The answer to that question can be inferred in two-way. It is very simple if you have the right printer and you are not afraid of Cloud-based services. On the other hand, it is a bit complex if you are used to the more traditional way of printing.

Google Chrome does not support printer through USB ports.

Why? Well, simply because there is no driver support for Chromebook at the moment.

You will need to employ more modern methods.

What if You are Afraid of the Change?

Well, if you are then you would not have resorted to getting a Chromebook for yourself in the first place. The entire idea of Chromebook experience is to try out something that is entirely new.

Is it Going to Cost You More? Do You Need to Get New Hardware?

If you do not have a printer that is Cloud-Ready, then it is a good idea to make sure your next investment is a Cloud-Ready printer.

If you do not have a Cloud-Ready printer, then you will need to setup a print server. This is just a fancy way of saying that you will need to connect your classic USB printer with a system that supports it. (Instructions below)

Printing With a Cloud-Ready Printer

One of the easiest ways to print is to get a printer that supports cloud printing. Most of the latest wireless printers support Google Cloud Print service.

In any case, if you have a printer that supports Cloud Print Service, all you need to do is go through the process of setting it up as so.

Setup/Register the Printer

Registering a Cloud Enabled Printer is super simple with Google Cloud Print service.

1. Go to Google Add Cloud Printer
2. Make sure you select the “Add Could Ready Printer” option.
3. You will be taken to a page where you can select the particular cloud printer. This will have the setup instructions for your chosen printer.
4. For example, here is a sample instruction for setting up an Epson Expression Series Printer:

Printing with the Cloud Printer

Printing with a cloud-ready printer is quite intuitive.

1. Make sure you are signed into the same Google Account as the one you registered your printer with.
2. Go to Print
3. In the Destination settings, select your printer. If you have multiple printers registered with Google Cloud Print, it will show them all.
4. Change the layout of the page if you like and hit print.

Cloud-Ready Printers

Here are some of the great Cloud Ready Printers for Google Cloud Print service.

Printing With a Classic Printer

So what if you have a traditional printer?

In fact, most of the people looking for the solution to the question How do I print from my Chromebook? will have a Classic Printer.

By Classic Printer, I mean a printer that connected to Windows or Mac using a USB cable.

If that is the case, then you will need it to be connected to a Mac or Windows PC or a laptop. Then you will need to register the printer using Google Chrome on the Mac or Windows system.

This, of course, means that you will need to have a spare Mac or Windows system lying around.

Here are the instructions.

Adding the Printer

To start off, make sure you are logged in to your Google account.

1. Go to Google Google Cloud Print.
2. Make sure you select the “Add Classic Printer” option.
3. You will be taken to a very simple page that outlines a 5 step solution given by Google with a video tutorial.
4. Simply, go to Google Chrome Settings
5. Press “Show Advanced Settings”
6. There will be a section called “Google Cloud Print” click Manage.
7. Here you will see all the printers that are physically connected and supported by Windows or Mac system. The detection will be automatic.
8. Simply Add the desired printer.

Printing with a Classic Printer

Once you have added the printer, you can now print from your Google Chromebook.

1. Go to Print
2. Select the desired Cloud Printer. Make sure you are connected to the same Google Account with which you added the Cloud Printer.

Remember, your host PC or Laptop will have to be connected to the internet for this to work.

I hope this little tutorial helped answer the question: How do I print from my Chromebook?

The post How do I print from my Chromebook? appeared first on Laptop for Programming.

I mean we all know about Windows, Mac, and Linux. We know that Windows has the best support for gaming and that you can find some games for Mac and Linux. However, Chromebooks, on the other hand, is something entirely new.

Therefore, the question isn’t just about are Chromebooks good for gaming or not. The question is whether Chromebooks can support gaming at all.

To answer this question, you first need to understand what a Chromebook really is.

What are Chromebooks?

Simply put, Chromebooks have a very weak hardware. They have limited processing power, limited memory and no dedicated graphics card. They do not even have ample storage. Does this sound discouraging?

Well, don’t be discouraged. There is a very good reason why Chromebooks are the way they are. This is because Chromebooks rely mostly on Cloud Computing. Chromebooks are laptops that are designed to utilize the Cloud to its maximum potential.

Therefore, from storage to work, everything is done on the cloud. This is the reason why you must have a stable internet connectivity in order to use Chromebooks to their full potential.

With this definition, Chromebook utilize the resources of the services. Therefore, it does not need to have a powerful hardware within. From photo editing to gaming, you do all of this entirely on the internet. The services are responsible for having a powerful server.

Can You Game on Chromebooks?

Now that you understand what a Chromebook is, the next questions is whether you can game. The answer to this question is a bit complex.

If you are a gamer, and I mean a true gamer, then the answer is simply ‘No’. You cannot game on Chromebooks. Chromebooks do not have support for installation of games. Forget about every playing the AAA titles on Chromebooks.

It is simply not possible. However, there have been news that some innovative companies are trying to offer gaming on the cloud. Meaning, you will pay a monthly fee to use the remote server resources. It will be like streaming the game via the internet.

Read about GaaS (Gaming as a Service).

That is an idea for the future. Whether it is sustainable is yet to be seen.

With that said, there are certain games that you CAN play.

For those of you who are familiar with Google products would be quick to point out the famous Chrome Web Store.

Gaming on a Chromebook

Everything and anything available on the Chrome Web Store is accessible from the Chromebook. Meaning, most of the games supported by a Chromebook are a just a click away.

Fortunately, with the advent of HTML5, WebGL and hardware accelerated browser and web based games, the definition of online game has changed drastically.

Most of the web-based games are highly advanced featuring fantastic graphics and complex gameplay engines.

The great thing about these games is that most of the them are Free. Even the ones that cost are very cheap.

Our Recommended Games for Chromebook

Here are some of the games that we recommend for Chromebook.

The first thing you will notice from this list is that there is no mentioning of games like Call of Duty, Skyrim, Overwatch etc.

Therefore, keep your expectations at a reasonable level please.

• Agar.io: Chances are that you may have already heard of this insanely famous web-based game. It is a game you play with people all over the world. Your objective is to eat your competitors, grow bigger and bigger in size. Just try not to get eaten by other players bigger than you. There is always a bigger fish in the pond.
• 

  Polycraft

  Polycraft: This game is what happens when you combine Minecraft and Tower Defense together. It is an experience unlike any other.

• Angry Birds: Really needs no introduction. You shoot your arsenal of birds to kill the invading pigs hiding in their castles. Simple as that.
• Arcane Legends: This for all you WoW fans out there. Although it is nothing near WoW in terms of complexity, it is still a fantastic MMO RPG to play for Free.
• Crimson: Steam Pirates: Fighting with battleship and formulating strategies to defeat your enemy is just one of the characteristics of this wonderful game. Plus, who doesn’t like pirates.
• Entanglement: If there is any puzzle game that has won the praise of many, it is this. It costs a mere $5.

This is just a very short list of all the games that are available. As more and more IT moves toward Cloud Based services, we can expect more complex games in the near future.

So Are Chromebooks Good for Gaming? 

Coming back to the question, are Chromebooks good for gaming? The answer depends on how you define gaming. If you are a casual gamer and a social gamer, then yes, Chromebooks are great for gaming.

If you are a hardcore gamer who plays AAA titles day and night, this probably is not the best system for you.

Related Articles

You can learn a lot more about Chromebooks here:

• Are Chromebooks Good for College?
• Chromebook Accessories
• How is Coding on Chromebook

The post Are Chromebooks Good for Gaming? appeared first on Laptop for Programming.

Unlike laptops or personal computers, Chromebook has some serious compatibility issues. There are specifi
c devices that work well with Chromebooks and actually boost its functionality. So before you go out choosing accessories for your device remember to check its compatibility with your device. To help you further with your choices here is a must have

To help you further with your choices, here is a must-have list of accessories for Chromebook to make it shine out.

What is a Chromebook?

Before we jump into the list of the best Chromebook accessories, it’s important to define what a Chromebook actually is. Chromebooks are Google’s take on what a laptop should be. They are ultra-slim, super-light, and provide snappy performance even with inferior internal hardware.

While most laptops use a Windows or Mac-based operating systems, Chromebooks run on Google’s proprietary Chrome OS. This operating system is based on a Linux kernel and designed mainly to work while connected to the internet. That’s why it can be considered a cloud-based OS.

Due to its cloud-based design, most of the documents and apps that you use on Chromebook are stored in the cloud. This can be quite a hurdle because, in order to utilize all the functions in a Chromebook, you must have stable internet connection.

