Day 3: Google Docs and ChromeOS

Today I experimented with my ChromeOS notebook to see if I could find any hidden features in it. I haven't really had an formal instructions from Google as to what type of feedback they want, nor have they completely outlined all of the features that of ChromeOS. I guess since it's still under development they can't really outline all of these things. Things like bluetooth and the SD card reader on the side of the laptop will probably come into play in future software updates.

The main thing I was hoping to find was a way to view ChromeOS's file system. I briefly looked around the Internet, and it does not seem that there is a way to "hack" ChromeOS to see the underlying file system. To my dismay, Chrome is not another Windows Explorer. After several failed attempts of typing in various directories, I gave up. I did hear, however, that ChromeOS runs off of a Linux kernal, so it's only a matter of time before someone figures out how to "hack" it. I did figure out a trick though. You can view parts of the ChromeOS file system by visiting a site that allows you to upload or download things. For example, I was able to visit Google Docs and download a PDF. I was then greeted with a little pop-up window that showed one folder - "Screen Shots". I was actually able to save the PDF and then view it later in the Downloads page of Chrome. But so far that's as close as I've gotten to seeing any resemblance of a file system.

Another thing I got to play with today was the battery life. I have not been keeping the screen at full brightness, so I've been getting pretty good battery life. Google claims that a warning will pop up when your battery level gets too low, but currently I am at 3%(19 minutes) and no warning (the battery icon did turn red though). Nevermind, there it is. Apparently I have less than 15 mins left. Time to fumble for the power cord.

I also noticed today that the time to go from sleep to awake is very fast. Before, when I needed to check something on the Internet, I would have to pull out my MacBook, open the lid, wait for Chrome to load, and then surf the web. But with the Cr-48, I can go from sleep to surf in less than 30 seconds. It may not seem like that big of a deal, but Cr-48 really does make it easy to get on the web.

I've heard some complaints in the blogosphere that Flash runs a little slow. I'll have to watch a video or two on Hulu tonight to test that out, but so far I haven't noticed any issues.

That's all for now. Tomorrow I plan to show it to the guys at work and get their take on it. Who knows, maybe I'll be the envy of the office.

Day 2 with Cr-48

Today was my first real day using the Chrome netbook. I'm still on the fence as to whether or not I like it. Every time I say this my friends always offer to take it off my hands for me. I mean, who wouldn't want a free laptop? Here's a few of the pros/cons that I've noticed during my first day with the laptop. Note that I've basically spent the whole day typing notes in Google Docs on it, so I haven't really had a chance to play with the Web Apps yet.

Pro: Keyboard

Google has really re-designed the keyboard and added/removed several keys. It makes sense, this being a web browsing netbook, that the function keys are replaced by web browser specific keys like Forward/Backwards, Reload, Full Screen, and Switch Tab. Most people will notice that the Caps Lock key is missing. However, if you look closely at the Shift key, you'll notice a little spot for a tiny LED light. Does this mean future updates will allow for a key combo to bring back the ever-loved CAPS LOCK? Personally, I never used Caps, but to some people it's a big deal.

Pro: Battery Life

I only had to plug in the laptop once while using it today - and even then it had 2.5 hours of battery life left. The only reason I plugged it in was that I had to go somewhere and figured it couldn't hurt to charge it up for when I came back later. The real test will be to see how long it lasts while streaming video.

Pro: Lightweight

I thought that the Cr-48 was pretty lightweight. However, when I showed my friends, they seemed to think that it should be lighter. And honestly, I'm not sure why the netbook feels as heavy as it does considering it has fewer parts than any "normal" netbook. The exterior shell seems to be made of some type of metal or plastic and is part of the reason for the extra weight. But overall I can't tell the difference in my backpack when carrying this or my MacBook.

Con: Processor

The little 1.66GHz Intel Atom processor seems to lag at times. I noticed that after I booted up the laptop from a cold start it was having trouble keeping up with my clicks. I guess this is to be expected, but Google did boast about the quick sleep/wake-up time. But I am sure in future revisions that processor speed will increase, hopefully not at the expense of the battery life.

Pro: Size

The laptop is so small that it can fit comfortably in my lap. Now, I'm not a big person, so my small hands fit fine on the keyboard. For those of you who have larger fingers, it might take some getting used to. The netbook isn't that heavy either, but it's not terribly light. For a piece of hardware that just surfs the web, I think Google could have made it a lot lighter. Since this is by no means a final product, I am sure that hardware improvements will be forthcoming.

Con: Backlight

I'm not sure if it was the fact that I had been staring at a computer screen all day or if my eyes are going berzerk, but the backlight seemed to flicker from bright to dim. Also, call me a Mac user, but it would be nice if there were a visual that popped up when you changed the brightness so you know when you've hit max.

