Category Archives: Chromebook

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Web based printing using Google Cloud Print

Looking to share printers with multiple offices for printing?

When you print through Google Cloud Print, your file is securely sent to your printer over the web. Google Cloud Print gives you the ability to share printers via the web between offices without the need of a server. From your phone, your tablet, your laptop, or any web based device you can print to any printer that you have access to whether it’s your printer or a printer that has been shared with you.google-cloud-print[1]

Since the print job is being processed through the web there is no need to fuss with drivers, which is a bonus! It’s best to use a Google Print compatible printer, but practically any printer that is attached to a computer or server can be used. All you need is a Google Chrome account.
Here’s how to set it up. If you already have a Google account it will only take about 3 minutes to setup:

1. Open Google Chrome and login to your Google account. Make sure to use your main Google account your normally would use. You are limited to one account for printing.
2. Open your settings menu (either the four bars or wrench icon).
3. Go to Options
4. Scroll to the bottom and click on Advanced Options
5. Scroll to the “Sign in to Google Cloud Print”
6. Once you sign in Google will collect the data on the printers attached to that machine and you should see a “Success” notification where you can print a test page.

Once you have Google Cloud Print setup on the main computer you can download the Google Cloud Print app on any device you want to print from (i.e. your phone or tablet). The app will allow you to print documents from your phone back to the local printer from anywhere you have a connection.  You can also manage the printers and share them with others.

It’s that easy! Have fun!


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To Chromebook or not to Chromebook

So if it looks like a laptop, and acts like a laptop, and feels like a laptop, then it must be a laptop, right? Wrong! Google Chromebook has some great commercials out right now about their product but most consumers see the price and nothing else. Make sure you understand that the Google Chromebook is a cloud-centric laptop, meaning that you do everything in the cloud.

WHAT DOES COMPUTERWORLD SAY ABOUT THE CHROMEBOOK?

I think ComputerWorld sums it up well, “The new Samsung Chromebook runs Google’s Chrome OS operating system. Chrome OS is all about the cloud: Instead of using locally stored programs, it relies on Web-based apps like Gmail, Google Docs and Google Drive. You can do quite a bit offline — an important option that was missing in early versions of the software — but the Web is definitely the platform’s main focus.”

MS. BITS SUMMARY OF THE CHROMEBOOK

The Chromebook isn’t new, but with the advancement in Cloud computing it’s concept is catching on. With Office365, Windows Live, Google Calendar, Picasa, Google Drive, DropBox, QuickBooks online, and other cloud based applications, both personal and professional users can live in the cloud. That mindset is exactly what the Chromebook developers are hoping for. The Chromebook has no storage space for you to keep anything, it doesn’t have a DVD player, and you don’t load application or game software on it. It assumes that you do everything in the cloud; from storing documents on Google Drive, to play games & watching movies on Google Play.

PRO’S

One of the biggest perks of the Chromebook is that you don’t have to deal with those annoying Windows and application updates all the time; the platform’s Web-based apps all update in the cloud on their own. And since you don’t have applications running on the device you don’t have to worry about driver conflicts and getting a virus.  If you video chat you’ll still have the ability to do so with the built-in webcam

IS IT FOR EVERYONE?

One size does not fit all when it comes to most technologies.  Like I always advise any of my clients and friends, make sure you do your research before buying any new gadget.  Just because it’s cool doesn’t mean it’s the right fit for you 🙂