Thankfully, most of the Chrome OS applications and extensions have the ability to work offline. So you can consider it as having a sort of hybrid operating system. Everything that you work on or install on the Chromebook is available on your laptop AND in the cloud. Therefore, the rumors claiming that Chromebooks only work online are just false.

Chromebook Accessories

Now that you know what Chromebooks really are, following is a list of Chromebook accessories. They have been carefully selected and are guaranteed to let you get the most out of your laptop.

Chromebook Case

Unlike most personal computers, the Chromebooks require special care to function well. As it is a lightweight portable device, you would want to carry it to places with you. However, you would need a protective cover for that. The case could be as trendy as you are or as sophisticated as your job is. So, it is definitely a must have accessory for you. There is a huge variety of cases available in the market including hard shell cases, neoprene cases, fabric cases and a lot more.

Hard shell cases like iPearl mCover Hard Shell Case are designed to fit the Chromebook like a glove and protect it from scratches and accidental damages. They are specifically constructed for 11.6″ Acer Chromebook 11 CB3-131 series. They are not available for old series of Chromebooks, so you need to check the dimensions and version before placing an order.

Another greate material for Chromebook cases is Neoprene. It is a synthetic rubber which shows good chemical stability and flexibility over a temperature range. Most of the business cases or zipper cases manufacturing companies use high quality, durable and water resistant neoprene so as to offer complete protection against daily wear out or accidental damage.

Kitron-Neoprene Soft Sleeve Case has interior constructed with a soft but shock absorbing material which protects the screen from any kind of damage. They easily fit in a bag or can even be carried alone.

The fabric cases are made of super fine quality and durable suit fabric with shock absorbing interior padding to protect your device from any external environment. Fabric cases prove to be perfect to carry additional accessories such as a mouse, charger etc. Evecase 11.6” ~ 12.5” is a multifunctional messenger tote bag with suit fabric exterior and bubbled neoprene interior. It is one of the best cases available.

Chromebook WebCam

Most of the Chromebooks have built-in front-facing webcams, but sometimes the quality of the image they provide does not match up with your expectations. In cases like that, you can get an additional webcam mounted on your Chromebook. Unlike generic computers and laptops, you need to check the compatibility of devices for Chromebook. Though there is a limited variety of webcams compatible with Chromebooks,  the Logitech C920 works really well.

The Logitech C920 for Chromebook is, in fact, one of the best webcams available in the market as it outperforms all the built-in type of webcams. It provides 1080p full HD video calling over Google hangouts and other video calling services. It also provides H.264 compression for videos and is very easy on the wallet as well. The Logitech C920 proves to be the best webcam for professional or personal usage.

Chromebook Headset and Microphone

Since Chromebook is an inexpensive device, the onboard microphone and speakers aren’t up to par for professional or multimedia use. Thus having an external, high-quality mic accessory and headset becomes a necessity.

The first and foremost is the Ailihen MX-06 Headset. This an over-ear headphone with built-in microphone and volume control. The Ailihen MX-06 is one of the best Chromebook accessories as it looks very premium yet costs very little. It has great bass and superb stereo sound output. It comes with an advanced built-in microphone system for high definition and clear voice calls. The mic even eliminates noise in the environment.

If you are a fan of active noise-cancelling headphones, you can opt for the Cowin E-7 Headphones. These cans have the ability work wirelessly through Bluetooth or through a normal audio cable. You even get an onboard HD microphone for chatting and recording your voice. Due to its large 40nm driver, the Cowin E-7 produces excellent sound with incredible bass. With 30 hours of battery, you can enjoy your audio experience without the worry of running out of juice.

If cans aren’t your style and you prefer something subtle, you can also opt for in-ear type earphones. Although there are many great ones in the market, but one the best are Saimly Earbuds. They are highly rated with rave reviews. The Saimly Earbuds produce rich sound with amazing bass and high tones. The Earbuds also come with an in-line microphone, which makes video/voice calling a breeze. As far as the look is concerned, the earphones are encased in a metallic body that’s built to last.

For Chromebook owners who already have a decent set of earphones/headphones but are looking for a high-quality microphone, fret not. There are various high-quality and professional microphones that can work on your Chromebook

If you just want a simple microphone that connects to your headphone/microphone jack and extends out, you can look at the Insten VOIP/SKYPE Mini Flexible Microphone. As the name suggests, the Insten specializes for video and voice chatting. The microphone easily extends out from the laptop and provides much better quality than the built-in Chromebook mic.

For folks who prefer a bit of a better sound quality and avoid static that is apparent in all analog mics, the eBerry USB Mic provides a great solution. This Chromebook accessory connects to your device through a USB port and provided digital sound input. The clarity is visibly clear instantly. The eBerry has an adjustable and extendable stand that provides further ergonomics and better voice reach.

For professional users who do a lot of produce a lot of podcasts and YouTube video, there is a Chromebook accessory for you too. The Floureon USB Studio Condenser Microphone is a professional-grade device that doesn’t cost much but holds a lot of value. The mic is powered by a USB connection on your Chromebook while the audio is channeled through a generic audio cable. The Floureon is the best mic you can possibly get in our list of Chromebook Accessories.

Chromebook Mouse

One of the most crucial Chromebook accessories to have is a mouse. Most of the Chromebooks have single USB 2.0 port so if you are planning to attach a mouse you would require a USB hub. This device will ensure the availability of multiple USB ports for other purposes.

One of the most basic and essential mice that work great on Chromebooks is AmazonBasics Wireless Mouse. It’s tiny and portable mouse and comes with its own USB nano receiver. The AmazonBasics Wireless Mouse enjoys rave reviews due to its smooth, precise, and affordable qualities. If you are not much into style and prefer a mouse that just works, you should look no further.

 Another respectable brand for computer accessories is Logitech. It’s an old company and has a reputation for producing great devices. The best Logitech mice for Chromebook are Bluetooth based. They are wireless and don’t require any receiver as they connect to the built-in Bluetooth receiver in your Chromebook.

Two such mice are the Logitech M557 and Logitech M535. The M557 is a small-sized mouse and easy to carry around. The M535 is a normal-sized mouse that provides great ergonomics and comfort. Both of the Logitech mice provide great performance and ease of connectivity. They are perfect if you don’t wish to clutter your single USB port with an additional mouse receiver.

The last two our collection of Chromebook accessories mice are the Microsoft Designer Bluetooth Mouse and the Toshiba B35. Both of these are also Bluetooth-based and work seamlessly with Chromebooks. The Microsoft Bluetooth Designer Mouse sports Microsoft’s legendary hardware design and functionality. It’s small, light and easy to carry around. The Toshiba B35 is also a mini-sized mouse with a sleek design. It offers seamless connectivity with you Chromebook and aids in your daily computing. Both of the Microsoft and Toshiba mice a reasonably priced and offer great performance.

Chromebook USB Hub

As discussed above, most of the versions of Chromebooks have single USB 2.0 port or a USB 3.0 if lucky. In order to facilitate the requirement and availability of multiple ports for additional devices, a USB hub would be helpful. Luckily, there are a variety of USB hubs available as an accessory for your Chromebook.

The first and foremost in the list of Chromebook accessories USB hubs is the C2G 29525 USB Hub. This is the most and simple USB hub you can get for your Chromebook. The C2G is essentially a dongle that lets you connect up to two USB devices. The only limit on this hub is USB 2.0. This means you cannot get USB 3.0 functionality out of it.

If C2G is too simple and basic for your need, there are other options available too. You can get Chromebook USB hubs with advanced ports and multiple USB ports. One of the best multi-port USB hubs is HooToo Ultra-Slim 4-port USB hub. This is a USB3.0 Hub with backward compatibility for USB 2.0. The HooToo USB Hub is construted using thermal-conducting aluminum alloy, which makes it tough and efficient at heat dissipation. It looks sharp and ready to impress.

For folks who require a LAN connection on their Chromebook, there is a solution for you too. You can get the UGREEN USB Ethernet Hub that gives you 3 USB 2.0 ports along with a bonafide LAN port. This way you can connect multiple USB-based devices and connect to your local area network over 100 Mbps. UGREEN is a known name in components and accessorie. They manufacture quality products that are made to last.

If you are one of the lucky ones who possess a Chromebook with a USB Type-C port, you can also enhance you Chromebook’s connectivity woes through a USB hub. Two of the major names in accessories design and functionality are ANKER and AUKEY. Both of these companies have made a name for themselves for offering high quality and durable accessories for mobile devices.

