19,99 €
Mehr erfahren.
- Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
- Kategorie: Wissenschaft und neue Technologien
- Sprache: Englisch
Get the most out of your Google Chromebook Chromebook For Dummies walks you through setting up your Chromebook, transitioning from traditional computers, customizing a Chromebook to fit your needs, navigating the many apps and their uses, and applying advanced settings and features. This book documents the features of all Chromebooks, approaching them from the point of view of a smart person who is intimidated by the technology. * Offers extensive and practical information * Covers all portable computers powered by Chrome OS * Helps make it easy to drive these fast, user-friendly devices * Includes coverage of the latest features in the Chrome operating system You'll end up keeping this book close at hand, referring to it often as you explore the features of your Chromebook.
Sie lesen das E-Book in den Legimi-Apps auf:
Seitenzahl: 581
Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2020
Ähnliche
Chromebook® For Dummies®, 2nd Edition
Published by: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774, www.wiley.com
Copyright © 2020 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey
Published simultaneously in Canada
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise, except as permitted under Sections 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without the prior written permission of the Publisher. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030, (201) 748-6011, fax (201) 748-6008, or online at http://www.wiley.com/go/permissions.
Trademarks: Wiley, For Dummies, the Dummies Man logo, Dummies.com, Making Everything Easier, and related trade dress are trademarks or registered trademarks of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and may not be used without written permission. Chromebook is a registered trademark of Google, LLC. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book.
LIMIT OF LIABILITY/DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY: THE PUBLISHER AND THE AUTHOR MAKE NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE CONTENTS OF THIS WORK AND SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION WARRANTIES OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. NO WARRANTY MAY BE CREATED OR EXTENDED BY SALES OR PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS. THE ADVICE AND STRATEGIES CONTAINED HEREIN MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR EVERY SITUATION. THIS WORK IS SOLD WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PUBLISHER IS NOT ENGAGED IN RENDERING LEGAL, ACCOUNTING, OR OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. IF PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE IS REQUIRED, THE SERVICES OF A COMPETENT PROFESSIONAL PERSON SHOULD BE SOUGHT. NEITHER THE PUBLISHER NOR THE AUTHOR SHALL BE LIABLE FOR DAMAGES ARISING HEREFROM. THE FACT THAT AN ORGANIZATION OR WEBSITE IS REFERRED TO IN THIS WORK AS A CITATION AND/OR A POTENTIAL SOURCE OF FURTHER INFORMATION DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE AUTHOR OR THE PUBLISHER ENDORSES THE INFORMATION THE ORGANIZATION OR WEBSITE MAY PROVIDE OR RECOMMENDATIONS IT MAY MAKE. FURTHER, READERS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT INTERNET WEBSITES LISTED IN THIS WORK MAY HAVE CHANGED OR DISAPPEARED BETWEEN WHEN THIS WORK WAS WRITTEN AND WHEN IT IS READ.
For general information on our other products and services, please contact our Customer Care Department within the U.S. at 877-762-2974, outside the U.S. at 317-572-3993, or fax 317-572-4002. For technical support, please visit https://hub.wiley.com/community/support/dummies.
Wiley publishes in a variety of print and electronic formats and by print-on-demand. Some material included with standard print versions of this book may not be included in e-books or in print-on-demand. If this book refers to media such as a CD or DVD that is not included in the version you purchased, you may download this material at http://booksupport.wiley.com. For more information about Wiley products, visit www.wiley.com.
Library of Congress Control Number: 2020902717
ISBN: 978-1-119-65171-0; ISBN 978-1-119-65172-7 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-119-65174-1 (ebk)
Chromebook® For Dummies®
To view this book's Cheat Sheet, simply go to www.dummies.com and search for “Chromebook For Dummies Cheat Sheet” in the Search box.
Table of Contents
Cover
Introduction
About This Book
Foolish Assumptions
Icons Used in This Book
Beyond the Book
Where to Go from Here
Part 1: Getting Started with Chromebook
Chapter 1: Choosing and Set ting Up Your Chromebook
Checking Under the Hood of the Chromebook
Choosing a Chromebook
Setting Up Your Chromebook
Logging In for the First Time
Transitioning to a Chromebook from Mac, Linux, or Windows
Where to Go Next
Chapter 2: Working with the Chromebook Desktop
Accessing the Chromebook Shelf
Using the Launcher: Chromebook’s Start Button
Setting Up App Shortcuts
Getting the Scoop in the Status Area
Taking Charge of Window Controls
Multitasking with Multiple Windows
Setting Up a Printer
Chapter 3: Sur veying the Chrome Browser
Navigating the Chrome Browser
Customizing and Controlling Chrome
Changing Search Engine Providers
Using Other Browsers
Chapter 4: Getting Your Hands on the Keyboard and Touchpad
The Chromebook Keyboard at a Glance
Using Shortcut Key Combinations
Configuring Keyboard Settings
Using the Touchpad
Customizing Touchpad Settings
Connecting a Mouse or Keyboard
Chapter 5: Finding and Exploring Chromebook Apps
Exploring Chromebook’s Pre-Installed Apps
Finding More Apps with the Chrome Web Store
The Google Play Store
Managing Installed Apps
Chapter 6: Working with Gmail and Google Calendar
Gmail for Chromebook
Sending Email with Gmail
Reading Email
Use Gmail to Access Non-Gmail Accounts
Using Gmail Offline
Using Google Calendar
Chapter 7: Finding Your Files
Finding Files with the Files App
Adding and Using External Storage
Working with Google Drive
Part 2: Harnessing Business Power with the Chromebook
Chapter 8: Writing with Word Processing
Navigating Google Docs
