chromebook small things

small things:  Working well for playing video, full screen and in the background.  Played a flickr slideshow, with videos.  Nice multi tasking with the windowing system.  Lets you move windows around, but not move them off screen, bumpers and resizing automatically.

Screen still seems a little off (compared to macbook) and I miss the glowing keyboard even though I don't use it.  Just seems like something that's different.  This thing really does look a lot like my macbook pro.

Chrome book close lid open lid needs to be smoother Chromebook takes 30-40 seconds to turn the wifi back on forgets wifi network after closing lid

For now I'm just not sure on it.  It needs to be smoother.

Will continue testing this one.  As of right now, I think it takes a little bit for the wifi to come back on and then it will auto connect.  

Really don't want this to be true, cause this would be a showstopper of annoying proportions (as well as breaking the ability to recommend this laptop to non-power users), but the last couple of times I've closed the screen and re-opened it, Chrome failed to auto-reconnect to the Wifi network and I had to select it manually.

many report the same problem here, but maybe the reboot fixed it and maybe it was due to something else.

Testing now.  It came back on, but it took maybe 30-40 seconds for the wifi card to turn on (presumably.)  This kinda ruins the auto on nature of the device.  Auto on, but to nothing.

30 minutes with a Chromebook

Best Buy was a pain in the ass as usual.  The had no cases for the chromebooks despite being the #1 retailer.  No one wanted to help me with the chromebook and it’s fortunate they had them right there below the display otherwise I doubt I would have gotten one.  Walking up and down the mall was fun, the chromebook is light, but without a proper case it stuck up out of my makeshift ipad case that I was using and was pretty annoying the whole time (just clicked on the touchpad and got knocked back a word).  Mission failed again at Starbucks because it was crowded, small with no seats with plugs and I later learned this laptop had no starting charge.  Returned home and time to start reviewing.

Boots up quick, sets up with my name and I’m off and rolling in Google Docs.  Almost got distracted and started installing the Offline Options, but went straight to the typing.  Keyboard is pretty great response and it feels thin on the desktop like there’s hardly a laptop under me.  The touchpad makes a slight clicking sound as do the keys, but the main issue here is I can type faster than the thing can display it.  Especially when it’s saving which it seems to be doing most of the time.  Not sure if new versions or offline docs will fix this, but there’s definately some lag.  And making corrections through this lag is very annoying.  (4 tabs open, no other apps)

One tab open.  Can I still type that much faster than you?  No.  Not as much.  So single tab is better, dunno if the google drive tab would count much, but I think I had two docs open before and I think that was bugging it.  But that could be an issue.  (saw the mouse flickering while I was typing, but then it went away).

Screen Brightness at max already as I try to put it up a bit.  Pretty dark room though.  And junk on my glasses.  

Clicky touchpad seems to work well.  Two finger scrolling, alt-click for menu.  Alt button is nice and big, no windows button between them, just control and alt.  

Looks like an update available icon.  Not surprising.  Running the defaults.  Bit of an issue with my hand dragging across the touch screen while typing.  Just happened again.  

Time for some music.  

Neat random collection of covers leads me to The Rentals - It’s time to come home.  Sounds pretty good, playing in a second tab, doesn’t seem to affect typing like having a second doc open or having 4 tabs up.  Still see the cursor flicking around as my hands touch the touch pad.  

Really impressed with the keyboard.  No extraneous keys, no pgup or any of that function nonsense.  The top row is all useful stuff ala apple and everything else has been removed.  The word Samsung stares out at me from the center.  I long to cover it with stickers.  But this is still my trial book and I need to try to keep it nice incase I decide to return it.

Time for bluetooth headphones.  Looks like it’s not time for Bluetooth headphones.

“Bluetooth audio is not currently supported by Chrome OS. It currently is there primarily for Bluetooth mice and keyboards. Google has not said when or if they will add this.”

Well that’s some lame sauce.  So I’d have to wear wired headphones.  Gonna give that a try.  

Also weird to go back to Ctrl-V for paste instead of the mac’s Alt-V.  

Mute button is fast, but pushing mute again does not unmute.  

Headphone jack is small and tight.  Looks very similar to the power plug port which is near it, but on the back.  

Activated Auto-hide taskbar by alt clicking on it and now it’s gone.  Already was checking at Best Buy, Gdocs has full screen and so does chrome browser.  

Bit disconcerting that the keys don’t glow like my mac book and still a bit of key lag when typing fast (and I just got track pack messed up again).

Listening to music while typing, with headphones on, pretty cool.  Wonder if they’ll add bluetooth audio support to later versions.  Would help people who want headphones and a better mic for video conferencing or phone calling.  (course a lot of that stuff can be done through the iphone or ipad too)

12 tabs open, seems fine.  Lag must have mainly been from the 2 docs open and the dual saving.  