The ANKER USB hub connects to your Chromebook through the USB Type-C port and gives you an additional 4 ports of USB Type-A. This means you can connect all sorts of mice, keyboards, printers, and hard drives to your Chromebook. The AUKEY USB hub is one of the best Chromebook accessories on the market. It provides similar metallic construction and high quality to the ANKER with the addition to an Ethernet port. Yes, you can use this hub to connect a Gigabit LAN connection to your Chromebook. You also get three additional USB ports to connect all sorts of devices.

Chromebook Keyboard

When talking about Chromebook accessories, keyboards are always a must. Although they may not be a necessity for everyone, but for folks who use their Chromebooks on tables or connect them to external monitors might find keyboards very helpful. The comfort of working on an external keyboard cannot be matched by the built-in version. One of the unique features of Chromebooks is that they have a non-standard layout of keys. Thankfully, all the external Chromebook keyboards also follow the same layout.

The most basic type of keyboard Chromebook accessory is a wired keyboard. The best you can get on the market are the ones provided by Samsung and Dell. We all know how big these companies so the products they make are surely top notch.

The Samsung AA-SK4PCUB is a mini-keyboard that is designed specifically for Chrome OS. It’s extremely light and small and easy to tuck away in any bag or case, along with your Chromebook. The Dell KB115, on the other hand, is a full-sized keyboard that also comes with a Numpad. It provides a very comfortable key design that enhances productivity.

If wired isn’t your cup of tea, you can also opt for Bluetooth-enabled wireless keyboards for your Chromebook. One of the best Chromebook accessories for a wireless keyboard is the HP LB1 keyboard. This is a portable and slick keyboard that is designed specifically for Chrome OS. It provides great performance for a great price point.

If money isn’t an issue, you can also get the Logitech K380 keyboard. This is a unique, multi-device keyboard that connects to every device with a Bluetooth connection. Whether it’s your Chromebook, Android phone, an iPhone, or even a PC, the Logitech K380 has you covered. Through its Easy-Switch capability, you can connect up to three devices simultaneously. Furthermore, with its unique key design and portable footprint, you can work anywhere effortlessly.

Chromebook Lapdesk

A Lapdesk is basically meant to provide comfort to users who like to use their Chromebook on the couch or in the bed. Lapdesk protects you from the heat Chromebooks produce and their unique adjustable design allows you to tilt the screen thereby preventing you from eye or neck strains. This enhances the overall ergonomics. Logitech comfort lap desk is wide enough to adjust a portable mouse. So, it is a must-have for users who want to balance work with comfort.

Some of the best companies who make lap desks are Targus and Logitech. Their products offer great design and incredible ease of use.  The Targus AWE78US is a slim lap desk that folds up to fit in any tiny case. It provides the most basic use as Chromebook stand and can be used anytime anywhere.

If you aren’t a fan of the speakers on your Chromebook, you can then opt for the Logitech N550 Lapdesk. It comes with integrated high-performance stereo speakers with volume controls, powered through a USB connection. If the touchpad on your Chromebook is too small, Logitech has an answer for that in the form of the N600 Lapdesk. It comes with a retractable multi-touch touchpad along with volume controls, all done wirelessly. Both the Logitech N550 and N600 provide amazing comfort and convenience.

If you prefer something more baroque and antique, the Sofia+Sam Bed Tray solves the issue. It’s constructed with high-grade wood and provides plenty of space for your Chromebook, phone, and even a mouse pad. This is a multi-level adjustable lap desk that conforms to your ergonomics.

A more futuristic option is the Readaeer Desk Table. It comes with a space for your Chromebook and an external mouse. Its extremely portable and adjustable to all levels. Its sleek aluminum construction makes it both light and portable.

Chromecast for Chromebook

If you don’t know what a Chromecast is, you are seriously missing out on a lot of fun and productivity. This is a screen mirroring device which enables Chromebooks, PCs, Android devices, and iPhones to wirelessly view audio/visual content on an HD TV. Chromecast came into existence in 2013 and since then it is one of the top selling products. It is a necessity if you want to run slideshows or watch movies on your HD television. The best part of Chromecast is that it offers a seamless and wireless streaming on HDMI Screen without any mesh of cables.

Chromebook External Storage Device

You must be wondering why a cloud computing device like a Chromebook would ever need a storage. The answer is Chromebook does not require any storage device but the users do. As a Chromebook user, you would need an external storage device to keep a copy of your confidential data to be safe in adverse possible conditions. As you do not have a control over the entity holding your data so you need to be safe with your stuff before it is lost. You can only access your data on a Chromebook if you are online 24×7.

In a case of urgency, the data is not available which justifies the need for external devices. Therefore, storage devices are one of the most important Chromebook accessories to have. Luckily, Chromebook supports plenty of external devices like SD cards, external hard drives, and USB sticks.

SD Card can be used to extend the storage capacity of your device as most Chromebooks have onboard SD Card slots for direct use. A wide variety of SD cards with different capacity are available to facilitate your storage requirements. The best thing to get is the Lexar Professional SDXC card. It sports 128GB of space and 1000x the speed of generic SD cards.

If you are not yet satisfied with the storage capacity of your device, you can switch to external hard drives. They provide a huge storage capacity within a passport-sized dimensions and can easily fit in your Chromebook cases or sleeves. Seagate is one of the great options for an external hard drive. You can get one with 1TB or 4TB of space. Both of them have USB 3.0 with the ability to work on slower USB 2.0 connections.

The last and the most common external storage device that you can use for you Chromebook accessories is a USB stick. These are the standard of data transfer and storage for over a decade now. They are small, light, and pack decent storage. Samsung and SanDisk make some of the best flash-based storage solutions in the market. Getting a Samsung or SanDisk USB drive is probably the best thing you can do for your Chromebook. You can get a normal speed or a high-speed USB drive for a very reasonable price.

Chromebook Printer

USB based printers do not work properly with Chromebook as they are not plug-and-play. Sadly, there aren’t any drivers either to allow printing. Instead, what most of the printer companies have done is create a printing app for Chrome OS. This app supports printing through the Chrome browser to USB connected printer. You simply have to connect the printer to your Chromebook’s USB port, install the dedicated printing application, and then follow the onscreen instructions to enable the app.

All of this hassle can be further eliminated if you get a wireless printer. These printers connect to your local network through WiFi and can receive print orders from any device on the same network.

Let us start with the most basic and cheapest printer Chromebook accessories. We will be looking at the HP OfficeJet 4650, Canon PIXMA MG3620, and Epson Expression Home XP-330. HP, Canon, and Epson are by far the best companies when it comes to printers. They have been in the printers industry for decades and have spent billions of dollars on RnD to make their products better.

The printers in this category might be basic in price, but they still offer plenty of functionality. All of them are wireless and perform printing and scanning duties. Best of all, they will work with your Chromebook with ease

If basic Chromebook accessories is not your cup of tea and you are looking for a proper workhorse printer for your Chromebook, you need not worry. If you are willing to dish out a little more cash, you can get the Epson WorkForce ET-4500. This printer can print, scan, copy, and fax.

Perhaps the most important feature of this printer is its EcoTank technology. Instead of relying on expensive ink cartridges, the Epson WorkForce ET-4500 comes with Epson’s proprietary ink tank technology that reduces your ink costs up to 90%. Yep, you heard it right. You can produce great graphics on your Chromebook and print them without the worry of ink costs. The Epson WorkForce ET-4500 also comes with ethernet, WiFi, and WiFi direct. This covers all of you compatibility issues with Chromebooks.

This is by far one of the best Chromebook accessories to have.

Conclusion

Thus concludes our most comprehensive list of the best of the best Chromebook accessories. As a Chromebook owner, you already know that it’s one of the best devices to have. It performs well and costs extremely less. But if you want to enhance the experience further, then you need to have additional Chromebook accessories. They will literally do wonders for you. And once you get used to them, you will wonder how you managed this far without them.

Related Topics

• How is Coding on Chromebook?
• Are Chromebooks Good for College?

The post Chromebook Accessories | Accessories for Chromebook appeared first on Laptop for Programming.

Why? Well, let us find out.

When we talk about college students, we generally refer to the people who need a decent laptop at the best price possible. Students have budget considerations and at the same time, their work demands power and reliability.

With so many options to choose from, it does get confusing to find the right product for yourself.

Google Chromebooks aren’t as famous as conventional laptops; however, they are quickly gaining pace especially with students.

What is a Chromebook Anyway?

