Anyone have a Chromebook? How's it working for you? Ebook Reader apps?

[kennyc]

I keep being tempted by the chromebooks -- particularly the $200 Asus one.
of course the Samsung one looks great for a bit more money.

Anyone here use a chromebook regularly? What are your impressions?
Any ebook applications?

[Rob Lister]

Originally Posted by kennyc

I keep being tempted by the chromebooks -- particularly the $200 Asus one.
of course the Samsung one looks great for a bit more money.

Anyone here use a chromebook regularly? What are your impressions?
Any ebook applications?

Ditto kennyc's query. Are their hidden costs? What about printing? Can I see and access my home network drives?

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by kennyc

Any ebook applications?

Go here for available apps -- Chrome Web Store - Books

Available Book Apps

• Google Play Books
• Kindle Cloud Reader
• Kobo Instant Reader

Not Available

• Nook
• OverDrive Media Console
• Sony Reader

[ucfgrad93]

Only the cloud reader is available for Kindle? So you have to have internet access to read? Ugh.

[kennyc]

Well that's the whole deal with a chromebook, it does not have (much) local storage. It's intended to work on the network, cloud apps and storage etc. The network IS the computer as Bill Joy once said.

[ucfgrad93]

But if you lose internet, you've got nothing.

[kennyc]

Hey Look: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/d...oehfinjmpmjaoa

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by ucfgrad93

But if you lose internet, you've got nothing.

Then it's not for you.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by kennyc

Hey Look: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/d...oehfinjmpmjaoa

It's Monkey Zuma

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by ucfgrad93

But if you lose internet, you've got nothing.

To me, computers are worthless without the internet

[QuantumIguana]

I have a Chromebook. I haven't tried to print yet. But from what I know about it, you can use printers that are connected to the internet, some new printers connect to the network rather than to the computer. Also, if you have a computer, such as a desktop, that is connected to a printer and the internet, you can send your print jobs to that printer. I haven't yet tried to connect my Chromebook to my desktop, although I have used my Chromebook for remote access to my desktop. The one thing you can't do is to use a printer connected directy to the Chromebook via USB. If your printer has its own IP address or if your printer is connected to a computer on the internet, you can print.

You can use the Amazon Cloud reader, and I believe that you can download books to be read in offline mode, so it's not a pure cloud reader.

I'm pleased with my Chromebook. It starts up fast, and has good battery life. They have added more offline capability, but I mostly use it at home where I have WiFi available.

[Ntsimp]

They've got the Internet on computers now?

[Ti-Ron]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Go here for available apps -- Chrome Web Store - Books

Available Book Apps

• Google Play Books
• Kindle Cloud Reader
• Kobo Instant Reader

You can add MagicScroll and Readium to this list. Readium is backed by idpf and can read EPUB3 too. Not a big deal but it's fun to see what good creative editor can do with this new type of book.

[kennyc]

Thanks for the printing information. I currently run two wifi networked printers so I'm assuming I would be able to use them with a chromebook.

Originally Posted by QuantumIguana

I have a Chromebook. I haven't tried to print yet. But from what I know about it, you can use printers that are connected to the internet, some new printers connect to the network rather than to the computer. Also, if you have a computer, such as a desktop, that is connected to a printer and the internet, you can send your print jobs to that printer. I haven't yet tried to connect my Chromebook to my desktop, although I have used my Chromebook for remote access to my desktop. The one thing you can't do is to use a printer connected directy to the Chromebook via USB. If your printer has its own IP address or if your printer is connected to a computer on the internet, you can print.

You can use the Amazon Cloud reader, and I believe that you can download books to be read in offline mode, so it's not a pure cloud reader.

I'm pleased with my Chromebook. It starts up fast, and has good battery life. They have added more offline capability, but I mostly use it at home where I have WiFi available.

[GlenBarrington]

Originally Posted by ucfgrad93

But if you lose internet, you've got nothing.

That's why few people involved with them call them computers.

I think the operating theory is that in urban and suburban areas, one is never that far from an internet connection (even free ones). This is not for third world application, but for most places in North America and east of the Mississippi it should have significant value.

Do I think this is a device for the long term? Probably not, too much overlap with Android tablets, but for people who like the form factor of a laptop, it meets a need.