Working with Text
Formatting Text
Saving Documents
Collaborating in Docs
Tracking Document Revisions
Using Docs Offline
Chapter 9: Summarizing Sheets
Navigating Google Sheets
Working with Data
Formatting Data
Customizing Your Spreadsheet
Formatting numbers
Making Calculations with Formulas
Saving Documents
Collaboration with Sheets
Tracking Versions of Your Spreadsheet
Using Sheets Offline
Chapter 10: Preparing Presentations
Navigating Google Slides
Styling Your Presentation
Working with Text
Working with Images
Viewing Presentations in Presentation Mode
Saving Presentations
Collaborating in Slides
Tracking Revisions
Using Slides Offline
Chapter 11: Using Other Office Tools
Getting Started with Office Online
Checking Out Apple’s iCloud Suite
Using Adobe Reader
Part 3: The Chromebook Recreational Vehicle
Chapter 12: Mustering Your Music
Getting Started with Google Play
Creating a Standard Account
Upgrading to a Premium Account
Accessing Music in Google Play
Creating Playlists
Enjoying Streaming Music with Pandora
Streaming with Spotify
Amping Up Amazon Music
Rocking with Apple Music
Chapter 13: Having Fun with Photos
Navigating the Chromebook Camera
Taking a Picture
Viewing Photos Taken with a Smartphone on Your Chromebook
Viewing Photos on Your Chromebook
Sharing Photos
Deleting Photos
Transferring Photos from a Digital Camera to Your Chromebook
Viewing and Editing Photos
Chapter 14: Playing Video on the Chromebook
Creating a Video with Your Chromebook
Watching Video on Chromebook
Navigating the Chromebook Video Player
Using Other Video Players on a Chromebook
Transferring a Video from an Android Phone to a Chromebook
Transferring a Video from a Dashcam or Another Source to a Chromebook
Getting Started with Google’s Play Movies
Navigating Google Play Movies & TV
Exploring YouTube
Navigating YouTube
Chapter 15: Chatting with Friends and Family
Hanging Out with Hangouts
Getting Started with Duo
Calling and Texting with Google Voice
Communicating with Skype
Working with Google Contacts
Chapter 16: Reading Ebooks on the Chromebook
Navigating Google Play Books
Reading Ebooks with Your Chromebook
Using Amazon Kindle on your Chromebook
Part 4: Advanced Chromebook Settings
Chapter 17: Customizing Your Chromebook
Customizing Your Display Settings
Customizing Your Shelf
Connecting Bluetooth devices to your Chromebook
Managing Notifications
Configuring Your Touchpad
Chapter 18: Securing Your Chromebook
Conducting User Management
Managing and protecting Your passwords
Locking Your Screen
Protecting Your Network Traffic with VPN
Keeping Your Chromebook Up to Date
Protection from Viruses and Other Malware
Power Washing
Protecting Your Chromebook from Prying Eyes and Thieves
Chapter 19: Troubleshooting and Disaster Preparation
Resolving Internet-Connectivity Problems
Looking into Browser Issues
Resolving Power Problems
Finding Help Online
Using the Chromebook Recovery Utility
Part 5: The Part of Tens
Chapter 20: Ten Hardware Features to Consider When Buying a Chromebook
Screen
Processor
Memory
Storage Capacity
Webcam
Internet Connection
Battery
SD Card Slot
HDMI Port
USB Ports (Including USB-C)
Chapter 21: Ten Handy Chromebook Shortcuts
Search from the Launcher
Do a Quick Reboot
Control Chromebook with the Omnibox
Lock Your Screen
Launch Apps in the Shelf
Do a Barrel Roll
View Chrome Browser Tasks
See All Your Open Windows
Perform Math, Conversions, and Definitions with Search
Use A Proxy for the Delete Key
Chapter 22: Ten Great Chrome OS Apps
Skype
WeVideo
Lexulous Solitaire
Angry Birds
Chrome Remote Desktop
PicMonkey
Sketch The Best
Pandora
Microsoft Word Online
Weatherbug
Chapter 23: Ten Chromebook Security Tips
Lock Your Chromebook when You’re Away
Use Strong, Complex Passwords
Use a Web-Based Password Vault
Use Multifactor Authentication Everywhere You Can
Get a Screen Privacy Filter
Block Malicious Websites with an Antimalware Program
Update the Security on Your Wi-Fi Access Point
Back Up Your Local Data
Use a VPN If You Use Public Wi-Fi Routinely
Keep Your Chromebook Up to Date
Index
About the Author
Advertisement Page
Connect with Dummies
End User License Agreement
List of Tables
Chapter 4
TABLE 4-1 Shortcuts for Chromebook and Chromebook Apps
TABLE 4-2 Shortcuts for Chrome Browser Pages
TABLE 4-3 Shortcuts for Text Editing
List of Illustrations
Chapter 1
FIGURE 1-1: The Google Chrome web browser.
FIGURE 1-2: The Power button on two different Chromebook models.
FIGURE 1-3: The Wi-Fi signal icon.
FIGURE 1-4: The Exit Guest button.
Chapter 2
FIGURE 2-1: The Chromebook shelf.
FIGURE 2-2: The Chromebook Launcher.
FIGURE 2-3: Pinning application shortcuts to your shelf.
FIGURE 2-4: The Chromebook notification panel.
FIGURE 2-5: Controls to minimize, maximize, and close a window.
FIGURE 2-6: Navigating among applications using Alt+Tab.
FIGURE 2-7: The Browser tab is now a new, separate window.
FIGURE 2-8: Selecting one of multiple windows to open.
FIGURE 2-9: Setting up a local printer.
FIGURE 2-10: Some printers print a page with a URL to complete Google Cloud Pri...
FIGURE 2-11: Completion of Google Cloud Print setup on your printer.
FIGURE 2-12: Selecting your cloud printer.
FIGURE 2-13: The Google Cloud Print print jobs display.
FIGURE 2-14: List of printers managed by Google Cloud Print.
Chapter 3
FIGURE 3-1: The layout of the Chrome browser.
FIGURE 3-2: Chrome browser tabs.
FIGURE 3-3: The bookmark bar has limited space.
FIGURE 3-4: Chrome shows recent sites in a new blank tab.
FIGURE 3-5: The Help page.
FIGURE 3-6: The Chrome browser Bookmark Manager.
FIGURE 3-7: The Chrome browser History page.
FIGURE 3-8: The Clear Browsing Data window.
FIGURE 3-9: The Incognito window.
FIGURE 3-10: Selecting a new default search engine.
FIGURE 3-11: Installing the Firefox browser.
Chapter 4
FIGURE 4-1: The Chromebook keyboard on the author’s Lenovo C330.
FIGURE 4-2: The Chromebook Search key.
FIGURE 4-3: The Keyboard Shortcut Help page.
FIGURE 4-4: The Chromebook status area.
FIGURE 4-5: The Keyboard Settings dialog box.
FIGURE 4-6: Reconfiguring the Alt key.
FIGURE 4-7: The Languages and Input dialog box.
FIGURE 4-8: The Add Languages dialog box.
FIGURE 4-9: Configuring the Touchpad.
