an external drive, or from the cloud perfectly and without any lag.  The sound quality is excellent when using headphones, but it is a little underwhelming when listening (to anything) on the Acer C7 Chromebook speakers.  The problem with the speakers is that they face down on the laptop, and as they are understandably small speakers, what little sound is generated gets lost especially if the computer is on you lap.  I did find somewhat better sound performance when I had the computer on a hard surface, such as a desk, where the sound can bounce off it.  But still an area of weakness for this particular model.  While I am mentioning the audio jack, it is a standard 3.5 mm jack that can take a headphone-only plug, or a combined headphone and mic plug. If you want to use a headset when using Handouts you need this type of combined plug; there is not a separate audio and mic jack as you will find on most laptops and desktops.

Conclusion

I said I was going to start mentioning how I am transitioning to only (less gaming) using the Chromebook, but is is getting late and I will save it for the next entry.  Suffice to say it is going smoothly and have only reached for my tablet to check if I was forgetting to use something (and then find a corresponding application on Chrome) or to upload files to Drive.  Until next time, and don’t forget to +1, share this around, and leave feedback.

created - on an Acer C7 Chromebook, using Google Docs

Living on a Chromebook - Day 1

17 May, 2013

Living on a Chromebook - Day 1

Welcome to my first blog entry on this topic, and in fact my first blog ever.  This blog will endeavour to chronicle my experiences on a Chromebook, its pros and cons, my transition to a quasi web-based working environment, and specific thoughts on the model of Chromebook I am using.  It is my intention to write, review and publish this entirely using the Chromebook and the associate online applications.  Please note that I am not a professional writer (obvious I am sure!) and I am not an IT professional either - simply an enthusiastic and somewhat informed technophile.  Please leave as much feedback as you like, but keep it civil and be constructive.  I would be particularly interested to hearing your experiences, as well as any questions you may have so that I can then address in a future entry.

So with that in mind, let’s begin!

What is a Chromebook?

Generically a Chromebook is any laptop or desktop (Chromebox) that runs on the google operating system - ChromeOS.  These devices are meant to primarily be used when connected to the internet in conjunction with Goggle’s myriad of web applications - from Gmail, to Google Calendar, to Gdrive, and on and on to the thousands google Chrome applications found at the Chrome Web Store.  That last bit is the key point - Google OS is all about Chrome, which most people associate with the very popular web browser.  ChromeOS is a very basic, lightweight system which gives enough information to the computer in order to give it access to the internet and host some basic functions. This, in combination with only the bare necessities of hardware, allow come Chromebooks to be released at a fair low price.

Always Connected?

Yes and no.  The experience you get if definitely broader reaching when connected, especially in light of all the new features Google has (and is planning) to introduce allowing many of their popular applications to interact and support each other.  But that is not to say you have to be connected all the time to get any use out of a Chromebook.  Many applications can be set to work offline and then sync with the cloud when you reconnect.  In fact, as I am typing this blog, I am doing so on my offline Chromebook using Docs via Good Drive, which I had set to offline mode last night. Last night, you inquire, but I thought you said this was “Day 1”?  Yes, I did get this yesterday, but it was very late and I only unboxed it and set-up my wireless and linked the computer to my Google account. So this really is the first day using the Chromebook for any amount of time, and if you want to be very picky it can still be argued that it is within 24 hrs of getting the computer in my eager hands!

While there are several applications you can use offline, there are some deficiencies when using them.  For example, because I am not connected as I am writing this, the document is not being checked for spelling.  However, I am assuming that once I connected to the internet again, and open this document to review it before I post it, that it will be checked at that time. (Edit - yes, indeed!)  Also, while I can view my calendar, I can not modify it and have it sync once connected - I hope this features is changed in the near future, or that I can find an app that will that will allow me to do so.

My Chromebook

Before I get to far along, I will speak to my specific Chromebook.  I am using an Acer C7 Chromebook (not the new version, which I do not believe has been released yet) thatI bought from Futureshop for only $229.99 CAD - normally $249.99.  Which, when I describe some of the features and possibilities, is an awesome price - at least notionally...time will tell!