One more note, walked up and down the mall.  Went to sears and tried an 11.6 case that had handles, but no strap, no only did the laptop not fit all the way in the case, but the zipper broke right off as I was closing it.  Not a good demonstration.  Was only 14 bucks, but damn some things are cheap.  Might buy a case off Amazon or carry it around in a tote bag or something.  Felt very purse like at the mall, but this is a pretty neat computer to carry around in such a sml size.

Typing text seems a little small (and it is, set to 11 for some reason).  Might crank that up to 14 or 16.  

Looks like some of my Rentals albums uploaded, but not their studio ones.  Gotta fix that.  Wonder if my mac is still uploading.  

Wow.  Chrome remote desktop is really neat.  I might use this to do tech support on my parents computer.  Seems really easy to setup and you just send the “access code” to the other person so they can help you.  Says it works for chromebooks, but only control worked for me, not controlling a chromebook.

So far, so good.  1000 words.

Really impressive chrome sync.  Typed in my passphrase, brought down not just my bookmarks, but my extensions.  Truly a pleasure not to have to reinstall those.  Gonna update the blog now and start a spreadsheet for my word count (in google docs of course).

30 Days with a Chromebook

Project Proposal:  After a week of thinking about chromebooks (after seeing my friend Bethanie's and using it briefly), I've been thinking of getting one.  This makes some sense, as I'm always buying new computers and new operating systems and technically there is a whole in my netbook lineup (having sold my Dell Mini9 Hackintosh), but it makes less sense as I already own a perfectly good Macbook Pro.

However there is something to be said about Computer Specialization, which is definately something that I'm into these days.  My kindle paperwhite is a dedicated reader.  When I pick it up, my job is to read a book and it's job is to display it to me, which it does brilliantly and backlit these days (however it stopped reading books aloud to me, for reasons that are more political than techinal).  The Chromebook would be a "work computer" that is to say my goal would be to use it for typing and to use it to increase my typing.  Also I'd try to use the chromebook to type in new locations like coffee shops.  People have always said that I should get out and write more and that it would allow me to focus (which is ironic, as I've had to stop typing this several times to deal with the dogs and there's endless distractions at home).

The idea I've had right now is to get a chromebook (and case) from Best Buy (therefore, I will be trying it for 30 days from Best Buy and if I don't like it or use it enough, it will be going back!)  , walk the mall to the Starbucks, find some free internet and see how this thing really works.  I've already been uploading music to Google Music, I have a pair of bluetooth headphones and of course I have my hands for typing.  Can I be in Starbucks with a totally set up typing machine with a nice library of music on a light computer that has no fans and no hard drive?  (basically a toy?  more like a typewriter than a computer.)

I've even heard it can do remote desktop.  That would allow me to control my computers that really do stuff and still do things while chromebooking (which I mean to be typing and typing and typing.  The endless typing that I must do until I communicate more and properly.)

BestBuy has a 30 day return policy, so if the computer isn't up to snuff (possible reasons for rejection, it's not fast enough, doesn't turn on quick enough (i've heard there's some sleeping issues), is too light, is too small (keyboard rest could be an issue), how it feels on a lap, how it feels on a table, how it looks, how the OS is configured (can I hide the taskbar?)

Goals:

 - Type 100,000 words on the Chromebook
 - Apply for 100 jobs on the Chromebook
 - update and improve my resume with the Chromebook
 - Write 10 short stories
 - Write 10 poems
 - seriously work on my re-write
 - Write 1 collaborative story on Google Docs (while hanging out?)
 - Host a Live Hangout? (get friends to call in?) - upload it to youtube afterwards?
(the webcam has been desribed as one that monet would love, so I'll bet it sucks, but it's a neat option again an updgrade on pen and paper)
 - Create some images on the chromebook (is this even possible?)
 - Write 30 daily update posts for Nitpicking Google
(not be distracted by the slamming of doors at home, be distracted by the people of the world, all potential characters and people to learn from)
 - Write in 5 public places
 - Maybe take Chromebook on a hike somewhere.
 - Take Chromebook on a bike ride
(I wanted to write, test Chromebook in outer space, but I realize that's not an option.... yet.)

I think this is going to be a real fun project, and if the Chromebook isn't up to snuff, or I find out that I don't need it after two weeks (many people predict that I only really need to try out the technology not actually own it and that I'll be through with the Chromebook after two weeks and back to my mac.  They might be right.) then I'll just return it.  To infinity and beyond!  (that is to say I'm gonna go take a shower.  no typing in there.)