Tag: Chromebook

2016-07-03 Virtually Madeup for July 4th

I tried Makeup Plus to virtually make up this morning and “share” with my friends on my Android tablet. I don’t like makeup and it never likes me. So it is perfectly fun to dress up without really doing anything. Ha! The ad showed red, white and blue on a model’s lips and I thought there would be some wild and silly things to put on. I settled for a couple of stars. Then I used my tablet picture editor to change the picture. I still wanted more! I looked for images of flags and fireworks. I used these to layer in Art Rage and made a virtual me in celebration. Happy Fourth of July!

Art Rage for Android
Makeup Plus

P.S. Does it look like my tongue is sticking out? It isn’t.

2015-11-10 Chromebook for Christmas

I got a great deal on a Samsung Chromebook (through Amazon).  Merry Christmas to me.

Updated 2015-12-23

I got a new chromebook with my christmas money and I love it.  The battery last longer, the usb ports are easier to get to and it is a little faster.  All the settings/apps and everything from my old chromebook (google+) account is exactly the same.  I set up another account on the old one and voila I am in business again with out a hiccup.  The problem is that everyone else I know is so used to windows world, where they sit and wait and wait and wait, that they do not want to use the old one.  Well, there is a bit of a learning curve.  It’s so great to be able to turn it on and seconds later be on the internet and not have to worry about security and updates so much.  Don’t get me wrong, updates do happen but they are so not intrusive, I barely even notice.  All my ‘data’ is on the cloud or on flash drives that I swap in and out.  I am planning to update my Win7 desktop early next year, to Win 10.  I am enjoying the peace of having a nice holiday with out UPDATE headaches.

2014-07-31 Remotely Access Computer

I have made good progress.  My tiny desktop (downgraded Win7 from Win8) is set up and all needed software put on – easy and fast to use.  I have a wireless keyboard, but have yet to install wireless monitor (received a few days ago) to the system.  I went through all the howtos for remotely accessing my computer using my chromebook and did not get any to work.  Here’s the conceptual problem, the more you disable security (e.g. open ports, etc.) the more vulnerable you are and the less the more likely you are to be unsuccessful.  Most of what I want is to be able to sign on and use the database/HD storage from another room.  It is quiet enough to keep running all the time for a server and use to record/develop ideas, plans, writing and drawing as it happens, but the more I use the machine, the more time I have to diagnose problems and download updates, etc.  I do not even know if I want to set up as LAN or put on internet for access from anywhere, yet.  I need a plan.  Time to study the details.  I am just about to get focused on the problem.  Target mid August for resolution(s).  Here are links with best information, so far.

https://www.howtogeek.com/142146/how-to-use-google-chrome-to-remotely-access-your-computer/

https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2375210,00.asp

https://philliprearick.hubpages.com/hub/Chrome-Remote-Desktop-Tutorial

2014-03-31 Another Windows Machine?

I am not sure how this works and I am not sure what to do.  That does seem to fit together after a fashion.  I need a server, quickbooks (newer version), Artrage program and some office products NOT $ every year and no time for updates.  Goggle docs works for most things.  I used these web sites to do assignments that require HTML characters and symbols, but clicking on the HTML tag in the editing phase and I can transfer to PDF for printing, etc.  Here’s the tricky part.  I have to down size.  Time is less and less so I need to be more efficient.  Minimize the machines I have to keep up and running.  Quirky little HP laptop has to go.  But how do I store on a database where I can program what I need WITHOUT learning a whole different world of programming and still have physical room to work. Necessary space has shrunk up in recent days.  I need to be highly portable and flexible, which implies cloud based technologies, but the world is not quite ready.  It is a dilemma I am working on.  First, keep these websites active and finish up my homework/class so I can get on with things this summer.  Ooo, tomorrow is April 1 – April fool.  Best not decide then.  Waiting…

2013-10-12 PDF is just a format or is it?

Find the article you want on Google Scholar, timely and on point and then  download PDF file and print.  Easy as 1, 2, 3, but by page four any way I do it, it is off center and over the page UNLESS I make it really small.  What’s up with that?  I am going back to the oldest working computer (XP) I have and see if the powers that add all these modular apps have done it again and messed up the formating. Whoa, nelly, slow and accurate before you distribute software.