Pro: It's Different

Google has definitely come up with a very different product. I wasn't sure what to expect when I booted up their netbook for the first time, and I was definitely surprised. I think it will take a while before cloud computing really takes off. The average user, although they may spend most of their time on the web, still needs a computer that has the capability to run programs and save documents. But Google has always been one for innovative products, and this definitely fits that category. The idea of having a laptop that only runs a web browser may seem radical now, but wait a year or two and see how it catches on.

Con: Power Cord

Being a Mac user I am used to the cool power cord that my MacBook has. There's nothing wrong with the cord - it's just a little bulkier than what I'm used to carrying around. But then again, why would you need to carry the cord with you. The 10 hour battery life should be more than enough to get you through the day.

Pro: CloudPrint

I was skeptical of this at first. I had read some reviews about this and some people had lots of trouble setting up their computers to work with this. Once I realized that this is not yet supported on Linux or Mac, I was able to quickly get it working. Luckily I have a PC at work that I was able to test on. You just simply download the 10.0 Beta Version of Chrome (http://www.google.com/cloudprint), go to Options->Under the Hood, enable CloudPrint and voila! In less than 5 minutes I was able to configure Cloud Print and print out my notes that I had been typing in Google Docs. All in all, I must say it was pretty neat.

So overall this has been a good first day with the Chrome netbook. I don't have that much to complain about, and I definitely think that I am giving it a workout. Next I'm going to spend some time playing around with the Web apps and see if they're all Google hypes them up to be.

Surprise Package!

Yesterday my Friday afternoon went from boring to interesting pretty quickly. I thought I was going to spend the afternoon chilling out and watching some TV after my exam, but that changed pretty quickly. Around 4:30PM, the UPS guy rang my doorbell. I wasn't expecting any packages, yet the box had my name on it. What could it be, I wondered?

Out of curiosity I opened the box, wondering if I had ordered something off Amazon and just not remembered. To my surprise I opened the box to find what looked like the boxes that laptops come in. It was then that I remembered that I had signed up for the Google ChromeOS notebook program. A few seconds later I tore open the inner box and there it was - my very own ChromeOS notebook.

I immediately ran upstairs to unpack the box and see what it was like. And, of course, I needed to update my Facebook status to let all of my friends know that I was the proud new owner of a ChromeOS notebook. Who doesn't like to make their friends feel a little jealous?

I popped in the battery, flipped open the lid and was greeted by the Google Chrome logo. The setup process was simple and quick. As many of you probably know or have heard from other bloggers, you simply sign in with your Google Account and everything from "the cloud" is pulled down for you to use.

I only had time to spend a half hour or so playing around with it, and I still have mixed feelings about Cr-48. When I first got the notebook I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. I guess I was expecting an operating system in the sense of Linux or Mac OSX, not simply a web browser. Sometimes you feel "claustrophobic" without the ability to switch to a desktop, as one blogger put it. But I guess it just takes time to get used to.

I'll try to post some more once I get a chance to really use the notebook. I think it can have some potential benefits, but it definitely won't replace my MacBook or iMac anytime soon.

Spring Break 2010

Spring is in the air!
As I type this blog post, I have my window open and nice spring breeze is blowing into my room. There are people chatting in the street outside my apartment, probably making plans for tonight. Campus is deserted, except for a few brave souls that decided to stay. The dining hall is closed, and the only signs of life are the occasional slam of an apartment door or the sound of a car engine as it drives along the Loop. It must be spring break at UMBC (or the weekend, it's hard to tell).
It's been a several months since I last posted something on my blog, and I thought that I would start posting things again. I know I've said this several times before, but this time I want to try to post things regularly. I enjoy writing, but most of the time I don't know what to write about. So what better time for me to sit down and think than Spring Break.
This past week has been a pretty nice break. Although I've had two projects (one for Stat and another for Computer Science), I have still managed to take some time to relax and veg out. Not to mention that the weather has been wonderful - a nice break from the cold, snowy weather we had just a few weeks ago! I've enjoyed having a week with nothing to do, and I wish we could have every other week off to recuperate from school. Sometimes there's just too much to do and we need some time to catch up and recharge ourselves!
I don't really have any plans for the rest of Spring Break. I'll just play each day by ear and keep doing what I do best - sleeping and relaxing.
Now if only school were that easy...

Midnight Madness

So it has been a long time since my last post. But tonight marks the beginning of the Pep Band Season, so I'd thought I bring back my blog with a story about the infamous Midnight Madness.

As I write this entry, it's 12:30 Saturday morning. I've just gotten back from MM, and I must say I wasn't too impressed. Maybe it has something to do with being a freshman, but last year's MM was more impressive than this year's. But there were definitely some neat performances at tonight's Midnight Madness.

To start things off, the Pep Band played a few tunes. Then, Major Def, UMBC's hip-hop dance crew, claimed the floor as they showcased their dancing skills. Having not seen this group perform before, I was pretty impressed. Next followed UMBC's drum line, a first for this year. And then, of course, the dance team and cheer leaders.