The Specs

Display: 11.6” (1366x768) backlit LED, not a touchscreen

Processor: Intel Celeron B847

Dual Core, each at 1.1 GHz

2 MB L3 cache

RAM: 2 GB SODIMM DDR3, at 1066 MHz

Expandable: Yes.  But there is only one slot, so up to whatever single RAM chip you can purchase.  I have only seen 8 GB so far.

Storage: 320 GB HDD (not SDD), at 5400 rpm

Graphics: 128 MB Integrated, Intel HD Graphics

Networking: Integrated dual-band wireless (802.11 a/b/g/n)

10/100 ethernet port

Audio: 2x speakers

Integrated mic

Headphone/mic port

Other stuff:   1.3 mega pixel webcam

Multi-touch swipepad

3x USB 2.0 ports

VGA video out

HDMI video out

SD card reader

Power: 2500, 4-cell lithium-ion battery, 4 hrs advertised battery life

Dimensions: 28.5 cm x 20.2 cm x 2.1 cm

Weight: 1.38 kgs (3 lbs)

Initial Impressions

I am going to skip the whole unboxing thing, there are several great videos on YouTube which go in detail on the process for a range of Chromebooks and the C7 specifically, and I do recommend taking a look at those.  I will say that the entire packaging was effective and without any frills.  The laptop was well protected, the items and accessories well organized and easily accessible, and it took very little time to get everything opened and set-up.

In fact this is one of the positive features of a Chromebook - ease of setup.  You just open it up, turn it on, and log into your existing Google account.  Then every app you already use in the Chrome browser, and of course any documents, emails, etc are all immediately available for you to use - sweet!

The laptop itself looks attractive and does not feel cheap at all.  This is due to the clean lines, the grey colour (shiny black would have cheapened the look) and yes, even the little bit of weight this laptop has brought on by the fact it has an HDD.  All added to the quality feel of this device.

Keyboard

The keyboard is full (for a small laptop, no number pad here) but may be a little narrower than most people are used to.  I find that I rest my hands on the edge of the laptop, and that my left hand in particular has a tendency to rest on the corner of the laptop case.  This can become uncomfortable after typing on it for some time.  The keyboard has “chiclet” keys, which I find have just the right responsiveness, making them delightful to type on.  That being said, a few of the key positions are causing me issues.  Oddly enough it is not the arrow keys many people are complaining about.  Some people have found that the page up and down keys, which are immediately above the left and right arrow keys, get accidently struck when trying to use the arrows keys.  I have not have a single issue with this, even when navigating around this document.  What has been driving me a little, is the backspace key and the shift key.  I also initially had a small issue with the return key, but I have quickly become used to it location and hit it most of the time.

But the left shift key (which is the one I normally hit) is small and looks like it was split with the right half of it being used for the backslash key.  (Note, this does not appear in the photo linked above.  I think this may be a regional thing.)  So I find I am hitting backslash often when I mean to hit shift.  But it is getting better quickly, so I suspect it mostly my hands learning the layout, as it is for any new keyboard. This is the same issue I am having for the backspace key. It is just a little higher and to the right than I seem to expect, and I tend to strike the equal or square bracket keys instead.

But in favour of the keyboard is a feature unique to the C7 - integrated F-keys (F1 to F12).  Chromebooks typically do not have F-keys and in fact most do not have a dedicated caps lock key.  What they have in place of the F-keys are some Chrome specific functions (back page, forward page, refresh, full screen or maximize, and next window) and some options which are normally function options on traditional laptops (increase/decrease brightness, increase/decrease/mute sound, toggle WiFi\).  Acer has dual functioned the Chrome specific keys, returning the F-keys (which some program need, as do other operating systems - more on that later) and moved the search key down by the space bar, allowing for a dedicated caps lock key.  So all-in-all, a very nice looking and functional layout, and I expect that if I move my hands so my palms are resting fully on the smooth area provided, that most of my typing issues, and certainly the minor discomfort mention, will be resolved.

