Docking the Chromebook - a Desktop Experience

One of the drawbacks to using any laptop for long hours is the strain on the eyes and sometimes neck strain.

A laptop with an 11-13" screen on a desk is not a healthy long-term work environment.

Today I decided to test my Lenovo 100-S with a larger screen.  It is the same screen I have connected to my Mac-mini that sits on my desk.

I bought that Mac about a year ago wit the idea that I could have a media work station and do it inexpensively. The mini cost me about $500 dollars used/refurbished, the monitor was a HDMI compatible, 22 inch flat screen that was refurbished for about $110 dollars, and then the keyboard/mouse USB Bluetooth combo was about $20 (and believe me, it feels cheap--but it gets the job done).

So, I shut down the Mac, plugged in the HDMI cable to the Chromebook, added the USB Bluetooth adapter, and immediately had my Chromebook working on the large screen.

But that isn't a true docked experience if the screen is still up on the laptop.

So, I searched the Chrome Web Store and I found the Keep Awake extension, which is designed to override the power saving  settings on the laptop, and allows you to shut the laptop while it is plugged into an external monitor.

The Keep Awake extension has mixed reviews at the Chrome Web Store.  Some folks were able to get it to work, others had problems.  I will admit that I could not get the extension to work on my old Chromebook that is connected to the TV. I figured it had to do with the age of the hardware.  The experiment today proves that the extension does work on a newer machine.

That download and installation to less than 20 seconds, and in moments my laptop was docked, my eyes and neck are no longer straining, and this experiment is a true success.

So, with a used monitor, a cheap keyboard/mouse, I have a Chromebook desktop experience for about $280 dollars.  Frugality wins!

USB Tests- iPhone and Flash Drive

I had a few minutes today to test some USB media on the Chromebook.

As I was fishing for my keys in the dish on my mantle, I happened across an old 2 GB Kingston flash drive that I hadn't seen in years.  I brought it to work to see what was on it.

I could have easily plugged it into my regular work devices, but I took this as an opportunity to test the Chromebook.

• Discovered some two-year-old files that were easily read on the Chromebook (using Files app)
• Easy to move files around to different locations on Google Drive
• Right clicking on the flash drive in the files menu gave me two options: Eject or Format
• I formatted the disk which emptied the contents, restored it to a 2 GB capacity.  I discovered that you cannot rename newly formatted flash media on a Chromebook, but it was easy enough to do it on a Windows machine and the name persisted.  
• I was able to read documents on both Windows and Mac that were created on the Chromebook and transferred by flash drive.
• I would say that this was a positive test with the exception of not being able to change the name of the drive.

Having seen everything work so well, I tried another test, with my iPhone.  I plugged the iPhone into the Chromebook with the Lightning/USB cord, it was immediately recognized and began charging as if I had plugged it into my Mac, or a USB power socket.

• After a few moments, the iPhone appeared in the Files app, but I was not able to see files of images on the Chromebook.  
• I opened my iPhone and had to "Allow" files to be seen on the Chromebook, then the files appeared with their thumbnail pic on the Chromebook.
• I could move image files to folders on my Google Drive.  I was not able to move images to the iPhone (which is fine with me).
• I quickly created a new video on the iPhone and uploaded it to Google Drive.  I was able to manipulate and edit with no problems in the WeVideo app.
• I would say this was another successful test.  Being able to move images and videos to the Chromebook is a great finding.  I have an audio recording app on the iPhone that saves clips to Dropbox, and those are easily read on the Chromebook too.

The takeaway- USB media seems to work almost seamlessly between the Chromebook and other devices.

USB Equipment Test- Behringer Mixing Board

This test of the Chromebook came about because today is my regular radio show (Connect).

The regular set-up is a MacBook connected to a Behringer digital mixing board through a USB cord.  I use a high quality Behringer condenser microphone with XLR connection to the mixer.

After I finished my show, I still had all of the equipment out, so I decided to run a quick test.

I have to admit that it floored me when I plugged in the Behringer mixer to the USB port of the Chromebook, it automatically connected and was recognized by the system.

On more than one occasion, I have plugged that same mixer into my MacBook, or another PC, and it was not recognized.  I would have to go into System Preferences and reassign the channels, and in some cases I would need to restart a Windows machine to get it to recognize a new USB device.

The Chromebook gets high marks for the simple and easy connection.  I don't expect it with every USB device that I plug in, but this was a significant finding.

I then ran a little test of the microphone and board with the Beautiful Audio Editor app and found excellent sound quality and a richer, bolder sound than the built-in microphone.

In the future, when I create podcasts and the like with the Chromebook, I will use the USB mixer and get a little better quality.

Below you can hear the difference between this week's test with Monday's test:


So, successful test. More insights to come with future testing.

The All Day Battery

I have owned laptops since about 1993.

The first one I had started out with the ability to hold a charge about 3 hours, and within a year, battery life was down to an hour before having to plug it in.

I had an iBook back around 2003, that started out at 4 hours battery life, and then slowed down to less than 2 hours after a few years.  But I can say that this laptop can still be found in my home, and still runs much of the software that I had 13 years ago.  (Though Internet capabilities are quite the experience since it is using a 9 year old browser that cannot be updated further).

My MacBook will get 2.5 hours of use before it sleeps peacefully (it started out at almost 4 hours in 2013), and my Windows machine can get nearly 3 hours due to the the SSD drive being light on power usage.

The old 2011 Chromebook hasn't been off the power cord for a few years now.  I know that it had okay battery life before it became a dedicated streaming media device, about 8 hours on the charge in its beginnings, closer to 5 when it took its place with the TV and sound system.

Yesterday, the first day of the experiment was a great beginning for the Lenovo 100S.  The reviews said I could get up to 11 hours, and that was about right.

I took it to work, turned it on and left it running for much of the work day.  I tested out streaming music programs and Google Play (will report on this on another day) and some basic tasks like writing the blog, surfing the net and checking out some new extensions.  I brought the laptop home, surfed in front of some shows we watched, and piddled some more, and at about 8:30 pm I plugged it back in (with 8% showing in battery life).  Nearly 12 hours after I took it off the charger, it was still doing its job.

Currently as I am writing this piece at around 2:30 pm, a click on settings says I have 11 hours + or 97% of the battery left.  Granted, I didn't work it as hard today, it has mostly sat idle, but I would say that this Chromebook is on its way to being the least power hungry machine I have every owned.

I will get back with you in about 6 months with an update on battery life. Right now, I am pleased.