Long Time

So, it's been a long time since I updated this blog. I will try to get more consistent with my updates. My CR-48 is now what my 4-year-old uses to play games from NickJR and other kids sites. Good enough for her and has proven to be nearly indestructible.

Since my last post, I use the Chrome browser for all of my personal stuff. The one thing that the Chrome Notebook taught me is that my browser contains everything I need, regardless of the platform.

I have also installed Windows 8 Developer Preview on my home PC and have been playing around with the new interface. I may write more about that as there is progress. The biggest technology news for me is that I finally rooted my original Droid phone. For nearly 2 years, fear kept me from experimenting with new ROMs, etc. The performance was phenomenal with the CyanogenMod 7 ROM (CM7).

Now that I have upgraded to the Droid Bionic, it only took about 2 weeks for me to root and flash a new ROM (Th3oryrom [R3]BLURR3D V2.0 PBX MOTO ROM). I like a lot of the Motorola Blur features, but I also hate the "bloatware" that comes pre-installed with no way to remove from the stock phone. The [R3]BLURR3D ROM provides Blur, with increased performance and no bloat.

I will definitely write more about rooting your phone. It's not for everybody because if you aren't careful, you could "brick" (bricking is when you somehow change the firmware and the phone will no longer function correctly) your phone. But, if you can follow directions carefully and exercise patience, it is really a trouble-free process. If you know Linux, you will feel even more comfortable.

I guess I'll wrap up for today, but I promise to try to update more frequently. Check back soon for updates.

Observations

So, I've had my Google ChromeOS Notebook for a little over a week now and I must say that I love this device. I can open and be on the web in just a few seconds. I'm so caught up on my email now. I have also been reading other reviews and blogs about the CR-48 device. This has led to me wanting to post a rant.

The speed in which we become entitled to something that we didn't even know about 10 minutes ago never ceases to amaze me. Many of the blog reviews are very harsh about the Google hardware that they received for FREE! I was reading a blog the other day that was comparing the CR-48 (again, obtained for FREE) with the MacBook Air (starting at $999 and probably costing more around $1,200). Apparently, the blogger was disappointed in the performance and features of the CR-48 when compared with the MacBook. Well, la-de-friken-da...

Besides using the CR-48 for what it was designed for (web access), if you are to compare, you should select something more in the likely price point of around $500. I actually have had the opportunity to do just that.

My wife and I decided that we would get netbook computers for our older children. I searched the web and purchased 3 HP netbooks that actually have close to the same hardware performance as the Google CR-48. Not only did I not know that I was going to be one of the lucky ones to get a CR-48, I also had no idea of the hardware specifications at the time.

The netbooks have Windows 7 Starter Edition on them and HP included a quick start area to speed up access to web and email without having to launch Windows. I can tell you that Chrome OS is faster than even the HP quick start program. Actually, all things that I have done on the netbooks could be done much faster with the CR-48.

Also, my step-son took all of two days to have malware that wouldn't allow him to use his netbook firmly installed. Even with MS Security Essentials, firewall and other software to insure safety. That would never have happened with the Google ChromeOS (not requiring a local virus/malware program) because you don't download applications, nor do any applications get access to the core OS. With ChromeOS, all tabs run in their own "sandbox" and have no direct access to the OS, or other tabs. This makes it so that even if you hit a malicious web site that can affect a customized OS like Chrome, it can't get out of its "sandbox" or container.

To wrap up, I love the Google Chrome device for 90% of what I use a computer for. It has a larger screen and easier interface than my Android phone. It is instantly there (as opposed to the 1 to 2 minutes to get my Windows 7 home PC from powered off to on the web). Its battery life is amazing. As I learn more about how to move my photos and music to the web, it is even easy to blog from this device (this entire blog was written from my CR-48).

Happy new year everyone and thanks for reading. Until next time...

Another Day in the Cloud

So, after two days with my CR-48 Google ChromeOS Notebook, I think its time I share some hardware specifications with you. I am a geek after all, so gotta know the chips behind the glitz.

