Chromebook For Dummies

Chromebook For Dummies

by Mark LaFay
Released November 2014
Publisher(s): For Dummies
ISBN: 9781118951262

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Book description

Get the most out of your Google Chromebook

Are you the proud new owner of a Google Chromebook and a little—or a lot—intimidated by the technology? You've come to the right place! Chromebook For Dummies walks you through setting up the device, transitioning from traditional computers and working in the cloud, customizing Chromebook to suit your needs, navigating the apps and their uses, and applying advanced settings and features. Fear not: with the step-by-step guidance and helpful information inside, there's no reason to break a sweat.

Chromebooks are affordable, fast, and sleek—and with Google driving the initiative, they're impossible to ignore. So it's no wonder they're gaining popularity and enticing people from all walks of life to make the switch from a traditional PC or laptop. If you're one of those people and want to make the most of your experience, this book is a practical user's guide to all things Chromebook.

  • Covers all Chromebooks on the market

  • Provides coverage of all Chromebook features in an easy-to-follow manner

  • Serves as the go-to reference for successfully using a Chromebook

  • Includes step-by-step coverage of everything you'll encounter with your Chromebook

    • If you're a new or inexperienced user who wants to maximize the performance of your Google Chromebook, you'll turn to this friendly guide time and again.

    Table of contents

      1. Introduction
        1. About This Book
        2. Foolish Assumptions
        3. Icons Used in This Book
        4. Beyond the Book
        5. Where to Go from Here
      2. Part I: Getting Started with Chromebook
        1. Chapter 1: Choosing and Setting Up Your Chromebook
          1. Checking Under the Hood of the Chromebook
            1. The software
            2. The hardware
          2. Choosing a Chromebook
            1. Screen
            2. Processor
            3. Memory
            4. Hard drive
            5. Internet connection
            6. Battery
            7. SD card slot
            8. HDMI support
            9. USB ports
          3. Setting Up Your Chromebook
            1. Turning on your device
            2. Selecting a language
            3. Connecting to the Internet
            4. Agreeing to the Terms of Service
          4. Logging In for the First Time
            1. Logging in using an existing Google Account
            2. Creating a new Google Account
            3. Using Chromebook as a guest
          5. Transitioning to a Chromebook
        2. Chapter 2: Working with the Desktop
          1. Accessing the Chromebook Shelf
          2. Using the App Launcher: Chromebook’s Start Button
            1. Navigating the App Launcher
            2. Organizing the App Launcher
          3. Setting Up App Shortcuts
            1. Pinning app shortcuts
            2. Removing app shortcuts from your shelf
          4. Getting the Scoop in the Status Area
          5. Taking Charge of Window Controls
          6. Using Tabs to Multi-Task
        3. Chapter 3: Surveying the Chrome Browser
          1. Navigating the Chrome Browser
            1. Sizing the Chrome window
            2. Working with tabs
            3. Using the Omnibox and the navigation buttons
            4. Saving your place with the bookmark bar
          2. Customizing and Controlling Chrome
            1. Managing bookmarks
            2. Managing your history and downloads
            3. Erasing your browsing history
            4. Going incognito
        4. Chapter 4: Getting Your Hands on the Keyboard and Touchpad
          1. The Chromebook Keyboard at a Glance
          2. Using Shortcut Key Combinations
          3. Configuring Keyboard Settings
            1. Reconfiguring keyboard keys
            2. Turning shortcut keys into function keys
            3. Changing your keyboard language
          4. Using the Touchpad
            1. Finger gestures
            2. Touchpad and keyboard combinations
          5. Customizing Touchpad Settings
            1. Changing the touchpad speed
            2. Adjusting the touchpad click settings
            3. Changing scroll directions
          6. Connecting a Mouse or Keyboard
        5. Chapter 5: Exploring Chromebook Apps
          1. Exploring Chromebook’s Pre-Installed Apps
            1. Storing data on the web with Google Drive
            2. Word processing with Docs
            3. Using spreadsheets with Sheets
            4. Making presentations with Slides
            5. Taking notes with Keep
            6. Organizing and playing music with Google Play
            7. Calling and video chatting with Hangouts