When you think of moving over to a Chromebook, you start to think of several questions like are are they good for gaming? what kind of accessories can i get? How do you print on them? etc

For those who don’t know what Chromebooks are, it is a super-rapid small version of a laptop.

Instead of Windows 10 or Mac OS X, Chromebooks run on Google’s Chrome OS, which is designed to work typically while connected to the internet, either by Ethernet or Wi-Fi.

It’s documents and applications mostly reside on the cloud. Therefore, in order to utilize the full functionality of the Chromebooks, you must make sure you have stable internet connections.

However, most of the software or Chrome web applications and extensions do run offline. The best thing is that they will sync all your information back to the cloud when you get connected again. Therefore, saying Chromebooks don’t work without the internet is just a rumor.

How are they Designed?

Chromebooks are lightweight laptops planned for people who devote most of their time connected to the internet. And that is one of the greatest benefits of it.

These laptops are very thin and light. They can measure at about 0.7″ or less in thickness and weigh only less than 2.5 pounds generally.

Since they do not use a power hungry hardware, they also have a very long battery. They can typically last for 8 hours easily.

Just for the portability itself, they are a great pick for college students. Therefore, if your primary requirement for a laptop is to be thin, light and highly mobile, there isn’t a better option than Chromebooks.

Many Chromebooks have an 11.6” screen, but can be found also in 13.3”, 14” or even 15.6” versions. Most of the major brands like HP, ASUS, Acer, Lenovo, Dell manufacture Chromebooks.

What are the Best Chromebooks for College?

Although there are many amazing Chromebooks out there, you can have a look at three of them below. These are the latest and highly praised Google Chromebooks in the market.

They should also give you a good idea about what they are in general.

Why are Chromebooks Good for College?

If you are still asking are Chromebooks good for college, here are few positive points that you can take into consideration.

Chromebooks are Inexpensive

They can be purchased at as little as $150,00 up to $400,00 and that is significantly less than an average laptop. This makes them a very attractive proposition for some people.

An extra cost incentive for Chromebooks is the Google Apps for Education (GAFE) services which is a free suite of education apps for students.

Most of the applications on the Google Web Store are free. Since everything is done on the cloud, you don’t need a powerful hardware on board. All the tasks are done on the cloud. Students can collaborate on a single project with multiple people working at the same time.

You can access all of your work on the internet through any machine. You can access it via a conventional laptop, smartphone, desktop or another Chromebook.

Battery life of a Chromebook

Most of the Chromebooks have an expected six hours or more battery life. However, some Chromebooks can even go up to 13 hours. This can give you a lot of mobility as a student. The fact that you can stay away from a power socket for almost half a day means a for students who are always on the go.

Compared to a conventional laptop of the same price range, this is at least twice as more battery life.

Chromebooks are 100% Secure

They are cloud-based, which means that they are constructed to run by a browser. Also, it is not required for any other program to be installed. The servers on which the web applications reside have the best security possible. Therefore, you don’t need to worry about security yourself.

Chromebooks are very easy to use

The Chromebooks are automatically updated in the background. Everything that you install is just a click away. There is no complicated installation process.

This means that as a student, you will spend less time beating your head with installing new software and actually using that time on something more productive.

Chromebooks are designed to be highly responsive. You do not have to download large software either so you don’t need a huge disk space. The simplicity of usage is what separate Chromebooks from the conventional laptops.

Limitless Users and Usage in Education

There is no limit on the number of users that can be included on Google Apps for Education (GAFE), and given that the applications are devoted to user profiles, Chromebooks can be used by another student.

Each student has their own specified profile when they log into their applications, settings, books, etc. Chromebooks can be with no trouble shared with other students, family or friends, and since they have built-in security, there is no danger of unwanted software installations or malware.

Guest users can also use Chromebooks, but they are not capable of entering any information on the Chromebook or save their work when done.

Chromebooks Make Teamwork Possible

Chromebooks increase students’ interaction and collaboration. Shared calendars, Gmail, Google Docs and video conferencing make students able to connect with others and keep abreast of obligations.

Chromebooks allow students to work together while finishing group assignments. Access to work can be reached during school areas or at home.

Google Docs, Sheets, Slide are the Chrome alternatives to Microsoft Office. To many, the Google variants are much more streamlined. However, two things that really set Google’s variants apart are first they are free and secondly, multiple users can work on the same document at the same time.

This makes group assignments a social interaction instead of work.

Chromebooks are fast. Like super-fast

They can power on in around seven seconds. That is possible because of their SSD hard drives and Googles’ Chrome operating system.

Since most of the Chromebooks do not have any mechanical component, they are much faster and less prone damage over time.

Trivial Limitations of Chromebook

Everybody knows that there is no such thing as a perfect laptop. Even Chromebooks have some imperfections. I wouldn’t call them deal breakers for college students as these limitations can easily be overcome.

Let us have a look at them:

Limited Storage

If you have a lot of data that require a big HDD, then you may want to invest in an external HDD along with this laptop.

Actually, this limitation helps keep the price low.Buyers get

In all reality, you don’t really need much space with Chromebooks. All of your information is stored on the cloud. That is why when purchasing Chromebook, Google provides 100 GB of free cloud storage.

No Optical Drive

Someone wouldn’t even call this a “limitation” because CD/DVD drives are becoming a thing of the past.

There is no Photoshop or Professional Video Editing

If you are a student with special designing skills and a knack for using Photoshop, you will be disappointed to find out that Chromebooks lack it. Unfortunately, there is no professional cloud-based Adobe Photoshop either; however, work is in progress to make that true.

Furthermore, since most Chromebooks are weak, you cannot install stand alone Photoshop on them either.

Fortunately, there are alternatives for editing casual family photos or videos such as Pixlr or Photoshop Express Editor for pictures and WeVideo for video editing.

Microsoft Office is Incompatible

Google inspires users to use its own free online collection of Office-like services. Lots of these services are similar to components of Microsoft Office, but they do lack characteristics that you may have come to rely on.

Even though you can use the Android version of Office applications, they also lack some of the full functionality.

Gaming is out of the Question

Unfortunately, that is a tough reality if you are remotely a gamer. Unless you enjoy the likes of Candy Crush or Clash of Clans, there is nothing else that you can play on Chromebooks.

Gaming requires a very powerful internal hardware. Chromebooks are the opposite of that.

Conclusion

There are few hallmark features of Google Chromebooks that are catered specifically for students. They are light, mobile, and most importantly, highly budget-friendly.

They are cheaper than even the cheapest conventional laptop. Since most of the work is done on the cloud, they are also a lot for streamlined and response. Needless to say, they are much simple to use. Most of the applications just need a click to install and need you to register a free account.

So coming back to the question: are Chromebooks good for college? I would say in the end it depends on your use. For an average student, they are perfect; however, for a student with special skills or a need for gaming, they are less than ideal.

Related Topics

• How is Coding on Chromebook?

The post Are Chromebooks Good for College? appeared first on Laptop for Programming.

The idea behind this is very similar to that of a car mechanic. A car mechanic never compromises on the quality of his/her tools; therefore, neither should you as a programmer.

The best keyboard for programming can go a long way in giving you a comfortable experience and could even enhance your productivity.

So, without further ado, lets dive right into it.

This list was updated on May 2017.

Best Keyboard for Programming 2017 Reviews

There is so much variety in keyboards that it sometimes become crazy to find the best one. There are the mechanical keyboard, membrane keyboards, programmable keyboards, ergonomic keyboards, etc.

If that is not confusing enough, each of the sub-type has more categories like tactile mechanical keyboard, soundless mechanical keyboards, etc.

In this list of the best keyboard of coding, we will break it down in terms of features so that it is easier for you to find your best pick.

Best Mechanical Keyboard for Programming

Mechanical keyboards really need no introduction. If you have the money to afford, these are perhaps the best type of keyboards to get. Every keystroke on these keyboards gives you immense pleasure.

Corsair K95 – Extended

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This is the flagship mechanical keyboard from Corsair featuring Cherry MX Red and Brown switches. It has the options for customization and programming.

Although this is by a gaming brand, if you are looking for one of the best values in the market for a quality mechanical keyboard for programming, this is it.

Speaking of durability and quality, this keyboard uses aircraft grade aluminum for its construction.

There is nothing remotely close to the durability this keyboard would give you.

The keyboard offers high-quality features. You would normally expect a keyboard to have ten key rollover – this is typical enough for any keyboard as you do not have more than ten fingers.

This keyboard; however, boasts 122-key rollover, so if you were to sleep on it, the keyboard would still be able to register each press separately.

