Step-by-step instructions with callouts to new Google Chromebook photos that show you exactly what to do Help when you run into Chromebook problems or limitations Tips and Notes to help you get the most from your brand-new Chromebook Full-color, step-by-step tasks walk you through getting and keeping your Chromebook or ChromeboxTM working just the way you want. Learn how to: * Quickly set up your Chromebook or Chromebox, log in, and get productive * Get comfortable with Google's intuitive new Chrome Desktop interface * Reliably connect to Wi-Fi or Ethernet networks * Use Google Drive to access files from your Chromebook or any other computer * Securely share files with Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ followers or friends * Play and edit photos, music, and video online * Browse and search the Web with the Google Chrome browser * Safely share your Chromebook with other users * Get started with free or low-cost web-based office productivity software * Build shared calendars, schedule meetings, and manage email * Find great new apps for business, education, entertainment, gaming, and more * Print to your printer across the Internet with Google Cloud Print * Configure your Chromebook for maximum security and privacy * Optimize your Chromebook's performance and battery life * Work and play faster with Chromebook's built-in keyboard shortcuts * Evaluate the new top-of-the-line Google Chromebook Pixel * Troubleshoot and recover from frozen apps and other problems CATEGORY: PC Hardware COVERS: Google Chromebook USER LEVEL: Beginning-Intermediate

Table of Contents

P Understanding Chrome, Chromebooks, and Cloud Computing 3 What Is a Chromebook? ...4 What Is a Chromebox? ...5 What Is Google Chrome OS? ...5 What Is Cloud Computing? ...7 How Traditional Desktop Computing Works...8 How Cloud Computing Works...8 Should You Buy a Chromebook? ...9 Chromebook Versus Tablet ...10 Chromebook Versus Traditional Notebook ...11 What's Not to Like? ... 13 What Chromebook Should You Buy? ...15 1 Unboxing and Setting Up Your New Chromebook 21 Unboxing Your Chromebook ... 21 Turning on Your Chromebook-For the Very First Time...22 Setting Up a Chromebook ...23 Creating a New Google Account ...28 Creating a Google Account ...28 2 Getting to Know Your Chromebook 33 Getting to Know Your Chromebook ...33 Screen ...34 Illumination Sensor ...34 Webcam ...35 Microphone ...35 Keyboard ...35 Touchpad ...36 Memory Card Slot ...36 Headset Jack ...36 USB Ports ...37 HDMI Connector ...38 Status Indicator ...38 Power Connector...38 Using the Keyboard ...38 Using the Touchpad ...41 Moving the Cursor ...41 Clicking the Cursor ...42 Right-Clicking the Cursor ...42 Dragging an Item ...42 Scrolling the Screen ...42 Adjusting Touchpad Sensitivity ...43 Connecting External Devices ...44 Connecting an External Mouse ...44 Connecting an External Keyboard...45 Connecting to a Large-Screen TV ...45 Adjusting Brightness and Volume ... 46 Adjusting Screen Brightness ...46 Adjusting and Muting the Volume...47 3 Using Chrome OS and the Chrome Desktop 49 Starting Up and Shutting Down ...49 Starting Up and Logging In ...50 Putting Your Chromebook to Sleep ...51 Powering Off Your Chromebook ...52 Navigating the Chrome OS Desktop ...53 Launcher ...54 Status Area ...55 Navigating Windows and Tabs ...57 Opening a New Chrome Window ...59 Opening New Tabs ...59 Navigating Tabs ...60 Managing Window Size ...60 Switching Between Windows ...61 Closing the Window ...61 4 Managing Multiple Users 63 Adding Users to Your Chromebook ...63 Add a User ...64 Editing User Information ...65 Change Your Profile Picture ...65 Edit Your Profile ...67 Switching Users ...68 