Since the box doesn't come with much information about what's inside (other than Intel as evidenced by a card that reads "If you cracked this open, you'd find Intel"), I was able to find a post at the Chrome OS Site (chromeOSSite.com) of someone that took their CR-48 apart and came up with the following specifications:

• Processor: Intel Atom Processor N455 1.66GHz 512K Cache
• Chipset: Intel CG82NM10 PCH
• Motherboard: Tripod Motherboard MARIO – 6050A240910 – MB – A03
• Ram: Hynix 2GB DDR3 1Rx8 PC3 – 10600S Ram
• Read Only Memory: ITE IT8500E Flash ROM
• SSD Drive: SanDisk sdsa4dh-016G 16GB SATA SSD
• Wireless Wan: Qualcomm Gobi2000 PCI Express Mini Card
• 3g Adapter: AzureWave 802.11 a/b/g/n PCI-E Half MiniCard
• Bluetooth: Atheros AR5BBU12 Bluetooth V2.1 EDR

This is my first Solid State Drive, and you definitely notice the lack of noise. The battery life is also really nice. I used the machine all day yesterday without connecting to power. Today, it has about 1/4 battery life left. I can't tell you how many hours of actual use that I had, but it lasts longer than my Droid.

As you can see, with a 16GB HD, there isn't much of a place to store anything on the CR-48, again the expectation is that you store your files in the cloud (mSpot, Google Docs, etc.).

I am still getting used to the track pad. It has multi-touch sensitivity, so you can pinch, touch with two fingers to scroll and right-click, and the left click is by pushing down on the pad until you get feedback.

Well, more tomorrow folks... Until next time.

First 24 Hours with my CR-48 ChromeOS Notebook - Don't Panic

So, its nearing Christmas and I'm receiving boxes containing all sorts of odd shaped items that I will have to wrap (with little skill for that sort of thing) before the 25th, when this nondescript box comes in that has inside, another box. This box within a box has a really cool assembly diagram with a mouse, helmet for the mouse, mouse wheel, stators, turbines, and lots of connectors. Really a work of art in itself, this box within a box.

Upon opening this box that was in a box, I found a very unimposing 8.5 by 11 device and a quick-start card that read "Don't Panic" instructing me to read, then recycle, or make a really cool paper airplane to give to my nephew.

The only markings on this device (besides the letters on the keyboard) was the words Mario on the inside of the lithium-ion battery (which the instructions said was included because they hadn't figured out that whole Cold Fusion thing yet). The card went on to tell me things not to do to my new device, like baking, blending, taking it to the moon, etc. Then it told me to insert the battery, plug it in, then carefully open the device (being careful not to physically or emotionally stress the screen) and log in to Google.

Setting up the machine for first time use was really the simplest thing I have ever set up (much simpler than a VCR). It asked me to enter my gmail information and then told me to strike a pose for the built-in web cam to create a profile picture.

The keyboard feels decent, but is missing the old function keys and Windows buttons. It would be nice if the keys were back-lit since there is no keyboard light, but it is a concept machine.

As per the beta site's claims, the notebook loads quickly and goes off and on by closing the lid. The web performance is really fast on Wi-Fi, which you must connect to as part of the setup. I think its because it has 802.11/n capability.

As for the user interface, it is Google Chrome. If you have it installed on your PC, then you see the same thing I do. It uses the Chrome Web Store to install applications (basically links to web applications for now), most of which will work on your browser.

The hardest thing to get used to is not having a "desktop" or "Explorer" to look at the stuff on my computer. There really isn't anything on a Google ChromeOS computer. Everything is in the cloud, so you have to get everything you have into the cloud (using Picasa, mSpot, etc.). Also, I haven't figured out how to print or pull photos from my camera yet.

Over the next few weeks, I'll post my feelings as I try to compute strictly in the cloud. It is going to be a little bit of a change from using a big PC with Windows.

Until next time...

Time to Start a Blog for Ray Hodges

So, here I am starting a blog. I'm doing it because everyone says I should have one and I always do what everyone says (if you are going to be a reader, you will have to put up with my lame sarcasm).

Part of what prompted me to start now is Google's early Christmas gift of a Chromium Notebook. Yep, a brand new CR-48 in all its nondescript glory. With this gift comes a shift in computing from my very large, high-performance desktop to the cloud (no, not the Microsoft commercial cloud). I will be posting day-to-day updates (when I remember, or have time) of the experience. I may also post cloud computing thoughts (it is the business I'm in) and other technology themes.

Well, time for other tasks, so I'll wrap up this post with the usual begging you to follow my blog, tune in for more, etc. Until next time...