This is a full-size keyboard meaning it has the NUM pad on its right but it also has 18 G-Keys. These 18 programmable keys are great for those who appreciate customization.

The programmable keys can be set to three different profiles which in total can give you 54 programmed keys. The control that this keyboard provides and the precision of the key actuation is flawless.

The construction of the keys themselves is such that you will seldom miss judge them.

The basic version of this keyboard offer Cherry MX RED switches. These offer smooth actuation without any audible click.

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Best TenKeyless Mechanical Keyboard

Corsair Vengeance K65

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The best one in this also happens to be the one from Corsair.

It has the same rugged, anodized aluminum chassis as the Corsair K95 above, but obviously, has ten keys less.

If you are looking for solid and best tenkeyless mechanical keyboard for programming, then this should be on the top of your list.

Being a much smaller keyboard, it is also quite affordable as well as portable. You can take this around with you all the time in your travels. It even has a detachable USB with cable routing.

Despite being a 10-keyless keyboard, it uses the standard key sizes. Therefore, the typing still remains comfortable.

The keyboard uses MX Red Switches. It has Anti-Ghosting and Full Key Roll over features too.

However, if you like to customize your keyboard, then this isn’t the perfect choice for you. This is for those who prefer precision and comfort.

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Best Budget Mechanical Keyboard

TOMOKO Mechanical Keyboard

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Granted, it does not use the best of construction material, but most of us don’t really care as long as the keyboard works and feels great.

That is basically the idea behind this keyboard.

This keyboard uses Cherry MX Blue switches that will provide you with a tactile feedback. Meaning, you feel the click and noise. This is generally said to improve speed and precision.

This is a tenkeyless mechanical keyboard, so it lacks a num pad. However, it has an FN key with which you can gain access to media controls.

Other than that, this is a very simple keyboard. It is compatible with both Windows and MAC.

One of the best features of this keyboard is that it is water-resistant. Therefore, if you accidentally spill something over, you can rest assured that it’ll still get the work done.

It also comes with key-cap puller so that you can clean the insides of the keys sometimes.

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Best Professional Keyboard for Programming

WASD Code 87 Keys – High-Quality Keyboard for Coding

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This back-lit illuminated mechanical keyboard is considered to be one of the finest among professionals. For that reasons, it is also one of the best keyboard for programming.

This is a simple looking keyboard; however, it greatly balances its look with its performance. There are two Switch types that you can get: Clear and Green. Green are more expensive because they come pre-installed with O-ring dampeners.

The clear switch gives you a tactile feel to the keystrokes. Everything about this keyboard speaks of quality.

You get a lot of other goodies with this keyboard. You get a 6ft micro USB cable, a USB – PS/2 converter and also a Keycap Puller.

Unlike some of the high-end keyboards mentioned here, this particular keyboard is not made out aluminum, but of rigid plastic that feels solid. You will have no flexing issues caused by strains.

In terms of versatility not only does this keyboard have the function key, but offers something else that is unique, a DIP switch. This is there to give you hardware level configurable output.

For example, one of the functions it provides is the ability to switch to other keyb.oard layouts like DVORAK and COLEMAK.

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Best Wireless Keyboard for Programming

If you like to have a clean desk space, then your keyboard of choice will definitely be a wireless keyboard. Whether you should go for a wired or wireless keyboard is entirely up to you. However, there are a few more things you need to consider as compared to a wired keyboard.

Microsoft L5V-00001 – Best Valued Wireless Keyboard for Programming [Package]

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This is one of the best keyboard for programming if it is comfort that you are after. I know this is not just a keyboard but an entire package, the value that it gives is phenomenal.

This is a highly ergonomic keyboard for programming. It fashioned in a way that your wrist and hand posture remains in a comfortable position while you type.

Most of the typists are increasingly moving towards ergonomic keyboards and due to the health hazards a conventional keyboard provides for prolonged typing.

With this keyboard, you get an ergonomic mouse as well as a separate numpad. The mouse itself is among the most beautiful and comfortable piece of peripheral that I have seen.

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Best Membrane Keyboard for Programming

Most of the membrane keyboards are very cheap to find. You can only find high-quality membrane keyboards in the gaming models.

The only high-quality membrane keyboard that is built for typing and programming is the Apple Wired Keyboard.

Apple Wired Keyboard

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Apple products don’t really need an introduction. They are not to be the cream of the their pack. The Apple Wired Keyboard has a signature white on gray color and a simple texture.

The best part about this keyboard are the keys themselves. I am not talking about their actuation points or their sounds; I am talking about the pure feel of the keys.

If you have ever touched the keyboard on a Macbook, then you will have a very good idea about how this keyboard feels too.

If you want to use it on Windows, you will need to tweak it a bit.

The keys are soft with shallow actuation points. The are made of material and coating that gives you extensive grip so that you do no accidentally miss the key.

This keyboard is optimized for key travel. Meaning there is a thorough research done on how the keyboard is supposed to type. This type of perfection is typically expected from Apple anyways.

The keyboard also comes with multimedia control. It also incorporates two USB ports. It is slim and highly stylish. The keyboard is made of aluminum for highest durability.

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Other Accessories for Programmers

You will be delighted to hear that you can further improve your coding experience by investing in accessories and peripherals designed specifically for software developers. You can find monitors, mice, and even keyboard dedicated to improving your professional life.

FAQ & Guide

Before you buy something, it is always a good idea to know as much as about the product as you can. This makes you a smart buyer and plus it enlightens you about the terminologies and the aspects of a product.

For buying the best keyboard for programming, you need to consider the follow key features.

Now you should note that you cannot expect all of the features to be on one keyboard. There will always be trade-offs.

What are Switch Types?

Switch types basically define the type of feel and feedback you would receive from key presses on mechanical keyboards.

There are many different switch types, and they are differentiated by their color. You would typically find them in Blue, Brown, Red, Black and also in propriety designs such as the ones on Razer BlackWidow keyboards.

This Infographic should help you further with choosing switch types.

How Do You Silence Mechanical Keyboards?

There are many reasons why one would want to silence their mechanical keyboards.

There are many other reasons. However, the good news is that there is a very easy way to turn the sound off.

You simply have to get O-rings and Key-Cap puller. Then you remove the keys one-by-one and place that rubber O-ring on the plungers of the keys. This dampens the sound.

There are many types of O-rings that you can get. Each has its own level of reduction.

Define Anti-Ghosting and Key Rollover?

Ever experienced the phenomenon where you type really fast, and the keyboard accidentally registers and extra keystroke out of nowhere. This is ghosting.

Most of the advanced, and in fact all of the keyboard listed here have the feature called anti-ghosting. 

Anti-ghosting basically gets rid of this problem. So if you are programming and you are pressing the keys really fast, the keyboard will not go crazy and accidentally press the Windows key, for example, for you.

Key Rollover pertains to how many keys you can press at a single time before the keyboard locks out.

If a keyboard has 6 Key Roll Over, it means you can press six keys, and the keyboard will register all 6 in sequence, on the seventh simultaneous press, the keyboard will lock out.

You can sometimes know this when the computer makes a beeping sound.

Most of the gaming keyboards have a good number of Key Roll Over. A 10 key rollover accounts for all ten fingers on our hands. A number greater than this is commonly featured on gaming keyboards. Wonder why you would need more than that – perhaps when you are raging and you happen to slap all the keys on your keyboard.

Conclusion

There are many types of keyboard available in the market. If you are looking for the best keyboard for programming, you first need to define your needs.

Do you need a wireless or a wired keyboard? The decision can most certainly change once you have looked at the vast variety of keyboards that you can get.

It is without a doubt that mechanical keyboards for programming are still the reigning king. The best thing about them is that you can get to choose exactly the type of feel you want thanks to the different switch types.

You can also look into other or more common and cheaper keyboard types like the membrane keyboards.

What to Expect from the Best Keyboard for Programming 2018?

Only time will tell what new technology the next year brings. We can see a trend that the mechanical keyboards are finally getting cheaper. This means we can hope to find more under $50 mechanical keyboards next year in 2018.

We are also seeing a growing trend for getting ergonomic peripherals. We can expect this trend to continue.

The trend for modular keyboards is on the decline. Therefore, we do not expect them to show up in 2018. In fact, with the current trend, the simpler the keyboard, the better it is.

The post Best Keyboard for Programming 2017 | (Updated May 2017) appeared first on Laptop for Programming.

Almost 26 years ago on February 20^th of 1991, a Dutch man unbolted a new era for an unprecedented and a fledgling High-Level Programming Language broadly used for General Purpose Programming. That programming language is what we know today as the Python languages.