Switch User Accounts ...68 Log in as a Guest User ...69 5 Working Wirelessly 71 Connecting to a Wi-Fi Network ...71 Viewing Network Status ...72 Enabling Wi-Fi on Your Chromebook ...72 Connecting to an Open Wi-Fi Network ...73 Connecting to a Secure Wi-Fi Network ...74 Connecting to an Ethernet Network ...75 Connecting via Ethernet...76 Connecting via Ethernet (Samsung Chromebook) ...76 Managing Network Connections ...77 Automatically Connecting to a Network ...77 Forgetting a Network ...79 Viewing Network Details ...80 6 Configuring and Personalizing Chrome OS 83 Personalizing the Desktop ...83 Change the Desktop Background...84 Configuring the Chrome Browser ...85 Configure Startup Behavior ...86 Display the Home Button ...87 Display the Bookmarks Bar ...88 Change Search Providers ...89 Enable Google Instant ...90 Select a New Theme ...90 Reset to the Default Theme ...91 Configuring Other Settings ...92 Configure the Touchpad ...92 Change Search, Ctrl, and Alt Key Behavior ...93 Wake from Sleep ...93 Sync Your Account ...94 Disable Guest Browsing ...95 Hide Usernames ...96 Restrict Sign-In ...97 Change Your Time Zone ...97 Connect a Bluetooth Device ...98 Enable Autofill ...99 Save Passwords ... 100 Display Web Content ... 101 Customize Languages and Input Methods ... 102 Translate Pages... 103 Manage Downloads ... 103 Disable Google Drive ... 104 Enable Accessibility Features ... 105 7 Managing Files and Using External Storage 107 Using Chrome's File Manager ... 107 Opening Files and Folders ... 111 Renaming Files and Folders... 111 Copying a File ... 112 Moving a File ... 112 Deleting Files ... 113 Creating a New Folder ... 113 Saving Files from the Web ... 114 Using External Storage Devices ... 115 Connecting a USB Memory Device... 115 Inserting a Memory Card ... 116 Connecting an External Hard Drive ... 117 8 Using Google Drive to Store and Share Files 119 Getting Started with Google Drive ... 119 Configure Google Drive ... 120 Storing Files on Google Drive ... 121 View Your Google Drive Files ... 121 Copy a File to Google Drive ... 121 Open a File from Google Drive ... 122 Delete Files from Google Drive ... 122 Create a New Google Drive Folder ... 123 Sharing Google Drive Files... 123 Share a File with Selected Users ... 124 Share a File via Social Media or Gmail... 125 9 Viewing and Listening to Photos, Videos, and Music 127 Viewing Digital Photos on Your Chromebook ... 127 View Photos from an External Storage Device ... 128 Edit a Photo ... 129 Store and Share Photos Online with Picasa Web Albums... 130 Listening to Music on Your Chromebook ... 131 Listen to a Single Track... 131 Listen to a Playlist ... 132 Uploading Your Music to Google Play ... 133 Playing Music with Google Play ... 135 Watching Videos on Your Chromebook ... 136 View a Video ... 137 Watch TV Shows on Hulu ... 138 Watch YouTube Videos ... 139 10 Browsing and Searching the Web 141 Browsing the Web ... 141 Go to a Web Page ... 142 Click Links ... 143 Reload a Page ... 143 Move Forward and Back Through Pages ... 144 Zoom into a Page ... 144 Viewing and Managing Browser History ... 145 View Your Recent History ... 145 View Your Full History ... 145 Delete Browsing History ... 146 Searching the Web ... 148 Enter a Query ... 148 Use Google Instant ... 149 Use Google's Advanced Search ... 149 Understand Search Results ... 151 Change Search Providers... 153 Managing Your Home Page ... 154 Choose a New Home Page ... 154 Display the Home Button ... 155 Bookmarking Favorite Pages ... 155 Bookmark a Web Page... 156 Display the Bookmarks Bar ... 156 Go to a Bookmarked Page ... 157 Manage Bookmarks ... 157 Browsing in Incognito Mode ... 158 Open an Incognito Window ... 