My Chromecast Experience, a Tech review of it!

Suggest Retail Price 35$

Disclaimer: All Links on this post are affiliate links, I believe in this product and fully recommend it to my friends and family.   If you have a problem with these links please do not click on the links!

Chromecast is Amazing!

I got my Google Chromecast from RadioShack, but you can also buy the Chromecast from Best Buy, and Amazon.com (Affiliate Link).  Which is where you could possibly get it cheaper than I did.  I paid the full 35$ for mine because they had it there ready for anyone to buy. You will need a Television W/ HDMI Inputs (Affiliate Link) to be able to use this device and I must say it works really well once you have it configured.  

Some Specs for you:

• Supports Netflix, YouTube, HBO GO, Hulu Plus, Pandora, and Google Play Movies and Music mobile apps as well as select content through Chrome browser, works with recommended modem
• Box includes Chromecast, HDMI extender, USB power cable, and power adapter
• Easy setup: Plug into any HDTV and connect to your home WiFi network
• Works with Android, iOS, Chrome for Mac, and Chrome for Windows
• Stream online video, music to your TV using your smartphone, tablet, or laptop; Available for Windows computers running Windows 7 or higher

Portability is Excellent!

I was able to move the Chromecast from one room to another and not have to worry about setting up the device again.   You can stream movies that you buy from Google Play to the Chromecast and be able to watch it on the big screen.   From even my small cell phone,  I can stream movies to the Chrome cast with ease.  I have been using my Acer 200 10.1 Tablet to stream to the Television.  You can however use any device that has the Chromecast app on it like the IOS and even Chrome.   I could even use my Chromebook to stream whatever I want to the Television.  As long as you have the Chromecast extension and have it setup properly, I see no major problems.

Setting up the Chromecast

The process of setting up the Chromecast on your devices were simple and quite pleasure.   The only hitch that I came in was the downloading of the updates to Chromecast.   That took the most time.   It took me around 10 mins because of my connection to the internet.   If you have a faster connection it could be faster or slower depending on your internet speed.   You can name your chromecast anything you want and yo really do not need an internet conenction to stream to the device.   If your like me downloading movies and then watching them when you get home, this is an excellent option for those who want to watch movies on the big screen.   For 35.00$ (29.99 Right Now) (Amazon Affiliate Link), It was a bargain for me.   You really do not need an internet connection do watch movies you purchase on Google Play store and or Music.   You just need to have the App and the Chromecast device.   I found I made the best purchase possible, for the money!   You really should try it yourself.  

The Chromebook experience and the White Screen of Death!

White Screen of Death!

From: [ Version 32.0.1700.95 (Platform version: 4920.71.0)]

The latest update : [ Version 32.0.1700.103 (Platform version: 4920.82.0)]

Had a really strange effect on my system.   Whenever I started booting up the system right after the update, I would just go into a cycle of white screens or I would see the default background for a few minutes and then it would just turn all white!  It got so annoying, I started calling Acer Laptops about it and requesting a Chrome OS Ninja for help on this issue.   They said  I would have to send in my laptop and wait 7 to 10 business days for it to be resolved.   I didn’t have that time or luxury to not be without a laptop so I went back on my resolve to figure this little issue out.   The only thing I could come up with is to go download a new version of Chrome OS for my Acer Laptop by using Windows Recovery Option.   Strange Google should have a way for me to download an ISO of the latest version without having to having to do these steps.

Recovery Options

By Pressing Esc+Refresh then hold down the Power button.  I was able to bring up the “Chrome OS is missing or damaged” message and then after I made a new usb card for my device it booted without a problem.   I do not know what actually happened but it was quite frustrating and Google needs to start providing more ways to recover the system without having to go through so many hoops.   

Has anyone else had this type of problem?  I’d like to know!

Microsoft did WHAT to Google?

Microsoft smears Chrome OS!

In the lastest attempt by the Microsoft, who seems content to throw mud and some fud over the Chrome OS.   Microsoft got a hold of the Scroogle Domain in late 2012 and has been holding onto it eversince.   Scroogle was an attempt to keep advertising and secured search going through Google but was not sponsored by Google.  It Ended in early 2012 due to throttling and DDOS attacks.   I don’t know this sounds suspciously like Microsoft wanted that domain, it wouldn’t surprised me if that was the case.  Some of the things that I just are not happy about this little campaign of theirs is these facts.

No easy way to print!

This one was an obviously no brainer for me, when I bought this Acer Chrome book because I really don’t have any reason to print anything and if I did, I can go to a library or to Kinkos to print what is needed to print.   I am not going to go into detail because when I did m FAQ section about the Chrome OS.   I was pretty much thinking Microsoft is worried because they will loose so much profit from Windows.   A Small fact for those who think Windows 8 can print, not without some jumping through some hoops will you be able to print.

NPD and that elusive 21% figure!

NPD published an article about how Chrome Books have a 21% sales in 2013.   I tend to think this may be a little low but that is probably because people don’t really advertise they bought the Chrome OS and thus it will grow in the coming years, I am sure of it.   You see, the reason I bought this laptop was a really serious question for me.   One of money, one of Security and Battery life, each of these were a value for me and I did like any person who buys a laptop.   I reasearched it long and hard, and new what i would be facing and what my limitations were going to be.   So I didn’t not walk into this half handed.

No windows 8!

I only had two options one with Windows 8 or Chrome OS.   I only had around 300$ to use to buy a new laptop with my other laptop breaking down.  Don’t get me Wrong, I had no problems with Windows 7 but from the way I was reading it with Windows 8.   I just didn’t want to have to worry about all those major problems associated with the release of the that operating system.  I am sure I am not alone in this venture because this had many features of Windows 7 and how to approach the problem.   