2013-03-24 Fine line between redundancy and hoarding

I need a simple life.  It occurs to me that keeping all these different computers is no longer necessary.  I need only two.  I have five. I need an offline desktop for private stuff that has a printer attached, and my new Chromebook.  When I made this suggestion to my friends, family, they were all for it.  When I pointed out that I would lose a certain amount of redundancy, e.g. like playing DVDs.  They pointed out that we had multiple places to play a DVD.  My purpose was to reduce the hardware and software to maintaining what I use.  I am tired of spending any extra time with fixes and updates, especially those older devices and redundant systems. Between myself and my family, we can usually “cover” any hardware/software issue with another machine.  There are low cost refurbished machines everywhere for reasonable prices.  So I agree, that it was silly to keep myself surrounded by equipment that gathers dust bunnies instead of being useful.  However, when I suggest the same idea to them, there was a bit of a rebuff.  MYOB was what I thought they were thinking.  Anyway, I’ve learned to set an example and maybe, they will see the value and follow suit.  In any case, there is a very fine line between maintaining redundancy and hoarding.  I’ll admit I become attached. I have stuff that I do not want to lose.  Never mind that I will not ever use it again.  If I keep the best of my old desktops running the least troublesome of my operating systems, offline but ready to be connected (in an emergency) and  I keep my backups up to date, which is critical,  I can get down to a desktop and a Chromebook.  I want a new camera.  I could use the money, even if I don’t get much for trade ins.  And, we could really use the room.  Less housekeeping on that dust.  Then, maybe, the more than five, but less than ten other machines that my family has out there that occasionally make it back to me for updates and refurbishing could be reduced, as well.  Surely they will see the benefits from my example? Lol.

[images no longer available]

2013-02-20 Seven with strike leads to issues with .png

I “drew” this illustration on ArtRage to make a decent image in a ping file so that I could embed in my blurb about the seven with a strike through it.  Part of a funny story…there is not a font for it and linked versions keep coming up in Internet Explorer, which I no longer use.  No matter what I tell it, default .png files use IE, mmmh.  Guess on a Chromebook, they will have no choice.  P.S. Yesterday, I researched a bit of Chromebook and discovered that there is no way to turn off updates.  My plan was to use NetZero (free) while I away from home, but to do that I need to stop all data transfers because, with just one java update for example, netzero cuts off network until next MONTH! Bummer. Illustration: https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/1UIFox-QI5Vsx9_n7uGPzdMRV53vFyzoH-KNA825OUtg/pub?w=480&h=360

2013-01-12 BestBuy Looking, No Chromebook

We went to Best Buy to look at Windows Surface(RT) and had to ask to find it.  Ah, it was in front of phones?  Mmmh.  Sales lady told us that this RT version was limited and Windows Surface Pro expected by the end of the month.  [Windows Surface Pro has a much higher price tag, too, though it has Windows 8 and can load other third party apps.] The Window Surface(RT) was not “on”. We connected the unplugged cable and while we were waiting for it to finish “upgrading” and “configuring” which took about 5 minutes, no kidding?!, we discussed why they had no Chromebook(s) available with the other sales rep that stopped by.  He said he was looking forward to the ASUS version and while we discussed purchasing online, I mentioned that I needed a “hands on” to decide if it was sturdy enough to last. When I asked for more detailed information about the Windows Surface, he admitted that he was the “phone” guy; that the Windows Surface(RT) was out of his expertise.  He left shortly thereafter.  When we got the surface up and running, we tried a few menu items, got stuck once, got out and then it started some kind of upgrade again!  We just laughed and shook our heads.  Microsoft, oh, boy.  I went to play angry birds star wars on the Kindle Fire HD.  So funny. ASUS makes a Zenbook which runs Windows 7 Pro near $999; Acer and Samsung make the Chromebook. At $239/$429 (Amazon) , respectively, the Chromebook(s) are nearer my speed(budget wise).