I remember when computers were a luxury for those rich enough to afford them. They soon became a necessity for those poor enough to have to work for a living. I\u2019ve always been on the wrong side of this equation, but if I ever win the Lotto, I\u2019ll hire flunkies to do my computer chores. Then I\u2019ll go fishing.<\/p>\n
In the meantime, if there\u2019s any good news, I guess we can note that computers have gotten really cheap. And, furthermore, some of the best programs are better than cheap: They\u2019re absolutely free.<\/p>\n
As examples, I\u2019m going to offer up Chromebook computers and the AbiWord word processor. Not that I\u2019m suggesting that AbiWord will run on a straight-from-the-box Chromebook computer, but we\u2019ll come to that point later because it provides some useful context.<\/p>\n
As for Chromebook prices, some are under $200. Today I heard a report that a price war will hit some major stateside retailers next week. I don\u2019t know if this is true or, if it is, how important it might be for Saipan\u2019s context. So I\u2019ll consider it mere rumor, but what the heck, it\u2019s a good enough excuse to take a look at the computer world today.<\/p>\n
Just to be polite, I\u2019ll offer an introduction to Chromebooks for those who aren\u2019t acquainted with them. Chromebooks are the next evolutionary step from the small, light, and inexpensive \u201cnetbook\u201d computers that came out a few years ago. WiFi was ubiquitous by that point, and netbooks piggy-backed on this fact as convenient devices for getting on the Net.<\/p>\n
Netbooks were great toss-around computers for traveling and for island duty. They were instantly popular on Saipan. I bought a couple. They still work well. The drawback is that their tiny screens (10.2 inches) and cramped keyboards can be uncomfortable for extended use. For a quick check of email, or a glance at the Web, they work well. But, beyond that, the ergonomics can\u2019t be ignored.<\/p>\n
Enter the Chromebook. The name comes from Google\u2019s Chrome operating system. This species not only uses the Net, it pretty much is the Net, the idea being that your data is stored on the Net instead of in your computer. An inventory of basic applications is free and integrated into this Net-centered concept. Since the Net does the heavy lifting, the computer itself can be small, light and cheap; once the dog, the computer is now the tail.<\/p>\n
One side effect of this approach is that some peripherals, such as printers, aren\u2019t always usable with a Chromebook, so that\u2019s something for buyers to research.<\/p>\n
Chromebooks are made by many big-name companies. There\u2019s a huge, swirling galaxy of products to choose from. Two popular sizes, measured by screen size, are 11.6-inch and 13.3-inch, so in both cases there\u2019s more relief for the eyeballs and fingers than the old 10.2-inch netbooks offered.<\/p>\n
From my experience, keyboards vary widely in usability and comfort. I\u2019d prefer to buy a Chromebook, or any other portable computer, where I can lay my paws on it and test it out.<\/p>\n
And now I\u2019ll mention a companion that has served me well over the years. I refer to AbiWord, available at AbiSource.org. This is a free word processor that runs in Windows and in Linux. It doesn\u2019t get much attention, so I like to mention it when I can.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not great because it\u2019s free. It\u2019s great because it\u2019s great. It\u2019s clean and fast, all engine and no bling, and it doesn\u2019t encumber me with the irritating array of \u201cfeatures\u201d that most word processors harbor.<\/p>\n
Talk about an economic paradox: I\u2019m seeing more and more free software that is far better than the expensive stuff is. AbiWord isn\u2019t the only example, but it is certainly my favorite example.<\/p>\n
AbiWord can be run without even installing it on the computer. For this role, PortableApps.com offers AbiWord as a download, and, once put on a USB stick, it can run from the USB and can also save its documents on the USB. In this guise it can hop from computer to computer with smooth promiscuity, as long as the computer is using the appropriate operating system.<\/p>\n
Well, this brings us back to the Chromebook thing, and the fact that nothing with computers is ever as simple as we\u2019d like it to be. Although the Chrome operating system is actually built from Linux, it\u2019s still not the same as running Linux itself. Therefore, AbiWord isn\u2019t in the cards for a straight-from-the-box Chromebook. Yes, there are ways of dealing with this but, no, it\u2019s not within the scope of today\u2019s banter.<\/p>\n
But I\u2019m talking lifestyle here, so this point is within our scope: The computer world is still a world of tradeoffs. Therefore, we all have to heed our particular priorities, preferences, and constraints. I don\u2019t pay close attention to the industry, but I do pay some attention since I can\u2019t ignore the realm entirely.<\/p>\n
Ignore computers? Only rich guys can afford to do that. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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