A note to my brother-in-law Joey on my recent computer experiences...ChomeOS Flex

It all started when I spilled a perfectly good glass of Merlot onto my Chromebook as I was swiping away at a bug (this IS Florida)...and anyway, I cooked the pc. At about the same time my older Chromebook went into it's "out of update" period...where it can not longer receive updates. So, to make a long story shorter, I ordered a pc from Amazon...it was an HP Chromebook, and I didn't really like it. Very poor quality on the case, poor keyboard feel etc. I decided to just suck it up (it wasn't big bucks) but then a miracle happened...after a week it just plain quit...would NOT wake up. So, I returned it to Amazon and was more careful ordering the next one...got an ASUS that is well built, has a nice backlit keyboard, touch-screen etc. I'm happy as a clam with it but that's not why I am writing this note... On one of my tech blogs I read online (or it could have been the tech section of the NYT) there was an article about how Google had bought a start-up that had set up a system to convert old PC's and Mac's to Chromebooks. Once they had purchased the company, they perfected the process they had originated, and since they're the "keeper of the Code" on Chrome they could totally integrate it with the current Chrome software that's now powering a zillion Chromebooks. This is especially good news for the Enterprise and environment as there's going to be a LOT less PC's going to landfills, especially coming from educational facilities that have hundreds of outdated PC's. So...that was an interesting article and it occured to me that I had an old HP Windows pc in the guest room closet. It had a Windows 10 operating system, and I had stopped using it when I finally got out of building web-sites that used a Windows specific engine, and also stopped using Quicken when I fully went into on-line banking. So, I picked up a USB stick and went to work. Due to my aging brain it did not go totally smooth and there was a bit of touch and go...but the bottom line is the old, slow, pain in the ass relic in the closet is now a fast, responsive Chromebook that does everything my new out of the box ASUS does, but better...because the hardware is higher end. It has more connectivity (USB and card readers) built in, a great tactile touch keyboard, and outstanding graphics and screen. Most Chromebooks you purchase (they probably average $200-300) do not have great hardware as they're designed to only go about five years before they hit that "end of update" kill switch. The total cost of the conversion was about $13 for a few USB sticks. The software is free. So, sometimes there IS a Santa Clause. I'm glad I hadn't recycled that old pc!! :).

Just joined a 3rd Inf Div alumni group...

Robert R. Payette · Thanks for inviting me into the group. I think I had one of the best jobs at the PSD on the hill....working an administrative discharge desk. While at Leighton Barracks I attended night school with the Univ.of Maryland on base, the NCO Academy in Kitzingin and managed to see parts of Austria, Holland & France by motor-bike before buying a new Simca which I picked up in Paris. After the NCO Academy in 1963 I was feeling a bit bullet-proof and volunteered for Vietnam. Nothing happened so I went in debt and bought the Simca in Paris and yup...my orders for RVN came through. Had to ship the car home via Bremerhaven. I made it to CanTho in the Delta (13th Avn Bn (Delta) before my car made it to NYC. The person I entrusted to ship it home for me used up a lot of his leave and had a grand time with it. Also, while in Wurzburg, loved the beer and wine festivals...seems there was one weekly:).