FIGURE 4-10: Configuring a mouse.
Chapter 5
FIGURE 5-1: Take notes with Google Keep.
FIGURE 5-2: Take your music collection with you on Google Play Music.
FIGURE 5-3: Organize your life with Google Calendar.
FIGURE 5-4: Check out bestsellers at Google Play Books.
FIGURE 5-5: Finding your way with Google Maps.
FIGURE 5-6: Finding and installing apps at the Web Store.
FIGURE 5-7: Exploring apps on the Google Play Store.
FIGURE 5-8: Managing your installed apps with the Google Play Store.
FIGURE 5-9: Checking and removing installed apps using Launcher.
Chapter 6
FIGURE 6-1: The Google account creation page.
FIGURE 6-2: Gmail’s user interface.
FIGURE 6-3: Email labels.
FIGURE 6-4: The email area.
FIGURE 6-5: Customizing your Gmail view.
FIGURE 6-6: Selecting the density of display of email messages in Gmail.
FIGURE 6-7: Configuring your Inbox view.
FIGURE 6-8: Unread emails appear first.
FIGURE 6-9: Sending an email message in Gmail.
FIGURE 6-10: The formatting palette in an email message.
FIGURE 6-11: The Uploaded File indicator in an email.
FIGURE 6-12: Adding an email signature that will appear at the end of every ema...
FIGURE 6-13: Reading an email message.
FIGURE 6-14: Placing a label on an email message.
FIGURE 6-15: Setting a vacation responder to make people envious of your beauti...
FIGURE 6-16: Configuring Gmail to read email from a non-Google email service.
FIGURE 6-17: Enabling Gmail for offline use.
FIGURE 6-18: Google Calendar.
FIGURE 6-19: Google Calendar in Day view.
FIGURE 6-20: Google Calendar in Month view.
FIGURE 6-21: Google Calendar in Schedule view.
FIGURE 6-22: Adding a calendar.
FIGURE 6-23: Creating a new calendar.
FIGURE 6-24: Adding a new event to your calendar.
FIGURE 6-25: Adding more details to a new event to Google Calendar.
FIGURE 6-26: Editing an event in Google Calendar.
FIGURE 6-27: Sharing your calendar with specific people.
FIGURE 6-28: Your calendar has a publicly reachable URL.
Chapter 7
FIGURE 7-1: Use the Chromebook Files app to access and manage files.
FIGURE 7-2: The File Settings menu.
FIGURE 7-3: Following the Files breadcrumbs.
FIGURE 7-4: Dragging a file to a new location.
FIGURE 7-5: Accessing external storage.
FIGURE 7-6: Google often has promotions for new Chromebook users.
FIGURE 7-7: The Google Drive web interface.
FIGURE 7-8: Uploading files to Google Drive from a Mac using a browser.
FIGURE 7-9: Uploading files to Google Drive using the Google Drive for Mac app.
FIGURE 7-10: Setting up Google Drive using the Google Drive for Windows app.
FIGURE 7-11: Google Drive on an Apple iPhone 8.
FIGURE 7-12: Sharing a document in Google Drive.
FIGURE 7-13: Marking files or folders in Google Drive for offline use.
Chapter 8
FIGURE 8-1: Google Docs.
FIGURE 8-2: The Docs Applications menu and Edit toolbars.
FIGURE 8-3: Hide the Applications menu to make more room for your content.
FIGURE 8-4: The Full-Screen shortcut key on your keyboard.
FIGURE 8-5: The Arrow keys on your keyboard.
FIGURE 8-6: Open an editing menu by Alt-clicking selected text.
FIGURE 8-7: Selecting a font in Google Docs.
FIGURE 8-8: Adding new fonts to Google Docs.
FIGURE 8-9: Selecting different text sizes in Google Docs.
FIGURE 8-10: Left, Right, Center, and Justified alignment buttons in Google Doc...
FIGURE 8-11: Changing the name of a Google Docs document.
FIGURE 8-12: Exporting your document to a new format with the Download As subme...
FIGURE 8-13: The Share window lets you share documents with others.
FIGURE 8-14: Advanced Share settings let you specify editing rights for each pe...
FIGURE 8-15: The Version History box.
Chapter 9
FIGURE 9-1: Google Sheets.
FIGURE 9-2: The Sheets Application menu, Formula bar, and Edit toolbar.
FIGURE 9-3: Cells A8 through A20.
FIGURE 9-4: Cells A8 through C20.
FIGURE 9-5: Google Sheets in Full Screen mode.
FIGURE 9-6: Google Sheets in Full Screen mode with no Formula bar.
FIGURE 9-7: A Google Sheets spreadsheet without gridlines.
FIGURE 9-8: Data entered appears in the selected cell and the Formula bar.
FIGURE 9-9: Find and Replace content in Google Sheets.
FIGURE 9-10: Actions that you can carry out on a cell or selection of cells in ...
FIGURE 9-11: The Autofill square in Google Sheets.
FIGURE 9-12: Sheets completes the sequence of dates.
FIGURE 9-13: Adding new fonts to Google Sheets.
FIGURE 9-14: Selecting font sizes in Google Sheets.
FIGURE 9-15: Selecting colors for text in Google Sheets.
FIGURE 9-16: Hovering over alignment buttons reveal their purpose.
FIGURE 9-17: The wrap text feature in action.
FIGURE 9-18: The Alt-click menu for rows in Google Sheets.
FIGURE 9-19: Applying auto-formatting to selected cells in Google Sheets.
FIGURE 9-20: Adding a border to cells in Google Sheets.
FIGURE 9-21: Using formulas in Google Sheets to add the values of cells togethe...
FIGURE 9-22: Using functions to add the contents of cells together.
FIGURE 9-23: You can change the spreadsheet’s name.
FIGURE 9-24: Exporting a spreadsheet to a folder in Google Drive.
FIGURE 9-25: Sharing a spreadsheet with other people.
FIGURE 9-26: Viewing versions of a spreadsheet in Google Sheets.
Chapter 10
FIGURE 10-1: The Google Slides startup screen.
FIGURE 10-2: Your new Google Slides presentation with the Themes selector.
FIGURE 10-3: Selecting an aspect ratio for your Google Slides presentation.
FIGURE 10-4: The Google Slides main areas.
FIGURE 10-5: Adding a slide and choosing a layout.
FIGURE 10-6: Moving slides within a presentation.