            8. Emailing with Gmail
            9. Organizing your days with Calendar
            10. Remotely accessing with Remote Desktop
            11. Reading with Google Play Books
            12. Getting directions with Maps
          2. Finding More Apps with the Chrome Web Store
        6. Chapter 6: Finding Your Files
          1. Finding Files with the Files App
            1. Navigating Files
            2. Creating and navigating folders
            3. Moving files and folders
            4. Searching for files
            5. Deleting files and folders
          2. Adding and Using External Storage
          3. Working with Google Drive
            1. Creating a Google Drive account
            2. Using Google Drive
            3. Uploading files to Google Drive
            4. Uploading files to Google Drive from a Mac or PC
            5. Collaborating with Drive
      3. Part II: Harnessing Business Power with Chromebook
        1. Chapter 7: Proceeding with Word Processing
          1. Navigating Google Docs
            1. Surveying the Docs workspace
            2. Changing your view
          2. Working with Text
            1. Moving around your document
            2. Copying and pasting text
            3. Moving text by cutting and pasting
          3. Formatting Text
            1. Changing fonts
            2. Styling fonts
            3. Aligning your text
            4. Clearing formatting
          4. Saving Documents
            1. Naming your document
            2. Exporting documents
          5. Collaborating in Docs
          6. Tracking Revisions
          7. Using Docs Offline
        2. Chapter 8: Summarizing Sheets
          1. Navigating Google Sheets
            1. Surveying the Sheets menu area
            2. Working with the spreadsheet area
            3. Customizing your view
          2. Working with Data
            1. Moving around a spreadsheet
            2. Copying and pasting data
            3. Moving data with cut and paste
            4. Using Autofill to save time
          3. Formatting Data
            1. Working with fonts
            2. Styling your data
            3. Changing alignment
            4. Wrapping text in a cell
            5. Clearing formatting
          4. Customizing Your Spreadsheet
            1. Adding and deleting rows and columns
            2. Resizing columns and rows
            3. Hiding columns and rows
            4. Merging cells
            5. Formatting numbers
            6. Grouping cells with colors and borders
          5. Making Calculations with Formulas
            1. Adding basic mathematical formulas
            2. Adding Formulas to calculate values in cells
            3. Working with spreadsheet functions
          6. Saving Documents
            1. Naming your document
            2. Exporting documents
          7. Collaboration with Sheets
          8. Tracking Revisions
          9. Using Sheets Offline
        3. Chapter 9: Preparing Presentations
          1. Navigating Google Slides
            1. Creating your presentation
            2. Surveying the Slides menu area
            3. Customizing your view
          2. Styling Your Presentation
            1. Changing background color or background image
            2. Applying a different theme
            3. Importing a presentation theme
          3. Working with Text
            1. Adding and deleting text boxes
            2. Resizing, moving, and rotating a text box
            3. Copying and pasting text boxes
            4. Formatting text
            5. Aligning your text
            6. Clearing formatting
          4. Working with Images
            1. Adding images to your presentation
            2. Resizing, rotating, and relocating images
            3. Cropping images
          5. Making Presentations in Presentation Mode
            1. Presenting on additional displays
            2. Speaker Notes window
          6. Saving Presentations
            1. Naming your presentation
            2. Exporting your presentation
          7. Collaborating in Slides
          8. Tracking Revisions
          9. Using Slides Offline
        4. Chapter 10: Email with Gmail
          1. Gmail for Chromebook
            1. Launching Gmail
            2. Navigating Gmail
            3. Customizing your view
            4. Adding a theme
          2. Sending Email with Gmail
            1. Navigating Gmail email
            2. Writing an email
            3. Styling text
            4. Attaching files to an email
            5. Customizing your email view
            6. Creating an email signature
          3. Reading Email
            1. Replying to email
            2. Organizing your Inbox
            3. Setting up a vacation responder
          4. Use Gmail to Access Non-Gmail Accounts
          5. Using Gmail Offline