An unexpected event tonight was the appearance of three guys from the Wizards. They call themselves the G-men. They did some fancy basket-shooting, jumping on trampolines and landing on foam mats. A few of the guys even did back flips and somersaults. It was a nice change from the usual MM activities.

And last but not least, there was the introduction of the 2009-2010 Men's and Women's Basketball teams. The women's team performed a dance routine to a medley of popular songs. I'm sure the video will be up on youtube later this week. If I find it, I'll post it for your viewing pleasure. The men's team had a dunk contest, but the outcome was decided way before MM even started. When Chauncey Gilliam came to the floor, the fans made it clear who they wanted to win. It seems that Chancey has the air about him that allows him to woo the crowd. Let's just hope he doesn't get too cockey during the upcoming season.

So that's about all I can write tonight. It's way past my bedtime and I have to get up in 5 hours or so.
There's more homecoming activities during the weekend. Check out http://umbc.edu/homecoming for a list of events.

A USB Thumbdrive for a finger?

I heard this interesting tidbit of news on WBAL this morning. Apparently there is a computer programmer, Jerry Jalava of Finland, who lost part of his finger in a motorbike accident. When he went to the hospital for treatment, the doctors joked that they should replace his finger with a USB thumbdrive.
But the guy didn't take it as a joke.
Instead of just wearing the prosthetic finger, the computer programmer decided to embed a USB thumbdrive underneath the fingernail of the prothestic. The thumbdrive is 2Gigs, so whenever Jerry needs to transfer data, he just takes off his finger and plugs it into the USB port. When he's done, he simply pops out his finger-drive and continues on his merry way. Sounds more like a sick Halloween joke than a modern invention. But on the bright side, it brings a whole new meaning to the word "thumb drive".
If you don't believe me, you can check out Jerry's blog here.

The end of the game

I was standing by my seat, staring out at the 5,000 seat arena. I had that feeling between excitement and nervousness. This was one of the biggest basketball games of the season, and I was going to experience it. TV camera’s were being set up as we set up our instruments. This was going to be a good game.
Then the doors opened.
A sea of green flooded down through the arena gates and into the student section. Binghamton was making this a “white-out” game, and soon the sea of green turned white with “BU Zoo” t-shirts. The BU Pep Band was playing some tunes, and we were waiting our chance to flaunt our mad musical skills to the Bearcat audience.
And then finally a stream of fans decked in UMBC apparel trickled into enemy territory. Although not as numerous as the BU fans, we still had a lot of spirit and filled up the majority of the seats next to the Pep Band. It was nice to see students making the 4 hour bus ride to support the home team.
Words can’t do justice to the game. At times it was impossible to hear oneself think because the BU fans were cheering so loud. We tried to compete, but I’m sure our cheers and yells were hard to hear over the deafening sounds of the stadium.
We started off good, making the first basket, but then things went downhill from there. BU slowly crept ahead on the scoreboard and we tried to keep up. The refs made several bad calls on our team, leading to several free throws for Binghamton. That was all they needed to secure a lead in the game.
During the last ten minutes of the game, you could tell that UMBC was getting frustrated. Coach Monroe, who had already taken off his jacket during the first five minutes of the game, was yelling instructions to his players from the sidelines.
During the last 3 minutes of the game, BU had victory in their sights. We tried several times to make a basket, but all of our attempts ended in either a turn over or a foul. By the end of the game we were pretty upset at the refs, who had made some very bad calls, and I’m not just saying that because UMBC lost. I’m told that even the ESPN anchors were commenting on the lack of calls made by the refs.
And at the sound of the final buzzer, instead of a sea of black and gold, a mob of BU fans stormed the court. Confetti fell from the ceiling as fans hugged each other and rejoiced in their first ever championship win. I caught a glimpse of our team before they headed back to the locker room. Chauncy Gilliam looked like he had tears in his eyes. They were so close to winning their second chance to play in the NCAA tournament, and now it was all over.
After the game, the bus was real quiet. It had been a long weekend, but we were hoping to make it all the way to the NCAA tournament. As we sat on the bus waiting to begin the long trip back to Baltimore, we had a visit from two special guests: Jay Greene and Coach Randy Monroe.
As Jay walked up the steps, you could see the defeat in his eyes. It was his senior year, and it would have made his year to go to the NCAA tournament. He told us how much he appreciated our support. “You guys are the best band in the conference.”
When Coach Monroe boarded our bus, his tie was undone and he looked tired. It had been a great season for his team, and he was sorry to see it end in such an upset. He also thanked the band for their support and reminded us that the basketball team supports us in all that we do.
So now I sit in my seat next to Andrew Cleveland, who is playing Pokemon on his laptop while The Little Mermaid (don’t ask why) is playing on the overhead TV. It’s been a long weekend, but I’m glad that I got to experience this during my first year at UMBC. Two trips to two tournaments, and many memories that will not be forgotten. I’m ready to do it again next year. And who knows, maybe we’ll go all the way. GO BIG DAWGS!