FIGURE 10-7: The slide editor is where you add and edit content in a single sli...
FIGURE 10-8: Slides with the Applications menu compacted.
FIGURE 10-9: Google Slides in Full-Screen mode.
FIGURE 10-10: The Background window in Google Slides.
FIGURE 10-11: Browsing for a slide background image.
FIGURE 10-12: A newly created text box in Google Slides.
FIGURE 10-13: A text box has been rotated in Google Slides.
FIGURE 10-14: Selecting text in a text box.
FIGURE 10-15: Adding fonts to Google Slides.
FIGURE 10-16: Changing the size of selected text in Google Slides.
FIGURE 10-17: Changing the color of selected text in Google Slides.
FIGURE 10-18: Changing the alignment of text in Google Slides.
FIGURE 10-19: The Image selector menu.
FIGURE 10-20: Adding an image from the Internet using a URL.
FIGURE 10-21: Rotating an image in Google Slides.
FIGURE 10-22: Cropping an image in Google Slides.
FIGURE 10-23: Masking an image in Google Slides.
FIGURE 10-24: Viewing a presentation in Presentation mode.
FIGURE 10-25: Showing a slide presentation in Presenter View.
FIGURE 10-26: The Presenter toolbar.
FIGURE 10-27: Renaming a slide presentation.
FIGURE 10-28: Sharing a slide presentation and setting access permissions for e...
FIGURE 10-29: Viewing available versions of a Google Slides presentation.
Chapter 11
FIGURE 11-1: The Microsoft Office main page.
FIGURE 11-2: Office Online uses text messages to verify your identity.
FIGURE 11-3: The OneDrive main page.
FIGURE 11-4: Dragging and dropping files from your Chromebook or Google Drive t...
FIGURE 11-5: The Outlook main page with a welcome message from the Outlook Team...
FIGURE 11-6: Adding your Gmail account to Outlook.
FIGURE 11-7: Composing a new message with Outlook.
FIGURE 11-8: The Outlook Calendar.
FIGURE 11-9: Adding an event to the Outlook Calendar.
FIGURE 11-10: Adding a contact to Outlook.
FIGURE 11-11: Using Word from Office Online on a Chromebook.
FIGURE 11-12: The Word app in the Google Play Store.
FIGURE 11-13: Microsoft Excel’s starting page.
FIGURE 11-14: A new, blank spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel.
FIGURE 11-15: The Microsoft PowerPoint starting page.
FIGURE 11-16: A new, blank presentation in Microsoft PowerPoint.
FIGURE 11-17: OneNote’s initial screen with categories chosen in the tour.
FIGURE 11-18: Features and functions in OneNote.
FIGURE 11-19: Sharing a spreadsheet with another user in Microsoft Excel.
FIGURE 11-20: The Skype main window on a Chromebook.
FIGURE 11-21: A Skype conversation on a Chromebook.
FIGURE 11-22: The iCloud main page.
FIGURE 11-23: The iCloud Drive main page.
FIGURE 11-24: Pages is not fully supported on Chromebook browsers.
FIGURE 11-25: The iCloud Pages word processing app.
FIGURE 11-26: The iCloud Numbers spreadsheet app.
FIGURE 11-27: The iCloud Keynote presentation app.
FIGURE 11-28: The Adobe Reader app.
Chapter 12
FIGURE 12-1: Google Play Music.
FIGURE 12-2: The Google Play Music menu.
FIGURE 12-3: Selecting your Google Play Music subscription.
FIGURE 12-4: Selecting your favorite genres.
FIGURE 12-5: The Google Play Music mini player.
FIGURE 12-6: The Google Play Music radio controls.
FIGURE 12-7: Purchasing music on Google Play Music.
FIGURE 12-8: Creating a new playlist in Google Play Music.
FIGURE 12-9: The Playlist share window.
FIGURE 12-10: Casting music to an external device.
FIGURE 12-11: The Pandora music streaming service.
FIGURE 12-12: The Pandora app for Chromebooks.
FIGURE 12-13: The Spotify download page.
FIGURE 12-14: The Spotify streaming music service web player.
FIGURE 12-15: The Amazon Music stream service.
FIGURE 12-16: Installing the Apple Music music player on a Chromebook.
FIGURE 12-17: The Apple Music music player spinning classic rock hits.
Chapter 13
FIGURE 13-1: The Camera app.
FIGURE 13-2: The Timer activation indicator.
FIGURE 13-3: Changing the Timer setting.
FIGURE 13-4: Configuring Google Photos to back up photos on an Android phone.
FIGURE 13-5: Uploading photos taken with a Chromebook to Google Photos.
FIGURE 13-6: Viewing images on your Chromebook.
FIGURE 13-7: Reviewing your Picasso.
FIGURE 13-8: Sharing photos with others.
FIGURE 13-9: Deleting a photo from your Chromebook.
FIGURE 13-10: A standard SD card.
FIGURE 13-11: A Micro SD card being inserted into an SD card adaptor.
FIGURE 13-12: The Chromebook photo editor.
Chapter 14
FIGURE 14-1: The Files app showing an external storage device.
FIGURE 14-2: Playing a video in the Chromebook video player.
FIGURE 14-3: Click the Eject button before removing an SD card.
FIGURE 14-4: Chromebook’s video player in Full Screen mode.
FIGURE 14-5: Selecting a video to play with the VLC video player.
FIGURE 14-6: Browsing movies in Google Play Movies & TV.
FIGURE 14-7: Searching movie titles in Google Play Movies & TV
FIGURE 14-8: The Google Wallet window.
FIGURE 14-9: Casting a movie to a Smart TV.
FIGURE 14-10: YouTube’s control bar.
Chapter 15
FIGURE 15-1: Installing Hangouts on a Chromebook.
FIGURE 15-2: Sending text messages with Hangouts.
FIGURE 15-3: Selecting a user to chat with on Google Hangouts.
FIGURE 15-4: A video call on Google Hangouts.
FIGURE 15-5: The Duo home screen.
FIGURE 15-6: Preparing to record a video message in Duo.
FIGURE 15-7: Displaying a contact in Duo in preparation for a video or voice ca...
FIGURE 15-8: Video chatting with Duo.
FIGURE 15-9: The Google Voice main screen.
FIGURE 15-10: The Skype icon appears within the Chrome browser.
FIGURE 15-11: The main Skype window.
FIGURE 15-12: Adding a contact to Skype.
