No Netflix? No Problem!

Lets be honest. As a Chromebook user it sucks that we still don't have the use of Netfilx on our Chromebooks. To add insult to injury Netflix just doubled their pricing! So this means some if not most of us are going to look other places. There are paid routes... But there are also free alternatives as well.  My favorite free site is sidereel. It has my favorite show "Weeds" on it. It also has a huge selection of other TV shows and movies. It works by linking you to other websites where the videos are hosted for free. They are usually high quality and usually always work just fine on the Chromebook. So if you lost your patience with services like Netflix then head on over to sidereel and check it out for yourself. You will be glad you did =)

Is Netflix For ChromeOS Almost Ready For Release?

The Netflix plugin continues to be worked on and updated for ChromeOS and Google. We are told Netflix is actively working on getting switched over from Silverlight to another format that will play nice with all OS's including running natively on Linux and ChromeOS. 

Here is the latest from Engadget - Engadget Link

So cross your fingers and think happy thoughts! And maybe soon we will see some Netflix on the Chromebooks! Or maybe we will see Ke$ha, rainbows, and unicorns on our Chromebooks first... Oh Wait... LMAO.

Google + Interview With The Pittsburgh Post Gazette

My local paper, The Pittsburgh Post Gazette recently interviewed me about Google +. Check it out! I hope I have made the Google Chrome community proud =) I am honored to have been chosen as a Guru and will continue to serve as long as I can! =) Pittsburgh Post Gazette Interview

The Price Is Right?

I have a challenge for my readers. Someone posed a very important question to me the other day. They asked if the Samsung Series 5 3G Chromebook was worth it's $499 price tag. There is no easy answer. I answered in the standard way. If you are looking for a power house that can do everything imaginable and do it with ease then maybe you missed the point of a Chromebook in the first place. I then reminded them that the target audience is users who simply use the web and don't do much else. I challenged him to find a netbook or notebook running any OS with hardware specs and design that matched or beat the Samsung Series 5 3G Chromebook.

He was unable to do so. He never came close. That is my challenge to you all. Find me a netbook or notebook that has the same or better specs as this Chromebook. It has to be at or around the same price. No higher. It also must have all the features this currently has. It needs to have a clean and minimalism design that matches or beats this Chromebook. I have yet to find one myself. I searched for hours.

Goodluck! If you think you found one, post a link to it in the comments. If you do happen to best this Chromebook then the prize is a virtual hug from yours truly! Ready? GOOOOOO! =)

Verizon 4G LTE VS. Verizon DSL

As promised here is the speed tests comparing the difference between Verizon 4G LTE and Verizon DSL in my area.

Verizon 4G LTE:

Verizon DSL: 

Yea my usual internet sucks that bad. My 4G is gonna run out in 2 weeks. So I will enjoy the speed while I have it! So as you can see... If Verizon 4G LTE is available in your area you should check it out for sure. Especially in the case of a smartphone or tablet. 

Verizon 4G LTE: Mobile Data Speeds You Have To Experience To Believe

Let me start this article off by saying I am a very blessed young man. I have had the privilege of getting to know  some pretty amazing people since I started beta testing for Google. With that being said, today I was blessed with a Samsung Verizon 4G mobile hotspot. It was given to me by a Chromie named Earl. He is a wonderful soul. So thank you so much Earl! You are blessing to me and to others! 

Now to the techy details! First off, I currently crawl the web using Verizon DSL 256K. It actually never gets above 86K in my area but that is a whole other story. Enter Verizon 4G LTE. The device itself (Pictured above) is another fine product by Samsung. It is light, clean, easy, and portable. It also has pretty decent battery. Within seconds I was online and flying into the world wide web. It blows my DSL away. I feel like I just switched from Dial Up to Cable. Like for real. I can actually watch YouTube video's in 720P without having to wait all day just for it to buffer. I can have multiple tabs open and do things without having to wait. This network is bad ass! 

I will admit I had my reservations. 4G is being touted by every major company out there it seems and I thought it was all just bait and switch. With Verizon's 4G LTE all of my expectations and reservations were BLOWN AWAY. It's the real deal. I have my Samsung Chromebook and my Droid connected to it all day at home. It fly's through everything I do on both without missing a beat. 

I understand that many people have yet to have this network available in their area. I also realize that it is not very full of traffic yet. However, it is still a huge increase over my current connection and I could not be happier. I would recommend getting a 4G LTE phone from Verizon if you have it available. Also if you are looking for a mobile data solution this is the way to go. You will be glad you did. 

*I will post speed test data in a different post later on this week!* 

Waking Up With My Chromebook

My morning routine (On the days I actually wake up in the AM that is) is simple and always involves my Chromebook. I grab my Chromebook first thing and head to the table with my coffee and fruit loops. I open up my Chromebook and I am on Google News and Google Reader in an instant. No waiting and now hassle. I haven't picked up a news paper in YEARS.

I usually turn on some good jams while reading all the daily happenings as well. My Chromebook is my breakfast buddy. Hey if you can't have a significant other then a Chromebook is a close second right? =) I couldn't and wouldn't go a day without my Chromebook. Oh yea and I get 11 hours of battery... (Here's lookin at you $1000, 11in Macbook Air. Mister 5 hour loser). Just sayin. Yay cloud and yay Google =)