All I want for Christmas...

Said many times. When I was young, it seemed that a new toy could keep me happy on Christmas Day. Then I grew older and wanted to have toys like my friends, so we could all play together. They made a lot of money doing exactly that. I wonder how true this was to the spirit of Christmas then, and if it's still true today?

A shiny new piece of Chrome

A new kind of operating system in a laptop form that brings together hardware, software, and a simple design inspired by innovation. Google claimed it’s A new type of computer with everything built-in. Curiosity got the best of me, so I acquired at awesomely low price, an Asus C300-EDU model with 4GB RAM and a 32GB SSD. The C300 Chromebook boots-up in seconds and stays fast, requires almost zero setup or maintenance, and comes with virus protection built-in. Best of all, it stays up to date with seamless updates every few weeks. I was impressed how easy it was to start using. It’s tight integration with the Chrome Web (using a PC) and Android Platforms (Tablet or Phone) makes this a very accessible and secure option for most users. No java allowed. If you don’t have a Google account, you may want to stop reading this here, because most of the functionality you have as a guest is limited to web and temporary storage using native apps during a one-time sand-boxed session. With a Google account on the chromebook, everything is awesome…and when using my new Chromebook for surfing and entertainment, I could do alot. I further enhanced my Chromebook with extra web applications (apps, for short) and features for the browser (also known as extensions). The apps are used like regular software programs for desktop computers. Native Google along with many other applications are fully functional, and when they get installed for use on a chromebook, they may have versions that can work offline (with offline documents, mail, or media) or if you have a Gigabit Ethernet or Wi-fi connection, they run entirely on the web. Extensions provide custom features and functionality for the Chrome browser. You can find both apps and extensions through the Chrome Web Store, a site dedicated to resources developed specifically for Chromebooks. You can use a Chrome cast device to easily display on a big screen inside the same wi-fi network or keep it connected without wi-fi to a local display using the HDMI port. Use a full-size secure digital (SD) card port for more storage or offline expansion, or you can sign up to get 15GB on Google Drive storage…and now through January 31, 2015, they are offering 1TB of Google Drive storage, for 2 years free, with the purchase of a new, eligible Chromebook. So I have taken quite a shine to this new little piece of chrome.