FIGURE 15-13: Text messaging with someone using Skype.
FIGURE 15-14: A live video chat using Skype.
FIGURE 15-15: The Google Contacts main window. The author’s personal contacts a...
FIGURE 15-16: Adding a new contact with Google Contacts.
FIGURE 15-17: Updating contact details with Google Contacts.
Chapter 16
FIGURE 16-1: Google Play Bookstore search results.
FIGURE 16-2: Paying for a book with Google Wallet.
FIGURE 16-3: Adding a free book to your library.
FIGURE 16-4: Scrolling through a book preview.
FIGURE 16-5: Controls in the Google Play Books reader.
FIGURE 16-6: Changing Display Options when reading an ebook.
FIGURE 16-7: Bookmarked pages in the Google Play Books reader.
FIGURE 16-8: Viewing the definition of a word.
FIGURE 16-9: Making a book available for offline reading.
FIGURE 16-10: Google Play Books in the Chrome browser.
FIGURE 16-11: Reading an ebook in Google Play Books in the Chrome browser.
FIGURE 16-12: The Kindle Cloud Reader app’s login screen.
FIGURE 16-13: Viewing your Kindle library.
FIGURE 16-14: Reading a Kindle book.
FIGURE 16-15: The Kindle reader controls.
FIGURE 16-16: Downloading a Kindle book.
Chapter 17
FIGURE 17-1: The Chromebook Settings window.
FIGURE 17-2: Chromebook’s wallpaper browser.
FIGURE 17-3: The Chromebook Displays Settings window.
FIGURE 17-4: Chromebook’s display with a low resolution.
FIGURE 17-5: Use the Chromebook Night Light settings to configure night mode fo...
FIGURE 17-6: A Chromebook HDMI display port.
FIGURE 17-7: Manage the arrangement of multiple displays.
FIGURE 17-8: Chromebook tells you when you’ve entered or exited Mirror mode.
FIGURE 17-9: Configuring an external display.
FIGURE 17-10: Configuring the Overscan setting to correct external display posi...
FIGURE 17-11: Relocating the shelf.
FIGURE 17-12: The shelf on the left side of the display.
FIGURE 17-13: Getting ready to pair a Chromebook to a Bluetooth device.
FIGURE 17-14: Chromebook has successfully paired with a Bluetooth device.
FIGURE 17-15: Configuring Bluetooth right in the Shelf Settings window.
FIGURE 17-16: A notification on the Chromebook display.
FIGURE 17-17: Configuring notifications settings on a Chromebook.
FIGURE 17-18: See how many notifications are waiting for you to view them.
FIGURE 17-19: Configuring the Chromebook touchpad.
Chapter 18
FIGURE 18-1: Managing users on a Chromebook.
FIGURE 18-2: Viewing active user accounts on a Chromebook.
FIGURE 18-3: Adding names to the list of users allowed to use your Chromebook.
FIGURE 18-4: Changing user settings is permitted by the owner only.
FIGURE 18-5: Hiding user accounts on the login window.
FIGURE 18-6: Disabling guest access on a Chromebook.
FIGURE 18-7: Verifying your Google login on your smartphone.
FIGURE 18-8: Using a Google Titan USB key to complete logging on to a Chromeboo...
FIGURE 18-9: Using the Keeper password vault to store a user ID and password.
FIGURE 18-10: The Chrome browser offers to store your password.
FIGURE 18-11: Writing your passwords down in a little black book.
FIGURE 18-12: Locking your Chromebook with the Lock menu.
FIGURE 18-13: Locking your Chromebook with the Lock button in the Settings wind...
FIGURE 18-14: Locking your Chromebook with the Lock key on the keyboard.
FIGURE 18-15: Enabling the wake-from-sleep password requirement.
FIGURE 18-16: Checking your Chromebook for updates.
FIGURE 18-17: Updating software from the Google Play Store.
FIGURE 18-18: AVG Online Security helps to protect you from Internet threats.
FIGURE 18-19: The Powerwash feature.
FIGURE 18-20: Are you sure?
FIGURE 18-21: A privacy filter makes it more difficult for others to view the d...
FIGURE 18-22: Locking your Chromebook with a security cable lock.
Chapter 19
FIGURE 19-1: The wireless adapter is turned off.
FIGURE 19-2: Selecting a Wi-Fi network for an Internet connection.
FIGURE 19-3: Configuring Chrome to restart where it left off.
FIGURE 19-4: The Sign Off and Shut Down icons.
FIGURE 19-5: A USB-C style power adaptor.
FIGURE 19-6: A “metal tip” style power adaptor.
FIGURE 19-7: The online Chromebook Help Center.
FIGURE 19-8: Installing the Chromebook Recovery Utility.
FIGURE 19-9: Launching the Chromebook Recovery Utility.
FIGURE 19-10: Insert your USB drive or SD card.
Chapter 21
FIGURE 21-1: The Chrome browser asks whether you want to continue from where yo...
FIGURE 21-2: Press the Show All Open Windows key to view all open windows.
Guide
Cover
Table of Contents
Begin Reading
Pages
i
ii
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
445
446
447
448
449
451
452
453
454
455
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
Introduction
Laptop sales have been declining for years. This decline is mainly due to the rise in popularity of smartphones and tablets in the consumer market. Technology is getting smaller, faster, and more portable, so the world’s dependence on full-size, full-featured computers with fixed connections has begun to decrease.
However, in this declining market, the rising star is the Chromebook — a low-cost portable computer powered by Google’s Chrome OS, the first popular operating system inspired by and designed specifically for the Internet. Unlike Windows PCs and the Mac, which were designed for general computer use with lots of big applications, Chromebooks are designed primarily for Internet use. Instead of a gigantic hard drive, Chromebook relies mainly on cloud-based storage. Instead of lots of expensive memory, Chromebook uses the Chrome browser that doesn’t use a lot of memory. And instead of resident applications, Chromebook uses mainly web-based applications that are accessed and bookmarked through the Chrome Web Store and the Google Play store.
By offloading the bulk of the functionality to the cloud, Google made it possible for hardware manufacturers to create computers with hardware configurations designed specifically for life on the web. The result is an accessible, user-friendly computer with a much lower price point, making it an excellent option for schools, students, companies, and budget-conscious people in need of modern computing power.
It’s paying off. Chromebooks make up almost two-thirds of all computers sold to K–12 schools in the U.S., and they’re gaining traction worldwide. This market share means that the future of Chromebooks is bright. What students use in school today, they’ll use at home and at work tomorrow.