As we are well aware, to program with any language, you first need to have the right tools. If you are programming on MAC, you will need to find the best Python IDE for Mac.

Whether you choose to go with the free or paid IDEs is entirely up to you.

For best python IDEs for Windows click here

10 Best Python IDE for Mac

Let us get right into it. These following are some of the popular Python IDEs for MAC. This is not an ordered list as some IDEs outweigh the others in a certain aspect be it features or price.

If you want to choose the right IDE, you will have to do a bit of a research by yourself. It will be a shame to pay for an IDE just to find out that it does not have the one feature that you need.

1. PyCharm IDE

PyCharm is a professional IDE Suite which is offered in two different versions. One is Free Community Version aimed at individuals or learners. The Corporate version is meant for the Enterprise Developers. Developed by JetBrains, it is a company specializing in making extremely well developer tools from the last 15 years.

Most of the features are existent in free version. Some of the most resourceful functions like intelligent coding, intuitive project navigation, error check and fixing, and smart factoring etc. are the core of this IDE.

Besides these functions, other functions like iPython notebook which supports many scientific packages like NumPy, Matplotlip, and Anaconda etc. are available in Professional Version of PyCharm only.

2. Pydev IDE

PyDev is the IDE of hundreds of thousands of people. Why? Because it is totally free. It is bursting with a package of extremely useful features. It is originally an open source plugin working on Eclipse thus bringing Eclipse to the gorge of Python.

Existing Eclipse users can start writing python codes on Pydev. And in case you are not an existing user at Eclipse, coding can wait till you become an Eclipse user.

An IDE filled with countless features, some of the most advance and joyful features are Integrated Python Debugging, Code Analysis, Code Templates, Smart Indent, Bracket matching, Django Integration, multi-Language support and much more.

Developed by Aleks Ttotic in 2004 is currently upheld by Fabio Zadrozny. Including Python, Pydev also supports Jython and IronPython as well.

3. Spyder Python

Created under license of MIT, this is a free and open source IDE. This IDE itself being developed with Python is a light, robust and a feature jammed IDE for Python.

Plentiful features of Spyder Python are its multi-language editor, Variable Explorer, Find in files, Find in Folders, Documentation Viewer, and Interactive Console. Even though this is multiplatform IDE which can be used in Windows, Mac, Linux and other OS, Spyder Python can also be used as PyQt extension.

4. VIM

VIM is a very widespread and one of the most innovative text editor and it is exceptionally popular among Python Developers. This free of cost IDE can be used under the license of GPL.

Although VIM is a very modern text editor, it can be used as a Python development environment when configured appropriately. VIM is a very light, no mouse (it can be used only with keyboard) keyboard lovers development environment.

To use VIM as an IDE, one needs to configure VIM with the help of some plugins before actually start coding. VIM can be a perfect choice for Linux users as well.

5. Wing IDE:

Developed 15 years ago by Wingware, Wing IDE is destined for professionals. This multiplatform IDE derives in free and a professional version.

Debugging being the most stimulated area, Wing IDE comes with many other features like thread code debugging, auto child debugging, breakpoints, code stepping, code inspection and many other qualities.

6. Python Tool for Visual Studios PTVS

Same as Pydev for eclipse, PTVS is designed to lodge itself in Microsoft Visual Studio. Released in 2015 PTVS supports Visual Studio from version 2013 and onwards. PTVS also have support for free versions of Visual Studio.

Overflowing with features like code editing, profiling, C/C++ debugging and Linux/Mac OS remote debugging, this IDE tool is one best IDE amongst all other IDEs.

7. Komodo IDE

Patenting from Active state, this multiplatform, Multilanguage IDE has support for Python. This IDE is essentially a commercial program but it can be obtained free of cost under the name Komodo Edit. However, the free version does not come with all the features that are at hand in the commercial version.

Komodo includes basic features like code refactoring, auto complete, go to definition, code browser, multi-process debugging, multithread debugging etc.

8. Eric Python

Written in Python, Eric is the conception of Detlev Offenbach. This under the license of GPL, free to use IDE is amongst the club of other popular IDEs used by professionals.

Features like call taps, folding, highlighting, code coverage and profiling etc. are some of the salient of all the features. Key features like rope refactoring, core plugins, application diagrams, integrated task management, unit test support etc. are those features which make this IDE competitive among other IDEs.

9. Emacs IDE

Emacs is one its kinds. It is a broadly customizable GNU editor. When the purpose is to write Python programs, Emacs becomes highly transformable free of cost Python IDE.

When it comes to Python, Emacs gives the options like Python-mode. Emacs can be enhanced further by additional plugins.

10-  Sublime Text 3

One of the most power full-text editors in the present world, Sublime Text 3 gives the freedom to be used just as a fully featured IDE.

With the help of Anaconda Package, Sublime Text 3 with Python can accomplish magic. Anaconda provides the basics of IDE while Sublime Text 3 provides tons of other customizable features

Conclusion

Python is a far-reaching language and so are the IDEs for Python.  All IDEs cited in this article comes with different packages but with one mutual option i.e swiftness and handy code development.

You can find paid as well as free versions. Most of the IDEs have a very strong community, especially the open source ones who are constantly engaging with the user base to improve their software.

All in all, every programming career begins with an IDE. If you are looking for best python IDEs for MAC, then these were the popular 10.

The post Best Python IDE for Mac | Free and Paid appeared first on Laptop for Programming.

No matter how careful we are with technology, accidents always tend to happen.

Although there is a strong correlation between the clumsier you are and the more accidents you face, nobody is safe from such disasters.

Accidents can include many things. A laptop can fall from an unsafe position causing irreparable damage to some delicate components. It may be accidently placed in a scorching environment which can lead to overheating.

Likewise, one of the many disasters that you can face is getting water spilled on your laptop. The last you want to yourself to cry about is: spilled water on laptop won’t turn on!

A laptop is a sensitive piece of technology which consists of many different components. When your hardware is faulty, it is hard to detect which part of your laptop is causing the issue and how to fix it.

Therefore, if your laptop does not turn on you accidently soaked it, then it could be caused due to several problems.

Data is the Most Vital Aspect

The situation becomes aggravated in this case because it is not just the physical laptop that can get damaged, but your precious data is also at stake.

You can replace the laptop, but data, on the other hand, is sometimes invaluable and irreplaceable.

It is not an easy task to fix a laptop if gets drenched in water.

Unfortunately, no matter how careful you are, accidents happen.

This article is going to talk about the most common of all laptop-related accidents. Let’s find out what to do when you spill water on your laptop and it doesn’t turn on.

Troubleshooting “Spilled Water on Laptop Won’t Turn On”

So you spilled water on laptop won’t turn on. You will be glad to know that you are not alone with this complaint. More than half of the laptop related accidents are due to spills. Let’s see how we can diagnose and troubleshoot this.

1. Turn off Any Power Supply

As soon as the accident occurs, be sure to turn off any power supply. I hope you were quick enough to respond.

That means you should turn if off completely, detach it from its charger and remove the battery from its slot if it’s possible. Every second counts. The laptop will short out if the water touches the circuits in the laptop. Only after completing these steps you will be safe from shock. Make sure your hands are dry while turning off the laptop. If you are not sure, place a towel of some kind of cloth over your

Only after completing these steps will you be safe from shock. You will also increase the chance of your laptop surviving.

Make sure your hands are dry while turning off the laptop. If you are not sure, place a towel or some piece of cloth over your fingers and hold the power button.

2. Detach any peripheral hardware

Remove everything that can be removed from your laptop.

Any peripheral hardware such as a mouse, a wireless card, an external keyboard, any USB device or speakers should be immediately removed.

After that, turn your laptop upside down and flatten it out completely so that the keyboard and the screen are on the same level. The keyboard and the screen should be facing the ground and placed on a towel.

3. Drying

The laptop should remain in the position described in the previous section for at least a couple of hours. This is the optimal time to make sure that water drips out of the laptop.

Water is the least damaging liquid for your laptop since it causes minimal corrosion and can drip out easily. Alcohol and sugary substances would certainly be more damaging for the hardware and circuits.

After a couple of hours have passed, dry the outside of the laptop with a lint-free paper towel or cloth.

The remaining water can simply pour out. After that, open the keyboard and take care of the remaining water with a towel.

4. Opening Your Laptop

This article won’t contain the information needed to disassemble your laptop since you must know it in the first place. If an accident like this occurs to you, don’t waste your time on the Internet trying to find out how to take your laptop apart. Instead, you must seek professional help.

