Okay, so my expensive and powerful Apple Macbook Pro needs a new network card of which seems a daunting task at the moment. Replacing a network card on a PC or Linux box would be a breeze …not so much on an all-in-one Macbook Pro.
Living in Saint John NB, Canada there are no Apple Retail Stores or “Genius bars” nearby. Besides with the new series of Mac Laptops and lack of warranty shipping it away doesn’t seem to be a suitable option.
I personally have about 7+ computing devices including the following:
iMac (in storage), Macbook Pro (needs network replacement), iPad 1 (tablet), iPhone 3G (smartphone), PowerPC Mac Mini G4 (Using as Server), Windows 7 PC (Work Computer), Chromebook Samsung Series 5 (mobile stateless cloud computer) , Linux Laptop (Old n Slow Toshiba satellite A70), etc.
I think it’s a fair statement to say, “I’m a Power User when it comes to using a computer daily”.
As a user that uses the internet for everything I’m curious to see if I can reply on only Cloud and Open Source software. No I wasn’t one of the luck few that received a Google Chrome Cr-48 or have any Google fanboy mentality. I’m not bias toward Apple or Windows neither.
Google Chrome Nothing Net Challenge
Where my daily computing tasks have me performing on various operating systems and using many different proprietary software I’ve issued a challenge to myself.
Use only a Google Chromebook for Three(3) months for everything computing in my daily life! Only Web Apps & Open Source allowed, I must either find a Cloud Based App available or develop one in order to get the job done.
I will also be screen casting my progress along with blogging about what apps I either created or found to complete each task.
Progress Week 1:
In order to start screen casting on a Chromebook, I required a Cloud Hosting & Web Based process for recording, editing, and publishing my website. I’ve only started the challenge and already the task is becoming challenging due to the lack of efficient screencasting apps available on the Google Chrome Web Store.
The only available app prior to creating my own was an app that lacked any noticeable options for publishing or even uploading to websites like Youtube or Vimeo. This makes the limited selection useless, therefore I’ve found 3 existing suitable websites to complete the task on the fly and submitted apps for them to the Chrome Web Store for others.
There are listed below:
Screenr
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/ajmdmhlhifnkjklgeikfdmffiigfoged?utm_source=chrome-ntp-icon
ScreenCastle
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/anlacahaipmkiacbibndkpkocgocgefb?utm_source=chrome-ntp-icon
screencast-o-matic
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/pieikpjipjhppelgjnaekjomlapbfnjp?utm_source=chrome-ntp-icon
The next challenge included installing a Java plugin which was taken care of with a Goggle extension called “Rndr”.
Rndr enables you to use Chromebook and the Chrome browser to seamlessly access web applications that require Java, Silverlight, Flash, Shockwave, GoToMeeting and other plugins normally used with Internet Explorer. Rndr takes care of all plugin rendering, converts all content to HTML4 and HTML5, and then presents it seamlessly in Chrome. Once you use Rndr to view a website, future visits to the same website will automatically be handled by Rndr.
Rndr
http://bit.ly/HB4PFA (shorten url)
I found some great Google Docs invoice templates and designed them to replace my previous iWork documents. I also abandoned my irc clients like mirc, xchat, and colloquy for mibbit irc Chrome extension along with my own web based irc chat embedded in to this website.
Mibbit
http://bit.ly/N2Eogg (shorten url)
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/pohpiiceeffdepjkcikeifcpecegppod?utm_source=chrome-ntp-icon
Kayol Hope Live! - Web IRC Chat
IRC bots of course are programmed in various programming languages like python and therefore already control the exiting channels.
iTunes not being an option, I’ve switched to Grooveshark for streaming music without needing to download or sync and can’t see turning back. Seriously, my playlist changes to frequently.
Grooveshark
http://bit.ly/N2EKDv (shorten url)
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/blelaljgakacjdeaggpjilljobdmboff?utm_source=chrome-ntp-icon
My alternative to iTunes for movies of course is Netflix or torrents via uTorrent for Google Chrome.
Netflix
In conclusion:
I’m really excited I found an alternative to do screen casting without being limited to Screen Flow or Camtasia.
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