Similarly, more corporations are offering Chromebooks to employees for their corporate workstations. Chromebooks have a lower price point, are easier to manage, and don’t have the security problems experienced by Windows (mostly), and Macs (a little, and growing).
Although Chromebooks use Google’s Chrome OS operating system, by no means are Chromebooks “Google only” computers. Tools from Microsoft (Office 365, Word, Excel, and Skype), Apple, and Amazon work on Chromebooks, too. And because Chromebooks are browser-centric, the entire world of the Internet is your oyster!
About This Book
Sometimes the greatest obstacle with new technology is the fear that you won’t be able to learn it fast enough for it to be of use. The good news is that this book is designed to remove all the guesswork. Chromebook For Dummies, 2nd Edition is designed to give you all the tips and tools you need to excel with your Chromebook.
You don’t need to have any preexisting experience with Chromebooks, Chrome OS, Android, or the Chrome browser to be able to use Chromebook For Dummies, 2nd Edition. You don’t even have to own a Chromebook: This book can help you choose the Chromebook that’s right for you! (See Chapter 1 for an overview of features and Chapter 20 for details on selecting the right Chromebook for your needs.) If you do have a Chromebook, this book guides you from the initial setup phase to the features that make Chromebooks unique and easy to use. Later sections of the book give you step-by-step instructions on installing popular apps that can make you productive (or entertained) on day one. By the time you hit the advanced settings and features section of the book, you’ll probably consider yourself an advanced Chromebook user.
Many computer books get bogged down with technical jargon and mumbo jumbo. This book, however, isn’t written for the technical elite; it’s written for the 99.9 percent of the population who just want a no-nonsense approach to using an easy-to-use computer.
Currently, several hardware manufacturers make Chromebooks. You’ve probably heard of many of them: HP, Samsung, Lenovo, Dell, Acer, and Asus, to name a few. Google even has its own branded Chromebook, known as the Chromebook Pixel and the Pixelbook. The only difference between these different devices is the hardware — not the operating system. For that reason, Chromebook For Dummies, 2nd Edition doesn’t reference any specific device or manufacturer.
Chromebooks are great devices, and their intuitive design makes for a very short learning curve. This book can help ensure that you have all the info you need to use your Chromebook like a rock star.
Foolish Assumptions
Chromebook For Dummies, 2nd Edition requires no prior computer knowledge or experience. Of course, if you do have experience using PCs or Macs, you’ll already be very familiar with many of the Chromebook’s features. If you’ve never used a laptop before but have used smartphones, you’ll find that many of the concepts carry over. You’ll be fine!
This book makes no assumptions about your skill level. Although this book is primarily an introductory guide to the Chromebook and Chrome OS, you can also consider it to be an introductory guide on personal computing.
Icons Used in This Book
As you read this book, you see icons in the margins that indicate material of interest (or not, as the case may be). This section briefly describes each icon in this book.
Tips are nice because they help you save time or perform some task without a lot of extra work. The tips in this book are timesaving techniques or pointers to resources that you should try so that you can get the maximum benefit from your Chromebook.
At the risk of sounding like an alarmist, I use a warning icon to point out something you should pay close attention to. Proceed with caution if you must proceed at all.
Whenever you see this icon, think advanced tip or technique. You might find these tidbits of useful information to be just too boring for words, or they could contain the solution you need to get your Chromebook working just the way you want. Skip these bits of information whenever you like.
If you don’t get anything else out of a particular chapter or section, remember the material marked by this icon. This text reminds you of meaningful content that you should file away. This icon might also draw your attention to something I already covered that’s useful again.
Beyond the Book
A lot of extra content that you won’t find in this book is available at www.dummies.com. There, search this book’s title and then click More on This Book on the page that appears. You can find the Cheat Sheet for this book, which contains quick-reference information that might come in handy when you’re in a pinch. You can also find updates to this book, if we have any.
Where to Go from Here
The time has come to dive into the world of Chromebooks and Chrome OS. If you’re entirely new to computers or maybe just a little timid with new computers, start with Chapter 1. The first chapters of the book are designed to guide you through the process of powering on your device, logging in, navigating your new computing environment, and even getting familiar with some keyboard and touchpad features unique to the Chromebook.
If you’re a little more daring than others, you may consider skipping the first few chapters of the book and heading directly to the chapter on the Chrome browser. If you already have a Chromebook, you can read this book from cover to cover to pick up knowledge here and there, or go to the Table of Contents or the Index to look up specific information you need. Regardless of how you fancy yourself, this book can serve as an excellent primer for life with a Chromebook. And what a great life it can be!
Part 1
Getting Started with Chromebook
IN THIS PART …
Identifying the Chromebook that most closely matches your needs
Getting familiar with the Chromebook Launcher, shelf, and desktop
Unleashing some of the Chrome’s advanced features to get you on your way to being a Chromebook power user
Finding and accessing your files, on your Chromebook and in the cloud with Google Drive
Setting up printers
Setting up web-based email with Gmail, and using Gmail to manage your non-Google email accounts
Getting acquainted with powerful apps that make your Chromebook a dream machine
Chapter 1
Choosing and Set ting Up Your Chromebook
IN THIS CHAPTER
Understanding what makes a Chromebook tick
Selecting your very own Chromebook
Using your Chromebook for the first time
Transitioning to Chromebook from Windows or Mac
With the world entrenched in Windows and Mac laptops, it was gutsy of Google to introduce a brand new concept in laptops — the Chromebook. In 2014, Google captured 1 percent of the laptop market in the U.S., which equates to roughly 5.3 million units sold, a number expected to grow. In 2016, Chromebooks captured 3.6 percent of the overall U.S. laptop market. And in late 2017, nearly 60 percent of all computers sold into K–12 education in the U.S. were Chromebooks. This growth means that a lot more people will be using Chromebooks in the future.
In this chapter, I discuss what makes the Chromebook unique when compared to other personal computers on the market. I also take an in-depth look at how to set up your Chromebook and prepare you to transition to Chromebook from Windows or Mac.
But I can tell you right up front: A Chromebook is very easy to use and learn. Easier, I’d say, than a Windows computer or even a Mac. In fact, a Chromebook is about as easy to use as an iPhone or an iPad. I’ve used Windows and Macs professionally and personally for more than 25 years, so believe me when I tell you this.