You must remove everything, your keyboard, top panel, drives (hard and optical), memory modules, and of course the motherboard. After you do that, check every single part for damage.

Water should not be able to cause some extreme damage, but other substances can cause corrosion and damage.

Specifically, you want to check for short circuits on the motherboards. You can check this near the power IC (near the power socket) for blown fuses. If there is any blackened area, there is most certainly a short circuit. Check for any leaks from the capacitors.

If there are none, you are good to go. However, if there is, then you need to take it to the repair shop immediately.

Again, you should not attempt opening the laptop if you have the faintest doubt. There are videos available for disassembling laptops online like the one as follows. However, I would still recommend consulting with an expert.

Assuming you have no short circuit and everything seems to be in order, you can proceed to the next step.

5. Drying again

You should let every part dry naturally. Place your laptop in a dry area with each part placed on a towel or a piece of cloth and let it be there for up to two days.

If you are not keen on waiting that long, feel free to use some light or moderate heat source to speed up the drying process. Do not think of any kind of heaters to be a viable option. This also includes a hair dryer.

A hair dryer operating on its stronger level can melt some core parts of your laptop. Melting simply cannot be fixed and you will have to find a replacement.

Additionally, if there is any moisture left in the laptop or any of its core parts, a hair dryer may send that moisture deeper into the parts which can, in extreme cases, lead to complete shutdown of that part or the complete laptop.

6. Reassemble Your Laptop and Hope for the Best

You have done everything in your power to prevent the water from ruining your laptop any further. Now it’s the time to check if your effort was in vain or not.

Put your laptop back together, but be very careful. If you notice anything strange about any part, do not install it. Search online to see what caused that strange appearance.

7. Try turning on your laptop

If it doesn’t turn on, don’t lose all hope. Contact a nearby repair shop and keep your fingers crossed.

If you are lucky, only the Power IC will be blown. This can be replaced quite easily. However, if the processor or any other microprocessors on the motherboard are damaged, that’ll be a very unfortunate case.

The post HELP! Spilled Water on Laptop Won’t Turn On! appeared first on Laptop for Programming.

Intel has been on top of the processor game for a long time. Almost every computer gets out of the factory with an Intel processor operating inside of it. AMD is also out there running strong, but Intel still beats in the market share.

Intel is setting a standard when it comes to processing power, and they prove that you don’t need that many cores to offer reliable performance. An i5 or i7 processor of a newer generation is all you need when it comes to processors if you want to undertake heavy tasks such as gaming, video rendering or graphic design.

Although the Intel Core series has become synonymous with high-performance machines, we often hear about Intel Atom and Celeron when searching for budget laptops.

Intel Atom and Intel Celeron are often compared for their performance. However, comparing Intel Atom vs Celeron isn’t entirely fair. These processors were not manufactured with the same purpose.

Their target devices are different, and their structure is different. Both of the processors come with their advantages and disadvantages. Some CPUs operate at higher clock speeds resulting in a better performance, and other operate at lower speeds, but they offer low power consumption.

For some devices battery life is important, for others not too much. Both processors seek to solve entirely different issues. . This article will be all about their structure, performance and devices they were intended for.

Intel Atom

Intel Atom is a type of Intel’s processor. It belongs to the family of x86 and x86-64 processors. Atom processors are mostly intended for use in compact and small devices such as smartphones, tablets, and mobile Internet devices. The processors itself has evolved, and nowadays, most netbooks available on the market are shipped with an Intel Atoms processor inside.

Atom product family has several distinct characteristics which separate it from other processors made by the same manufacturer.

They have a significantly lower price than their competition. Additionally, their power requirements and consumption are kept low which makes them ideal for pocket devices.

An Intel Atom processor is not only the cheapest Intel processor, but it also consumes the least power. Since they are solely found on mobile devices, their clock speed is kept at a minimum. Currently, it can range from 1.44 GHz to 1.6 GHz for a typical Atom Processor.

Intel Atom processors are intentionally made to be less powerful because they are optimized for different devices. The preferred operations for a device operating with an Atom processor are Web browsing email, operating with certain documents, etc.

Intel’s main intent for this family of processors was to integrate them into the common smartphone. The mobile industry is taking over the market, and Intel wanted to have its cut. However, software compatibility is their biggest issue, and smartphone manufacturers often overlook Intel and turn to other mobile processor manufacturers such as Qualcomm.

Some of the latest Intel Atom processors are as follows:

For Mobile Devices

• Intel® Atom™ x5-Z8300 Processor
• Intel® Atom™ x7-Z8700 Processor
• Intel® Atom™ x5-Z8500 Processor

Intel Celeron

Intel Celeron is also a microprocessor made by Intel. It belongs to a family of processors based on Intel Processor

Intel Celeron was designed to be the lower end model of the Pentium processor. Therefore, it is designed for budget oriented customers and for running low-end applications and software.

Most of the latest Celeron processors are dual core processors. Their processing speed can range for 1.1 GHz to 3 GHz. The lower clock speed processors are generally found on mobile devices. The 3 GHz processor would be found on the desktop.

Their power consumption can range from 6W to 51W depending on the performance and clock speed. Therefore, in terms of performance, they are significantly better than Intel Atom processors, but they are also much more expensive.

Some of the latest and famous Intel Celeron Processors include the following:

For Mobile Devices:

• Intel® Celeron® Processor 3865U
• Intel® Celeron® Processor 3965U
• Intel® Celeron® Processor N3350

For Desktop Computers

• Intel® Celeron® Processor G3930
• Intel® Celeron® Processor G3930T
• Intel® Celeron® Processor G3950

Intel Atom vs Celeron – The Gist

Finally, let’s summarize everything that was mentioned about these two types of processors.

Intel Celeron was designed with a purpose to bear a lower price than other Intel processors at that time. It was primarily designed for laptops and desktops and therefore is capable of a somewhat decent level of work.

The low price reflects in the lower performance than other Intel processors but it is perfect for those who do word processing, internet surfing, and other low-key tasks. Intel Celeron’s target audience is people with low demands and expectations who want to spend the least money possible on their computer.

On the other hand, Intel Atom was designed with a completely different purpose. It was intended for use in netbooks, mobile Internet devices, tablets, smartphones, etc. Essentially, it targets all devices with low power consumption.

Which One is Faster?

In this Intel Atom vs Celeron, it all boils to this question. Which is one is faster, or rather, better in performance?

So, now we know that their target devices are completely different. This also contributes to the fact that their structure and performance are also different.

Both of them were fighting for dominance on the market a couple of years when Celeron was trying hard to be a part of budget desktop computers, and Atom wanted to be implemented in portable devices.

Although Celeron did win the battle and has currently become synonymous with budget-oriented machines, Atom lost its opportunity in the mobile device market.

However, in terms of performance, both Atom and Celeron processors aren’t a huge success. Atom was never widely accepted as the right option for smartphone developers, and Celeron was often overlooked for its poor performance, even though it offered a very low price.

With the current market trends and the prices of the laptops getting cheaper, Celeron will either phase out or improve its performance by a good multiple.

Therefore, in terms of sheer performance, Celeron certainly performs better and faster because it was meant to operate desktop computers and laptops. Atom, on the other hand, has low power consumption, offering it to perform better with portable devices.

The difference is pretty clear, but there is one similarity they share: they are both hold Intel’s trademark quality.

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Unfortunately, it has its issues. Age is a big factor which has its influence on how computers work. No matter how careful you are, a computer is still going to experience some issues over time. Many different factors can contribute to your computer’s freezing and bad performance. Even though PCs and laptops are not as expensive as they used to be, you still want to use your current one as long as possible because it’s not easy to start from scratch. This article will list out some of the major reasons your computer might be freezing along with explanations in order to help you to maintain your computer.

Difference Between Freeze and Lag

Before answering why does my computer keep freezing, you first need to understand the difference between freeze and lag.

Freeze is generally referred to the event your computer stops responding. It gets “stuck”. The computer literally stops all operations on the screen. You will notice that during a certain ‘Freeze’ events, the mouse cursor moves; whereas, on others, even the mouse cursor freezes. In certain freezes, you will notice the computer hard disk going haywire. You would usually hear the ticking or ‘loading’ sounds from the hard disk. Furthermore, there are also a certain ‘Freeze’ events where the computer stops all its operations and then restart on its own.

Lag is something that is different. Although like freeze it is also related to both hardware and software issues, lag usually refers to aging hardware. For example, when gaming, if your frame rates skip, this is a lag. This is different from the lag due to slow internet connection. Furthermore, while watching certain videos your omputer seems to lag, there is something going on with the hardware or software.