        5. Chapter 11: Organizing with Google Calendar
          1. Navigating Google Calendar
            1. Customizing your view
            2. Changing your default view
          2. Creating Additional Calendars
            1. Adding and configuring calendars
            2. Color-coding calendars
            3. Hiding and revealing calendars
          3. Creating Calendar Events
            1. Editing and deleting an event
            2. Inviting others to your event
          4. Sharing Calendars
          5. Using Calendar Offline
      4. Part III: The Chromebook Recreational Vehicle
        1. Chapter 12: Mustering Your Music
          1. Getting Started with Google Play
            1. Creating a standard account
            2. Creating a premium account
          2. Accessing the Google Play Library
            1. Uploading music
            2. Purchasing music
          3. Streaming Music
          4. Creating Playlists
            1. Adding music to playlists
            2. Sharing playlists
          5. Listening to a Radio Station
        2. Chapter 13: Chromebook Video
          1. Watching Video on Chromebook
          2. Navigating the Chromebook Video Player
            1. Skipping around a video
            2. Activating Full Screen mode
            3. Adjusting the volume
          3. Getting Started with Google Play Video
          4. Navigating Google Play Video
            1. Purchasing movies and TV shows
            2. Playing movies and TV shows
            3. Activating Full Screen mode
            4. Adjusting the volume
          5. Ditching the Boob Tube for YouTube
          6. Navigating YouTube
            1. Playing and pausing video
            2. Activating Full Screen mode
            3. Adjusting the volume
        3. Chapter 14: Chatting with Friends and Family
          1. Getting Started with Hangouts
          2. Navigating Hangouts on Chromebook
            1. Video chatting with Hangouts
            2. Making a phone call
            3. Taking and sharing photos
            4. Sharing your screen
            5. Using Hangouts Remote Desktop
          3. Texting with the Hangouts Chat App
        4. Chapter 15: Fun with Photos
          1. Navigating Chromebook Camera
          2. Taking a Picture
            1. Using the camera timer
            2. Enabling Multi-Shot mode
            3. Taking a picture with a filter
          3. Viewing Photos
          4. Saving and Deleting Photos
          5. Editing Photos
        5. Chapter 16: eBooks on Chromebooks
          1. Navigating Google Play Books
            1. Searching and purchasing books
            2. Renting a book
            3. Uploading a book
          2. Reading eBooks with Your Chromebook
            1. Customizing your view
            2. Using bookmarks
            3. Defining words
            4. Reading offline
      5. Part IV: Advanced Chromebook Settings
        1. Chapter 17: Customizing Your Chromebook
          1. Customizing Your Display Settings
            1. Changing your wallpaper
            2. Changing your screen resolution
            3. Using an external display
          2. Customizing Your Shelf
            1. Hiding your Shelf
            2. Changing the position of your Shelf
          3. Cloud Printing
        2. Chapter 18: Supersizing Security
          1. Conducting User Management
            1. Adding and deleting users
            2. Hiding users at login
            3. Guest mode
          2. Locking Your Screen
          3. Power-washing
          4. Protecting with Passwords
        3. Chapter 19: Troubleshooting and Disaster Preparation
          1. Resolving Internet-Connectivity Problems
          2. Resolving Power Problems
          3. Using the Chromebook Recovery Utility
          4. Finding Help Online
      6. Part V: The Part of Tens
        1. Chapter 20: Ten Handy Shortcuts
          1. Google Search from the App Launcher
          2. Quick Reboot
          3. Control Chromebook with the Omnibox
          4. Launch Apps in Their Own Windows
          5. Lock Your Screen
          6. Launch Apps in Your Shelf
          7. Do a Barrel Roll
          8. Google Voice Search
          9. Math and Conversions with Search
          10. Life without the Delete Key
        2. Chapter 21: Ten Great Chrome OS Apps
          1. WeVideo
          2. Angry Birds
          3. Remote Desktop
          4. Gmail Offline
          5. Pixlr Editor
          6. Pandora
          7. Evernote
          8. Word Online
          9. Weatherbug
          10. Hangouts Extension
      7. About the Author
      8. Cheat Sheet
      9. More Dummies Products

    Product information

    • Title: Chromebook For Dummies
    • Author(s): Mark LaFay
    • Release date: November 2014
    • Publisher(s): For Dummies
    • ISBN: 9781118951262