For those of you that might have missed it last week. When I received the Chromebook Pixel, I decided to do a 30 day challenge with it. The main reason was because many people have asked if a Chromebook can replace their desktop or laptop. Well of course it can, but that depends on the user case. As a writer/editor and a student, I use a ton of programs installed on my desktop. So my challenge is to see if I can do everything on the Chromebook that I can and normally do on my desktop. So each Monday, for the next month I’ll be providing an update on how the challenge is going, along with answering questions that I’ve been asked on Google+, Facebook, Twitter, and every other social network out there.
This week’s update is going to be a bit short since I’ve only had the Chromebook Pixel for about 5 days now. But so far so good. The only problem I’ve really ran into was trying to watermark pictures for reviews that I’m working on. Although I did find a way around it. It does take a bit more time then doing a batch watermark in Picasa (only works in the desktop version not web version of Picasa), It’s PicMarkr, and it’s free. Which is always a great thing.
For me the biggest thing for me to get over when using the Chromebook Pixel instead of my desktop is going from dual-monitors that are 21-inch each, to a 12.85 display. But so far it’s working quite nicely for me. Of course, the higher resolution display helps too. Another thing I’ve noticed is that my wireless mouse is a bit slow on the Chromebook Pixel, even changing the speed in the settings to be the fastest, it’s still kinda slow in my opinion.
Questions from Readers:
@TheHuman_Torch: @itsalexaye90 can you download microsoft office on to it? #Pixel30DayChallenge
No you cannot install Microsoft Office, but there is Google Docs, and Microsoft’s web-based Office Suite from Skydrive.
@bcnj14: @itsalexaye90 Does the screen wobble when using it as a touch-screen? #Pixel30DayChallenge
It doesn’t wobble to much, but it is still a bit odd using it as a touch-screen.
@bcnj14: @itsalexaye90 odd with having to reach over the keyboard? Two quick ones, what laptop do you normally use? Worth the $? #Pixel30DayChallenge
Yes, reaching over the keyboard is a bit odd. I normally use a desktop instead of a laptop, and I’m not completely sure it’s worth the price at this point.
+Josh Flowers: So, +Alexander Maxham , during your experience with the Chromebook Pixel–would you please verify if any USB peripherals work (any wired/wireless mice//add’l webcam/external hard drive)? I’m assuming not, since most require Windows/Mac driver support, but just to settle an argument i’m having with a friend 🙂
Wireless mice, keyboards, webcams, and external hard drives all work. Just plug n play, as some manufacturers say.
Don’t forget if you have any questions, feel free to send them to me on Google+, and Twitter using the #Pixel30DayChallenge hashtag, and leave a post on the Android Headlines Facebook Page as hashtags don’t work on Facebook. Every question will get answered rather quickly after I receive it, and it’ll be in the next update next week. So that way if anyone else had the same question, their question gets answered.
The #Pixel30DayChallenge rolls on!