Resolution for Microsoft!

Hey Microsoft, if your really worried about loosing the sales and money from your consumers, then you should come up with an easy way to dual boot a Chrome OS and Windows 8 into one cheap laptop like this one and thus we can have access to everything we may ever need.   A Good browser when we need it and ways ways to print and download movies when we want to!  Hey now there is a concept that would make everyone happy.   Also, it shouldn’t cost an arm or leg to buy a Windows machine because you will still make money in other areas besides licensing!  

So I tell you this right now, Microsoft you are no long the Alpha dog in my life and you will just have to learn your new place in this changing world!   Until you learn you will always be on the sidelines!

Note to Self: Keep a Backup with you at all times!

Chrome OS Back ups!

The story was a simple one, I went to friends house to use their wifi with my Acer Chromebook and I got an update reminder on my system for a update to the Chrome OS.   It seems that it was a beta version of the software that was the problem.  I’m a tinkerer at heart and you can change it from three different versions:

• Stable
• Beta
• Developer — Unstable

You can change to anyone of these simply by going to chrome://help/ and then clicking more info.  

Use it at your own risk!

As you can see you have a choice to try out the ones that aren’t very stable and might cause problems.   This is where I must grab my foot and stick it in my mouth.   I was trying the beta version of the Chrome OS to see what might be coming out in a few months.   I usually don’t have problems with a beta version of any Operating system but this last update for the Chrome OS Beta just made my computer boot and then just got to a white screen and it would just hang there for several minutes and then it would reboot.   Well I didn’t have my backup restore flash drive with me and was trying everything  I could come up with to get it running.   Finally I broke down and borrowed my friends 4gb flash drive to create a restore of the my Parrot CoffinFish E3181 ISO (Use at your own risk) that I made back a few weeks ago, just in case!  I used that to create a restore flash drive on my friends Windows system.  If you are looking for the tool to make one for your system, you can check out Google Page on that!

Restore Switch on the Acer!

I was searching long and hard to find this elusive restore switch to boot into the restore option of the Chrome OS.   Apparently after looking hard and long the simple way to do this is just hit the ESC-F3-POWER button at the same time.   There is no actual button you have to push to get into the restore mode.   At least that is how I got into the restore mode on my Acer Chrome Book!   

Truth Be Told!

I should of had my USB drive with me at all times but I didn’t have a good way to keep it with me at times.   I am now in search for a way to have a key chain USB to do just that.   Be able to put it on my key chain to take with me every place  I go and thus won’t have to worry about this next time around!   I am sure this won’t be the last time since I am always going to be a beta tester.

How to Secure your Chromebook from threats!

When I first started this journey to find a way to use my chrome book to blog and keep it safe, I just didn’t know how hard it was to switch from Windows or even the Linux system to this! It wasn’t as if I had any choice in the matter. It was in my price range, under 300$ and thus I decided I was going to overcome some of the obstacles of the OS. I’m not saying you shouldn’t buy it but I am saying you need to know what your getting into before you try some of these things.

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Secure Browser Alternatives for browsing safely on the web!

Cyber Security Awareness Month

If you didn’t know October is Cyber Security Awareness Month and I wanted to give out some ways to keep you safe on the internet.   I know I am not the only to suggest some of this but if you didn’t know please don’t use Internet Explorer to web browse.   If should only be used for updating Windows and that is the extent of what it should be used for it.

Is Chrome more secure than Safari?

Safari, to my knowledge as a few vulnerabilities and thus you should be keep away from using it.   I won’t say much about this because we never really know who is actually going to use these but you can bet hackers know of ways to get into your system.

Which Browser is best?

Any browser you think is safe is probably going to be wrong.   I am going to tell you which browsers are safer but none of them are a 100 percent safe.   Each one of them has good and bad but I am going to at least guide you in the right direction.  

Chrome Browser

Chrome is one of the ones, I do recommend but it shouldn’t just be used by itself.   You should add a few extensions to better protect yourself:

• Adblock Plus — Good to protect yourself from those annoying advertising.   (Please be aware that I use advertising on my site and that is how I pay for my hosting and other things like that.   Please consider white listing my website to allow advertising.)
• Lastpass — This is one of those that I recommend on a constant basis because it makes sure you create a strong password that you don’t have to remember.   It helps make sure no account password is ever the same!
• ScriptSafe — Keep unwanted scripts from playing when you visit a website!  Certain web sites should be allowed and white listed, like mine. 
• Dolphin Connect — I use the Dolphin browser on my Android Device and this is one of those ways to keep track of all your bookmarks.   Not really security related but it is very useful!

These are just a few that I recommend when you use the Chrome Browser.

FireFox Browser

FireFox is another one that I recommend when you are looking to browse the web securely.  Although it isn’t 100% secure because none are.   Some of the Add On’s you should add to your FireFox Browser are:

• NoScript Security Suite — It is another No Script app that lets you prevent unwanted scripts from running! 
• Lastpass — Just like Chrome, it helps keep your passwords safe and helps you keep all passwords unique!
• Adblock Plus — Just like Chrome this can help keep those annoying advertisements from showing but please remember to white list sites that do need to advertise and do not use annoying advertisements!
• Web Of Trust — This is a good add on for Firefox to know which web sites you can trust more with and which ones that are not trustworthy!  (if you like my site could you review it and let people know what you think about this site!)

As you can see these are the two that I always tell my family to install, I usually don’t tell them to install both but one of these two but it is up to you if you want to have both web browsers installed on your system.   It just varies from person to person which one is better for your use!   I am sure there are more addon’s or extensions that you should add but these are the ones I tell my friends and family to install first.  Which one of these two browsers are you favorite?  Leave a comment and tell others!