159 11 Using Chrome Apps and Extensions 161 Understanding Chrome Apps ... 161 Getting to Know the Chrome Web Store ... 163 Installing and Launching Apps ... 164 Download and Install Apps ... 164 Launch Chrome Apps... 166 Managing Installed Apps ... 166 Configure App Options ... 167 Uninstall Apps ... 167 Determine How Apps Are Launched ... 168 Examining Chrome Apps-by Category ... 169 Business Tools ... 169 Education ... 170 Entertainment Apps ... 171 Games ... 172 Lifestyle Apps ... 174 News & Weather Apps ... 175 Productivity Apps ... 176 Social & Communication Apps ... 177 Utilities ... 178 Installing and Using Chrome Extensions ... 179 Download and Install Extensions ... 179 Use Extensions ... 180 Manage Chrome Extensions ... 182 12 Working in the Cloud 185 Office Suites in the Cloud ... 185 Google Drive ... 186 Microsoft Office Web Apps... 188 Microsoft Office 365 ... 189 Zoho Docs... 190 Word Processing in the Cloud ... 191 Google Docs ... 191 Microsoft Word Web App ... 192 Zoho Writer ... 192 Spreadsheets in the Cloud ... 193 Google Sheets ... 193 Microsoft Excel Web App ... 194 Zoho Sheet ... 194 Presentations in the Cloud ... 195 Google Slides ... 195 Microsoft PowerPoint Web App ... 196 Zoho Show ... 197 Photo Editing in the Cloud ... 197 Adobe Photoshop Express Editor ... 198 Other Online Photo Editors ... 199 Finances and Banking in the Cloud ... 199 Calendars in the Cloud ... 200 Google Calendar ... 200 Other Online Calendars ... 201 Email in the Cloud ... 202 Gmail ... 202 Outlook.com ... 203 Yahoo! Mail ... 203 13 Printing with Google Cloud Print 205 Understanding Google Cloud Print ... 206 Connecting a Printer to Google Cloud Print ... 208 Connect a Cloud Print-Ready Printer ... 208 Connect a Non-Cloud Print-Ready Printer ... 208 Disconnect a Printer from Cloud Print ... 209 Printing to Google Cloud Print ... 209 Print from Your Chromebook ... 210 Sharing a Printer ... 210 Share a Printer ... 211 Disable Sharing ... 211 14 Using Google Chrome Safely and Securely 215 Cloud Computing and Data Security ... 215 Chrome OS and Malware ... 217 Protecting Against Phishing ... 217 Practicing Safe Computing ... 219 Protecting Your Personal Data ... 219 Avoiding Cyberstalkers ... 221 Protecting Your Children Online ... 222 Configuring Chrome's Privacy and Security Settings ... 224 Don't Save Passwords... 224 Don't Use Autofill ... 225 Configure Privacy Settings ... 225 Configure Content Settings ... 228 Clear Browsing Data ... 230 Restrict Sign-In ... 231 15 Optimizing Your Chromebook's Performance 233 Optimizing Battery Life ... 233 Use the Right Adapter ... 233 Keep It Cool ... 234 Keep a Little Charge ... 234 Dim the Screen ... 234 Disable Wireless ... 234 Speeding Up Performance ... 235 Don't Multitask ... 235 Disable or Remove Extensions ... 235 Enable DNS Prefetching ... 236 Disable Feedback to Google ... 237 16 Troubleshooting and Recovering from Problems 239 Dealing with a Frozen App or Web Page ... 239 Resetting Your Chromebook ... 241 Recovering from Severe Problems ... 242 Updating Chrome OS ... 243 A Google Chrome Keyboard Shortcuts 245 B Google Chromebook Pixel 251 TOC, 9780789751386

Author Biography

Michael Miller is a prolific and popular writer of more than 100 non-fiction books, known for his ability to explain complex topics to everyday readers. He writes about a variety of topics, including technology, business, and music. His best-selling books for Que include Absolute Beginner's Guide to Computer Basics, Easy Computer Basics, Using Google Advanced Search, Your First Notebook PC, Facebook for Grown-Ups, and My Pinterest. Worldwide, his books have sold more than 1 million copies.