Second Chrome

Last night, after telling me there was a package to get from the office, Wife jokingly said that it was probably another Google CC.

It was.

I saw the box and immediately started laughing out loud (the girl probably thinks I'm loony).  See, I applied like three times on the website.  I used my same email all three times, though.  I don't know how I got two.  I can see using multiple email addresses to fake out Google, but I didn't.  

Still, I felt bad.  I "feedback'd" through the little bug icon that I received two.  I would love to have two notebooks, but I don't want to be taking more than my share or otherwise cheating the game somehow screwing the altruistic Goog.

This isn't some ploy to get good karma.  This is more the product of being a lawyer.  An old partner I worked for said "there is no such thing as a free lunch."  And I believe that.  So, I offered it back to them, if they want it.  I did say that their silence would be deemed a go ahead to keep it.  I'm sure I can find a whole slew of people willing to give the Big G good feedback, which is what I said, and is probably the point of the whole program anyway.  I won't sell it though.  I see them on ebay and craiglist.  I think that is dishonest.  I think Google tried something different here.  They wanted to get real genuine feedback.  To turn around and trade on that goodwill just doesn't seem fair or right to me.  So I'll forgo 500 bucks.

A few more tidbits about me

Other than the latest tech products and Tax law, you should know that my primary interest is my wife.  I refer to her as "wife" here to protect her privacy in the unlikely event I rant about something and, further, someone actually reads it.

I love her. Completely. We've been married a little over a year and every thing I do somehow relates to her or derives from her.  I like that.  She's the sun in my heliocentric universe.  I don't post this because I'm about to give her the link to this my first blog, I post this because it is true and it is what makes me who I am.  Though I bet this will earn me a few brownie points and that is ok.

Initial Chrome OS and Cr-48 impressions

Ok.  So I've been using the nifty Google Cr-48 Pilot Program computer for about a week now.  I've taken to calling it either "chromebook" or "google computer" or "cloudbook".  I kinda like the idea of "Google CC"  for "cloud computer" since it kinda plays off of PC, but it might get confused with people thinking about carbon copying google, inc.

Here are my thoughts after a week of almost exclusive use.

• The hardware is ridiculously cool.  It has this industrial finish and the lack of branding give it this secret agent like look.  I feel like this is what MI6 issues its 00 agents.  I also love the rubber matte feel of it (same feel as a Droid X by Motorola).  
• Battery battery battery.  Holy shit. 8hrs they say, 8hrs they mean.  I previously used a Dell Inspiron 1440 with its serviceable 3.5 hr batter life.  However, I got to school for 4 hr blocks, which means I had to bring that stupid cord.  Now, I can sit in starbucks or the Trident for a few hours before and after class and still not need to plug in.  It's freeing 
• Software.  It is Chrome Browser...and that's it.  It boots up to an open chrome page (instantly synced to your already saved bookmarks, apps and extensions).  It's very minimalist.  But, also very cool...if you live in the cloud.
• Cloud.  I already use google docs for class notes, papers and the like if only because I'm a Google fanboy and wanted to be prepared if I ever received a Google CC.  Nerdy, yes.  Serious, yes. That douchiness aside, I really took to the cloud.  I like how I can boot up my CC and everything is there.  I like how I can boot up my wife's PC and its all there.  I love how I can go to a school computer and its all there. It does have its limits.  The Cloud is in it's infancy and it is hard to break the mold of legacy desktop OS. I miss the features of OpenOffice, but I'll adjust.  
• Connectivity.  Huge problem.  No WPA2 support. I didn't even know what this was before last Wednesday.  Now, it is the bane of my existence.  My school uses it.  Google CC does not (at least not yet).  This means no wifi at school (reminder: this thing is a brick w/o internet).  I workaround by rooting my Droid and using wifi tether but it sucks the batter on my phone or sucks the battery on my CC if I hook up the USB.  This has to be fixed. And it will and that will be great 
• Speed.  The forums seem to say that the intel processor is the culprit here.  It sucks and is slow. Well, that is true, someone.  This computer is not as fast as my dell, but it was freaking free...I'm willing to work with it  

These are my initial thoughts.  I'll update as I go along with other musings.  Suffice it to say that I love the concept of the Google CC (it's gonna be a thing).  I love the hardware design.  I love the battery.  I'm happy to be part of making ChromeOS a viable alternative to mac and windows.  

Welcome and Cloudchroming

One week ago today I received the Google Cr-48.

I had spent the last nearly two months hoping against hope that I would have that little "you have a package" tag hanging from my mailbox in my building each and every day.

So last week, as I was leaving my building on my way to school, I saw that little yellow tag and hope sprang eternal (as it had every time the last two months). Scanning my memory banks, I realized I hadn't ordered anything in the past few days and my wife nearly always tells me when she buys something online....so I immediately gushed with anticipation.

As the desk girl handed me the box, I knew. I knew immediately it was the Cr-48. I could tell by the weight and it was confirmed by the "individual" label on the shipping address. That was how I applied on the pilot program website.

When I opened that box and saw that tell-tale box design, I freaked. It was like christmas morning for little Kevin times ten. I called my loving wife screaming that " I GOT IT!!!" I called my apply fanboy father and bragged incessantly for about ten minutes. I called my mother (tech noob) and even she was shocked.

It felt like the lottery win.

It isn't 300 million dollars...but it's freaking sweet.

Moral of the story is that it was one of the best mornings ever. I'll review it in a later post, but as a precursor to that, let's just say I love it.

Sooooooo,

Welcome to my blog. Why am I blogging? Well, I never have before. I'm on the internet all day long. Why not?

Also, I secretly harbor dreams of being a writer on some beautiful tropical island, so I figure I better practice the trade if I want to write that next great novel.

Why "Taxing Tech"?

I love technology. I'm a noob though. I know more than the average joe I suppose, but a whole lot less than I want to know. I'm going to endeavor to learn more this little experiment (command line stuff, whatever that is).

I am a tax lawyer...eek. How boring, I know. I practiced law for two years after law school and am now in a LL.M. program exclusively focusing on tax law. I'll write about my experiences in class, new developments (if I can drum up interest in myself) and my miserable job search.

Like I said, I like the idea of writing. Let's find out if I'm any good, one and two, do I even like it?