Touchpad

The touchpad is a single touchpad that has left and right mouse button integrated and is responsive to multi-touch.  This is taking a little for me to get used to, but this is because I have either used a dedicated 3-button mouse, or a touchpad with dedicated/separate buttons.  I think if you are a mac user, this will be a seamless transition.  For the rest of us, it won’t take long to get used to the way the Chromebook is set-up.  In fact I am quickly learning to love the ease and efficiency of this design.

The Chromebook comes with a quick-start card that shows how to use the touchpad, but also takes you through a simple on-screen interactive tutorial when you first start the system up, which make learning the features very quick and painless.  In brief - you can touch anywhere and slide your finger to move cursor, as well pushing down anywhere on the pad is considered a left click.  To right click you simple do the same, but with two fingers at the same time.  Scrolling is accomplished by sliding two fingers in the direction you want to scroll, and drag a drop is done by “left clicking” on a icon and then (while still “left clicking”) using another finger to swipe/drag it to the new location and then let go.  Simple, and functional.

Display

On to the screen - 11.6 inches seems like more than enough real estate so far.  I have surfed my normal web pages, opened documents and spreadsheets, and played a few simple games without feeling cramped.  Now, I have been using a 10” tablet (TF201) for some time, and this may be why I am happy to use 11.6” - but honestly it seems to be a good fit for the resolution, and I think most people will find it more than sufficient. If you need to have multiple screens open at once, maybe then you will feel pinched, but you can always send the video to a larger monitor or TV screen if you need to.  

Performance

Smooth and quick! I have not seen anything lag, hesitate, or crash yet.  All web pages download quickly, and native applications are snappy to open and react. The benefit of such a lightweight OS is apparent, when you see the machine boot from cold in less than 20 seconds, and wake-up from sleep in 2 seconds.  I love this feature.  I have not done any benchmarking, but may do so in a later post, at the very least I will continue to note my impressions of how the computer runs under various configurations.  This will be especially interesting when I try to install another “full”, standalone (ie not reliant on the web) OS - Ubuntu.

Battery life

Perhaps one of the most criticised points of the C7 is the battery life.  It is advertised at a merger 4 hrs, which is really short when compared to most traditional laptops, and even against other Chromebooks.  But this is due in part to the fact that the C7 is running a HDD (plus the fan) and not a SDD - but I will live with that, because this is exactly why I bought the C7, other than the sweet price-point, because I have the option to store much more locally (like movies and music - remember Google TV and Music do not work fully in Canada) and eventually once I am feeling adventurous, I can install another OS.

So is it really a short as 4 hrs?  Well I have been using this off and on since last night.  I put it asleep at 100% charge and have not plugged it in today.  I have been surfing the web earlier when I was home, and have been writing this post (intermittently) throughout the morning at work.  I would say, I have use the laptop for at least 2.5 or so cumplative hours on the current charge.  As the moment I am 38% battery, which it tells me will allow me to work for another 1 hr and 38 mins.  So I think that the 4 hours is probably accurate.  That being said, it just occurs to me that I have left the WiFi active even though there is no signal around for me to use.  I expect that means it is actively “looking” for a connection and if I had turned that off immediately, it may have extend the battery life.  

For me I will mostly be using this computer sitting at home, or sitting at work.  Therefore I do not anticipate worrying about charging the battery, I have an outlet readily available and for those times when I will use it in location where I can’t plug it in, it will normally be far less than 4 hours.

All that said, it easily had enough power for me to casually explore the laptop, as well as write this article at around 2400 words.  So I am pleased.

Conclusion

Well that is a fair amount of information in one go, and there is much more I could get into, but I will leave it here for now.  Next (and not necessarily the next day) I will go into the some more features most likely leading off with the applications and integration into daily life and use.  I hope you enjoyed this post, please leave a comment, add/follow me, and share this post.