Checking Under the Hood of the Chromebook
But what is a Chromebook? In short, a Chromebook is a laptop computer running Google’s proprietary operating system, Chrome OS.
The operating system (OS) is the software that manages and schedules the basic tasks and functions of your computer. You might have a little experience with other popular operating systems like Microsoft Windows, Linux, or Apple’s Mac OS. Smartphones and tablets have operating systems, too; Apple’s iphone OS is called iOS, iPadOS runs on Apple iPads, and the OS that runs on Android tablets and phones is called, um, Android.
Chrome OS is an operating system developed by Google to work primarily with web-based software on laptop computers. Your experience using your Chromebook will be very similar to previous experiences you might have had surfing the web with the Chrome web browser (or any browser). The Chrome web browser shares many similarities with other web browsers on the market like Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Safari. (See Figure 1-1.)
FIGURE 1-1: The Google Chrome web browser.
Except for the Chromebook Pixel, Google isn’t manufacturing Chromebooks directly. Instead, Google has licensed several major laptop manufacturers to create them. Manufacturers such as Acer, ASUS, HP, Lenovo, Dell, Toshiba, and Samsung are all making their own Chromebooks with their own technical specifications.
The software
Much of what you will do on your Chromebook happens in the Chrome web browser. This is because many of the applications you will use on your Chromebook actually reside on the Internet. This is one of the things that sets Chromebook apart from other computers: You don’t install applications on a Chromebook; instead, you access them from the Internet. You find applications through the Chrome Web Store (dubbed CWS) and add them to your Launcher, which, in many cases, means nothing more than creating a bookmark for quick access through your Chrome web browser. This approach can be limiting in some cases, but these cases are rare. Thanks to the vast nature of Google’s global computing ecosystem, thousands of great applications are at your fingertips.
Although some Chromebook applications offer offline features and functionality, you will need an Internet connection to initially set up your Chromebook and be able to take advantage of everything your Chromebook has to offer. You could say that Chromebooks are designed for an “always online” lifestyle, but you can definitely do things with your Chromebook while offline as well.
The hardware
Unlike all other computers on the market that run Mac OS or Windows, not much software is installed on your Chromebook, which means that your Chromebook doesn’t need to have vast amounts of hard drive space, memory, or processing power. Most Chromebooks have 2–4 gigabytes (GB) of memory, less than 64GB of hard drive space, and a low-power processor.
The reduced technical features mean that Chromebooks use less power, which means longer battery life. It also means that Chromebooks come with a drastically lower price tag compared to other computers available today. This explains why Google is gaining such a large share of the laptop market. For the things that most people do, a Chromebook is more than adequate.
If you prefer a desktop computer running Chrome OS, plenty are available. These computers are called Chromeboxes. If you own or are thinking about getting a Chromebox instead of a Chromebook, 99 percent of everything you will read in this book will still apply to you, because most of what’s in this book is about Chrome OS— the same OS that runs on Chromebooks and Chromeboxes.
Choosing a Chromebook
Given the nature of Chrome OS, Chromebooks do not require extremely high-powered hardware to provide an excellent user experience. Even so, the great variety of manufacturers and hardware specifications available can make choosing a Chromebook somewhat tricky.
If you are not yet familiar with computer things like hard drives, RAM, SD card slots, or HDMI ports, you don’t really need to understand any of these things to buy a Chromebook that will work for you. If you are shopping for your first Chromebook (even if it’s the first computer you have ever purchased), go to a store with a good selection (three or more models) of Chromebooks and knowledgeable salespeople. If you buy the least expensive model with a screen size you can live with, you probably won’t be disappointed. If this is you, you can read about RAM, hard drives, HDMI, and other things later — or never! If you do want to understand the inner details of Chromebooks and make your purchase decision based on RAM, hard drive size, and ports, flip over to Chapter 21 for all those details.
Another useful way to decide which Chromebook to purchase is to research them online. Amazon.com has a good article from Consumer Reports on Chromebooks (just search for Chromebooks). PC Magazine and other well-known publications also have good reviews on Chromebook models.
Setting Up Your Chromebook
You really should have a wireless Internet service available when you first set up your Chromebook. (If you don’t know about the Internet service, it’s time to bring in the person who does.) If you’re using a stationary (home or public) wireless Internet network or a portable device with an Internet hotspot, you probably need to know
The network name (like Smith Family Wi-Fi or ATT034)
The network password (usually a bunch of random letters and numbers)
If you don’t already have a Google Account, you’ll also need a phone handy to verify your new account while you set up your Chromebook.
Turning on your device
Regardless of the brand you choose, the Chromebook is built for speed — and you’ll notice this speed the first time you turn on your device! To turn on your device, you may simply need to plug in the power cord and open the laptop. If your Chromebook doesn’t turn on automatically, locate the Power button, which may be found on the top-right corner of the keyboard itself, or on the side or back of the Chromebook. Look for the familiar “0-1” logo. Figure 1-2 shows the Power button on the Lenovo C330 and on the Samsung 303C. The Power button on your Chromebook is probably similar to one of these.
FIGURE 1-2: The Power button on two different Chromebook models.
When you turn on the device for the first time, a Chrome logo pops up on the screen, and within seconds, the computer powers on and displays the Welcome window. Click Let’s Go to begin setup.
Selecting a language
When the Welcome window appears, it will most likely say Welcome in your language. If it’s not in your language, click Country Language at the lower-left corner of the Welcome window and then find and select your language. (I wish it had an option for Pirate English. “Select your languaaaarge, matey!”)
If you needed to change your language, you might also need to select the keyboard layout. If you’re living in the United States, you likely want to select the defaults here, which are English (United States) and US Keyboard.
Most people will not need to change the language, country, or keyboard options.
Connecting to the Internet
Next, you need to select a network to connect to the Internet. If no network is available, I suggest holding off on attempting to set up your Chromebook until you can connect to an Internet source.
If you’re using a mobile device that can provide an Internet hotspot, it’s time to turn on the hotspot and find the network name and password, which you use in the following steps to connect your Chromebook to the Internet for the first time:
Click the Open the Network drop-down list and select your network name.
Your Chromebook may detect and display several other nearby home or business networks. You can ignore them.
If your Chromebook requests it, enter your network password.
After you select the network and enter a password, if applicable, the Wi-Fi bars onscreen fluctuate as your computer tries to connect. (Figure 1-3 shows the Wi-Fi signal icon.) After the connection is successfully established, the Continue button at the bottom of the dialog window becomes active.