So Why Does My Computer Keep Freezing?

Freeze is generally considered the worse of the two. We will cover the reasons behind freezing here. Also, most of the times, fixing the following issues can also resolve the lag issues.

Great Temperatures

High temperature and freezing sounds like a paradox, but it is a leading reason for the issue. Your laptop or PC was not built to be able to operate at extremely hot temperatures. Every computer was programmed to either freeze or turn off when a certain temperature is reached. There are fans installed on your processor and your graphics card and you should clean them regularly. A lot of dust can accumulate if you don’t clean your computer regularly which can then lead to your fans not doing their job properly and the CPU or the GPU can overheat easily.

There are many software available for keeping track of your computer parts’ temperature. A simple google search can find you a good software for this particular issue. One such free software is the CoreTemp. Consider buying additional fans or liquid cooling if your computer operates in areas of significant heat or humidity.

Malware Presence

Visiting unverified websites, opening insecure email or installing certain software can lead to your computer getting infected by a certain type of malicious software. Computer viruses come in all shapes and sizes and have different functions. Some malware replicates itself multiple times and slows down your computer. Other tracks your activity. Some viruses can even access certain parts of your hardware, such as the webcam. Computer hacking develops as fast as computer technology so this will always be an issue.

You can protect yourself by buying a commercial antivirus or installing a free one from the Internet. Educate yourself online on which antivirus software works the best and always keep it up to date. If you restrict your antivirus software from updating, it won’t be able to register new types of threats and they will pass every check and remain on your computer, dealing damage.

RAM issues

The performance of your entire computer is depending on the amount and the speed of your Random Access Memory, or RAM. RAM is responsible for storing and accessing processes already opened on your computer. Some processes or programs are more RAM-consuming, such as video games, software for image and video editing or software used for installing new content on your computer. If you keep a lot of programs like this opened, your RAM won’t be able to handle all of them and your computer might freeze suddenly.

If you have anything under 4 gigabytes of RAM, consider an upgrade. RAM has also become cheap these days and you can buy 4 gigabytes of RAM for as much as 30$. If some damage occurs to your RAM, consider replacing it. Replacing RAM is the cheapest option.

The infamous Blue Screen of Death (BSoD) is often caused by a malfunctioning RAM.

Recently Installed Software or Hardware

Not every software was carefully developed and designed for every operating system. Be extra careful when downloading specific software from the Internet. Always look for feedback from other people and don’t use suspicious software mostly advertised in ads. Even if the software is completely legit, it may try to perform actions or access something that your computer simply can’t recognize. The computer’s natural reaction is to freeze or show you the blue screen of death, as it commonly referred to.

Check all of your third-party applications and update everything necessary. Try the System Restore function in order to revert your computer to the state before a new program was installed or a new part of hardware was added. Reinstall drivers for a certain hardware you recently installed. Also make sure that you have at least 10% of your hard disk memory available.

The Hard Drive

The hard drive contains all of the files and programs you installed. It needs to be checked and taken care of often because a simple error on the hard drive can corrupt an important file and you can pretty much say goodbye to it. Tools for maintaining your hard drive come pre-installed in Windows such as Disk Defragmenter, Disk Cleanup, and Check Disk.

Disk Defragmenter is used because Windows does not install files right next to each other on the hard disk. Files used for a single program have to be searched for on the hard disk which takes time. Disk Defragmenter puts those fragments back Together. Disk Cleanup is used to get rid of unnecessary files which only occupy space on your computer and Check Disk checks the hard drive for errors and bad sectors. If you find these tools slow, there are many better alternatives available online.

It won’t Last Forever

A computer can be a sensitive machine and it’s not something that can be used carelessly. Don’t leave small children around the computer for a long time since they can cause damage like deleting something important or visiting malicious websites. You will certainly regret careless behavior when you find out that one of the components needs to be replaced. Clean your computer regularly and keep everything up to date. However, time is a strong factor so don’t expect your computer to run 10 years without any freezing or crashing.

So sometimes before asking why does my computer keep freezing, consider how old your computer is.

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Computers infiltrated deeply into our previously simple lives. We have become addicted, and most of us wouldn’t even last a day without using at least one of our many gadgets. More and more sections of life depend on technology in general and Internet in particular. You can now work online, tutor or be tutored and shop without leaving the comfort of your home.

Programming and web development is a growing market. Everyone and everything needs a software or web developer. Technology is advancing and you just never know what to expect tomorrow. It is becoming to be obvious that a career in computer technology may mean a secure job opportunity as soon as you finish educating yourself.

Beginning to work in this field can actually be quite confusing. You probably didn’t study almost any of this in school. Perhaps, you don’t have anyone to break it down into smaller, understandable fragments, like a teacher would do.

Most of the times, you are simply thrown into the world of overwhelming strange terminology. Many people will tell you that all you need is a notepad for web development, but that is over simplification. There is a lot more to it obviously, albeit, the essence is simple.

The Definitions

Let’s evaluate and find the difference between two often mixed up terms: HTML and XML. However, before learning the difference between XML and HTML, let us first define the two terms.

HTML

HTML stands for Hyper Text Markup Language. HTML is a markup language used for writing and designing websites and web applications. It’s the bread and butter of web development, and it’s the most important thing to learn along with CSS and Javascript.

HTML has gone through several version updates. The latest version of HTML is 5.0 which was released in 2014. HTML coding can be done using a simple text editor such as Notepad. You can simply save your file as .html and open with your browser. That is what your website would look like. HTML uses specific tags to add different structures such as paragraphs, images, videos, etc.. Let’s take a look at a specific HTML tag:

<b>….bold text…</b>

What this tag does is embolden the text contained within the <b></b> tags.  That is pretty much it. You start from scratch and have to add your content one by one and then make it all look pretty for your audience with the help of CSS.

Unlike programming language, this scripting language does have any logic. It does not have any conditional statements, loops, arrays, or functions. Thus, it is quite easy to learn.

XML

XML stands for Extensible Markup Language. XML is a markup language that defines a set of rules or a syntax that can encode documents in a way that is understandable for humans and readable by machines. XML gravitates towards being simple to use and it’s focused to be used easily across the Internet. Its coding system consists of textual data and simple words. It’s supported via Unicode for many different human languages.

XML is made to help describe various documents to be displayed in a browser. It can be hard to make your documents be quickly available for everyone to check on their mobile devices. However, XML is not limited solely to web display, or even for human interaction. Some web services use XML to send data requests back and forth. XML is also a meta-language, which means it can be used to create other languages, such as RSS.

What’s the Difference Between XML and HTML?

The difference between HTML and XML is quite obvious once you learn a thing or two about certain terms used in web development. Both of these programming languages have “markup” in their name which means they use certain elements to enter the data. HTML was designed with a purpose to design web pages with the main focus being on how the data looks and how it is presented.

Different Use of Tags

XML, on the other hand, was developed to transport and store data in a format available for everyone to open and see. It is not a scripting language like HTML, but more like a language able to create and define other languages. The X in the abbreviation stands for eXtensible, which means that it can be extended by its users. It does not come with pre-assigned tags and users are able to create their own, while following a specific set of rules.

HTML uses pre-defined tags which consist of an opening and a closing tag. The data between the tags usually represents certain textual or visual data which will be available to see. The letters between the brackets define that specific tag. HTML is only one one of the languages needed to produce a high-quality website and rarely any page uses only HTML code to display.

XML Is the Future

XML is more like a complement to HTML as it can store its data inside HTML documents in a part called a “data island.” It’neither a programming language nor a presentation language. Many claim that XML is the future of web development because it’s relatively new (XML came out in 1996). Developers really accepted it quickly and started to implement it in their web development.

XML uses strictly properly encoded Unicode characters, without any weird signs. That is because it follows a strict set of rules or a syntax. It also implements a DDT principle (Defining the Document Type) which is a format used to explain what a certain XML code represents, what purpose does it serve and how are certain tags defined.

It’s Not a Competition

XML will never be able to replace HTML since XML is a complement to HTML. They serve a different purpose which can be put into one sentence: XML is useful for data presentation, and XML is useful for data description.

They have certain similarities when it comes to coding because they sort of look alike, with their tag structure and elements. However, XML offers a unique way to describe that data, and the freedom which was given to developers while using XML led to the development of new programming languages.

This all may seem confusing at first, but once you get the hang of everything terms are easy to remember. If you want to design websites for a living, be aware that it takes many years to become an expert, like any normal human profession. This means it’s time to start now!

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