RV Internet and Cloud Computing- New Horizons

/ December 19, 2016

My computer, purchased this past May, is kaput. Totally. I ran it through all the restore and repair commands and no luck. I spent days trying to revive it. I will eventually contact the manufacturer, but have not been in a hurry because it was a lemon from the beginning. Besides, I will have to ship it somewhere and wait forever for a replacement. However, a new computer is not in the budget right now, especially considering that I just bought a small TV for the camper.  Even with Christmas sales, a robust computer is out of reach right now.

First, I decided to order a refurbished HP computer for $250 at Wal-Mart online. However, it did not work, right out of the box. I returned it to Wal-Mart and began to look at other options.

Think think think. My computing needs changed drastically in the last year. I no longer go online for heavy sermon research.  I don’t need desktop publishing programs or large numbers of graphics.  I don’t need a Dell.

Furthermore, while traveling I began to rely solely on my Smart phone for email and Internet browsing. I started using my computer only for writing blog posts and other stuff. I store most of my docs on Google Drive  and sometimes use other Google programs that mimic office. I love Sheets for budgeting and Keep for to do lists. This all makes me a perfect candidate for an affordable Google Chromebook.

Chromebook computers (running Google Chrome OS), do not use Office programs. Google Chrome the first thing you open when firing up the computer. It is the center of the universe on a Chromebook, rather than Microsoft. Once you open Google Chrome, you can access multiple programs that are compatible with (and look like) Office, but all documents are stored online in the Google Cloud rather than on your computer. The best thing about all this for someone who has limited Internet access, is that you can open documents in progress and then go offline to finish working!  When you go back online, the edited document syncs with the original.

Other advantages:

  • Small, lightweight, easy to transport
  • Long battery life
  • Inexpensive solution for writers and for simple household tasks like budgeting
  • I can open my documents from my phone and Kindle Fire by downloading the Google apps on each.
  • If you have been using Google Chrome as  your browser, it has already saved all your bookmarks and passwords.

Other uses:

  • E-books, Audible
  • Printing your docs and other stuff
  • Making slides compatible with Office
  • Lots of apps available but I haven’t looked into it yet.

My new Samsung Google Chromebook has:

  • HDMI port
  • USB port
  • Headphone jack
  • Mini SD port
  • Speakers

A Google Chromebook does not do the following:

  • Play CDs (no problem, I have a DVD player hooked up to my sweet little TV)
  • Allow for gaming (never have done gaming online)
  • Operate Office  or other regular programs. It is all cloud-based, using Google Chrome apps.

A Chromebook is a simple way to do simple stuff and have it stored automatically on the cloud. So, today, I purchased a Samsung Google Chromebook at Best Buy in Pensacola. I am a Samsung groupie. It is the only brand that is consistently reliable for me. My little TV and my phone are also Samsung. Cost of the Chromebook: $159.

So far, so good. So light. Good keyboard. For the out of the box setup, which was minimal, I used my phone as a hotspot, opened up a few documents, then turned off the Internet to write offline. The mental transition is almost zero. The programs look and act the same.

So to summarize my computing, reading, Internet and phone details, which I hope is useful to other RVers:

  • Phone: Samsung 6
  • Internet: Phone as Hotspot (8GB data now, Verizon)
  • Simple writing and other documents: Samsung Chromebook
  • Audio Books, E-Books and Sudoku: Kindle Fire + earphones ( I could read on the Chromebook if the Kindle Fire goes kaput)
  • Movies: Regular DVD player connected to Samsung TV. I don’t stream movies or watch online TV because of my limited data.
  • Music: satellite radio in camper.

Note: I could do these things on just my phone or Chromebook, but I love my Kindle and my portable satellite radio/boombox.
Now, back to writing blog posts. I have experienced so much in the week I have been offline! Hint: I wore a parka to go out shopping for my new Chromebook. Also, the cement pad under the camper is completely surrounded by a large puddle or small lake of water. More soon.

 

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