If your Chromebook does not successfully connect to the Wi-Fi network, you’ll see the error message bad password and you can try entering the password again. You can also select a different Wi-Fi network if you wish.
You can view the Wi-Fi password you are typing by clicking the little eye symbol to the right of where you are typing in your password.
Click the Continue button.
FIGURE 1-3: The Wi-Fi signal icon.
Agreeing to the Terms of Service
You might see a message that says Your Connection is Not Private. This issue is not something to worry about at this point.
If you’ve installed software or activated a device within the last 10 years, you’ve likely seen a terms-of-service agreement. You can accept it by following these steps:
Review the Terms of Service.
(Optional) When you’re satisfied that you understand and agree to the terms, select or deselect the check box that sends usage stats back to Google.
I recommend that you leave this box selected. The data is useful for identifying and fixing bugs, creating new features, and otherwise making the Chromebook better for everyone! (Google and the NSA have all our information anyway, so why not?)
Click Accept and Continue to move to the next step.
Logging In for the First Time
To unlock all the features that your Chromebook has to offer, you must first log in with a Google username and password. You can use your existing Google Account or create a new account at this time.
Logging in using an existing Google Account
You can log in by using your Google Account username and password:
Enter your Google Account username into the Username field.
Enter your Google Account password into the Password field.
Click Login.
The option to select a profile picture appears.
Select your profile picture.
Pick one of the default pictures, use your existing Google profile picture, or take a new picture.
Click OK.
This completes the initial login process.
If your Google account uses Google Authenticator or Google Advanced Protection for logging in to Google, you need to log in to your Chromebook using those services for the first time. If this is your situation, your first login to your new Chromebook will be like logins you’ve done in the past on other computers.
Creating a new Google Account
You can create a Google Account by following these steps:
On the login screen, click the Create a Google Account Now option.
The Chrome web browser launches and takes you to a page where you can create your account.
Complete the form and click Next.
On this screen, Google wants to verify that you are a real human being. I assume that you are!
Enter your phone number and whether you’d rather be called or texted, and click Next.
Google will contact you in the manner you selected to provide you with a verification code.
Enter the verification code and click Continue.
Close the browser by clicking the X in the upper-right corner of the browser window.
On the bottom-right of the screen, click the word Guest.
A pop-up menu appears with several options.
Select Exit Guest from the list.
This step takes you back to the login screen.
Log in to your Chromebook with your new Google Account.
Using Chromebook as a guest
Logging in to your Google Account allows you to use all of Chromebook’s functionality, but you can still access many of these functions without logging in. Chromebook allows you to use the device as a guest by selecting the Browse as Guest option.
Letting a friend or family member use your Chromebook for a while is a great use of Chromebook’s Guest feature.
If you browse the Chromebook as a guest and then later decide to register or log in as a user, you first need to exit Guest mode. You can log out by clicking the status area (on the bottom-right of your screen, where you see the time, battery, and Wi-Fi status) and then selecting Exit Guest from the top of the list. (See Figure 1-4.) Exit Guest takes you back to the login screen.
FIGURE 1-4: The Exit Guest button.
Transitioning to a Chromebook from Mac, Linux, or Windows
Transitioning from a Mac, Linux, or Windows computer requires a few easy steps outlined in the following list. All these items are covered later in this book:
Get a Google Account.
The section “
Creating a new Google Account
,” earlier in this chapter, shows you how to get a Google Account. Your Google Account is the key to nearly everything you do on your Chromebook moving forward.
Move your files.
In
Chapter 6
, you can find out how to access your Chromebook hard drive, external storage, and Google Drive (which is where the bulk of your files will reside after you make the leap to Chromebook).
Get your Chrome bookmarks.
If you’ve signed in while using the Chrome web browser on other devices, your bookmarks, apps, and extensions will come with you to your new Chromebook! I cover bookmarks in
Chapter 3
.
Find new apps.
Your Chromebook comes with several applications in your Launcher by default. You can, however, add new apps by navigating to the Chrome Web Store and adding them to your menu. In
Chapter 5
, you can look at some of the existing apps on your Chromebook, as well as discover ways to locate and add new apps that are useful to you.
Where to Go Next
Now that you’ve completed the basics of setting up your Chromebook and logging in, what would you like to do next? Here are a few ideas:
Learn more about using your Chromebook. Go to
Chapter 2
.
Learn more about the Chrome browser. Go to
Chapter 3
.
Download and use other Chromebook apps. Go to
Chapter 5
.
Use office tools to create documents and worksheets. Go to
Part 2
(
Chapters 7
–
11
).
Start working with photos, videos, and ebooks. Go to
Part 3
(
Chapters 12
–
16
).
Explore advanced features (are you ready?). Go to
Part 4
(
Chapters 17
–
20
).
A last word: If you’re finding your initial Chromebook experience to be difficult or frustrating, don’t give up! You’ll soon develop “muscle memory” for common functions and before long, you’ll love the sheer simplicity and ease of use of your Chromebook.
Chapter 2
Working with the Chromebook Desktop
IN THIS CHAPTER
Using the Launcher
Navigating the Chromebook shelf
Adding and organizing apps
Modifying Chromebook settings
Working Chromebook window controls
Setting up a printer
The Chromebook desktop is displayed after you turn on and log in to your Chromebook. The desktop is a visual interface that uses a system of windows to control, organize, and manage applications, data, and files. You interact with the desktop by using a mouse, touchpad, keyboard, touch screen, or your voice. Your desktop has a launching point from which you can manually navigate your computer’s apps and files. Other operating systems have similar launching points: Microsoft Windows uses the taskbar, and Macs have the dock. On your Chromebook, this launching button is called the Launcher, and the region on your screen is called the shelf.
In this chapter, you explore the Chromebook desktop, Launcher, status area, and shelf. You learn how to find, add, and organize apps, as well as how to modify basic Chromebook settings and navigate the Chromebook window system.
If you’re learning Chrome OS for the first time, remember to be patient. Soon, your Chromebook will feel as comfortable as your favorite shoes!
Accessing the Chromebook Shelf
The shelf is where all the magic happens on your Chromebook. Your shelf is customized specifically to you. To access it, however, you must first log in to your Chromebook with your Google username and password (refer to Chapter 1 for instructions on creating a Google account and logging in).
