FAQ’s : All about Chromebooks

What is a Chromebook?

A: Chromebooks were introduced in May 2011 by Google.  They are the first computers to operate entirely in the Google Chrome Web Browser.  Moving their owners completely to the cloud, Chromebooks operate without an internal hard drive, storing all information in Google’s cloud network.

 

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What type of Chromebooks are available?

A: There are currently two Chromebook models available, one by Samsung and one by Acer.  The two models run the same, but have minor differences including price and size.

How does a Chromebook work?

A: Once you press the power button on a Chromebook, it only takes eight seconds until the computer is running and ready for use.  Sign in with a Google account, and you’re ready to go!  By default, Chromebooks connect to the internet through Wi-Fi, but you can purchase a 3G Chromebook which will connect to the Verizon Wireless 3G network when no Wi-Fi is available.  After you’ve signed in, everything runs within the Google Chrome web browser – you can access the internet as you would on any computer and can quickly and easily acquire applications through the Chrome Web Store.

What is the Chrome Web Store?

A: The Chrome Web Store is where Chromebook users go to get applications for their computers.  Currently, many applications are being made available to use offline, so that you will always have access to them even when you can’t connect to the internet.  This feature is especially useful for those who don’t have a 3G connection on their Chromebook.

 

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How soon will this new technology become an old one?

A: In today’s world people are accustomed to acquiring a new technology and watching it become outdated overnight.  But that’s where the beauty of the Chromebook comes in.  Chromebooks are designed to improve with age.  This is possible because every time you turn on a Chromebook its operating systems and applications are automatically updated.

Why would I want to store all my information in the cloud?

A: Those who are already using cloud computing services like Google Apps are well aware of the countless benefits of the cloud.  One of the key advantages is universal access, the ability to access information stored on the cloud from anywhere.  Chromebooks run entirely in the cloud, and therefore all of the user’s information isn’t stored on the Chromebook itself, but rather in the cloud.

This means that any Chromebook user can access their entire computer from any web-enabled device, which takes universal access to the next level.  Another important benefit to note is the fact that, if you’re Chromebook were to break or be stolen, your’re information would not be compromised, as it would still be stored securely in the cloud.

What kind of protection does the Chromebook have against viruses?

A: Chromebooks put safety first, as they employ various layers of protection against viruses and malware.  These layers include “sandboxing,” Verified Boot, Data Encryption, and Recovery.  The term sandboxing means that every tab opened in a Chromebook runs in an isolated environment known as a sandbox.  The notion is that if you run a buggy application or visit an infected site, the malware will be contained within the sandbox and none of your data or applications will be infected.  The Verified Boot feature serves as a backup to the sandbox.

If sandboxing somehow fails, the Verified Boot detects the presence of any malware and will fix any damage when you restart the Chromebook.  The Chromebook’s Data Encryption feature makes temporary internet files stored on the Chromebook inaccessible to outside users.  The Recovery tool is a last resort safety measure for Chromebook users, as it can be employed to restore the computer’s operating system with the push of a button if all of the other security measures somehow fail.

What if everyone else wants to use my new Chromebook?

A: Share away!  Chromebooks make sharing easy because they allow you to keep all of your personal information private.  Anyone who wants to use your Chromebook has two options: they can sign in with a Google account and have access to their own personal information and applications or they can sign in as a guest and have access to the general web browser.  Either way, your personal information will never be accessible to anyone else.

 

This blog post is brought to you by Cloud Sherpas. Cloud Sherpas is a leading Google Apps cloud service provider. As a Google Apps Authorized Reseller and Google Enterprise partner, we have migrated over one million users across all major industries from legacy, on-premise messaging systems to Google Apps, helping organizations adopt cloud computing to innovate and dramatically reduce their IT expenses. Get to know our company by checking out our Facebook page atwww.facebook.com/cloudsherpas.