Camping with Space Coast Sams at The Florida Samboree in Eustis Florida

We had a great time with our Good Sam Chapter Space Coast Sams a few weekends back.  Alice was the Witch and I was the Scarecrow.  The theme of this Samboree was The Wizard of Oz. Click the following link for a photo album from that event.  https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/103565328419904276941/albums/5949916643449306785

Just returned from Sanlan RV Park and Recreation area with Space Coast Sams.....

Alice and myself just returned from a nice extended weekend at the Sanlan RV Park & Recreation Area in Lakeland Florida.  This link is to a public Google + album from that event.  We rented a golf cart and drove miles and miles of back-country trails on a wildlife tour.....great weekend!!

Extended weekend at Southern Palms RV Resort in Eustis Fl

A real nice weekend with our friends from Space Coast Sams.....

Chromebook notes mailed to Murray on July 4th....

Murray:  If I had read some of the reviews on the HP Chromebook I'd of hesitated to purchase it.  That would have been a mistake.

One thing I've learned is that 90% of my computer usage is on-line (banking, web browsing, Facebook, E-mail etc).  The Chromebook is designed for on-line use so it doesn't have the legacy issues of most normal laptops. It also does not require any anti-virus protection since all the apps are in the cloud, and the OS and data is maintained by Google.

All that being said, there are SOME apps that have to be on a local hard-drive to run.  Two that I use are Quicken, and my web-site development stuff.  Google has a free system called Google Remote where you can remotely control a remote computer.  So, using that, I'm down here in the kitchen and I can post website updates, use my Quicken program etc that's on the bedroom Acer notebook.  Unlike the PC Anywhere program I used to use back in the day between home and the office, this one actually works well in real time with no noticeable lag.  I'm sure that is a direct result of my U-Verse internet connection which is good.

This Chromebook does not have cellular options....wi-fi only.  In my case, I obviously have wi-fi here at the house.  I'll end up using and bringing the Chromebook on  our camping excursions, and if there is no wi-fi available we'll do the hotspot thing off the i-phone.

I ordered it on-line through Staples.  The list price is $329 plus tax and tip, but Staples has a $50 rebate.  The same machine through Amazon was about $380 with NO rebate, and from HP Direct they're asking list price.

Oh, we print off this remotely to the upstairs all-in-one printer using Google Cloud...works good:).

My only regret (and with my sorry life I have had a few!) is that I didn't get it sooner.  You CAN get it cheaper if you get the Acer or Samsung machines (about $199) but with a smaller 11" screen.  The HP has a 14" screen which is smaller than the Toshiba it replaced, but it's workable.  Cheers!

--

Bob Payette

Contact Information:  Call or text  860-460-7945. My  preferred email address is r.payette2@gmail.com .  

1960 Dipol Courtway, Titusville Fl 32780

Visit our web log at  http://bobpayette.blogspot.com/?view=flipcard for links to our blogs, Facebook,  rants, photo's and websites.  

New HP Chromebook purchased on July 2nd, 2013....this is a Facebook posting on that event.

The test has begun.  Our kitchen notebook, a Toshiba we’ve had a real long time that originally had XP and then was upgraded to Vista, was showing its age pretty good and frustrating us.  I’ve used Google Chrome since it came out and have been very happy with it, and have followed the Chromebook development a bit....so, (you know where this is going) we ordered and received today the 14” screen HP Chromebook.  This post is being typed in Google Docs.

I’ve only had it up and running for four hours or so, but we’re impressed with it.  It’s fast, responsive, and it’s come with enough work apps to keep me happy.  Alice and my Google accounts are all available seamlessly and there was no transferring of files or data needed.

A nice surprise is Google Remote.  Using the wi-fi I have total access to my main PC upstairs that we do the web-sites on, and other application that require “local” apps such as Quicken.  Technology has improved tremendously since the day when I was using PC Anywhere to remote into the office from the house.  Of course those were dial-up days and it brought the early Windows to its knees....times they do change!

So, long story short we’re very impressed with the Chromebook.  It’s inexpensive ($329 plus tax), it’s reasonably fast, and it does the basic things we need:  E-mail, web-browsing and access, music and video streaming.  What’s not to like? :).

https://plus.google.com/photos/103565328419904276941/albums/5892420542082864913

On June 22nd we visited the R.F. Orchids, Inc grow-house in Florida City, Florida.  The link above is to a public Google + photo album from this event.

On June 21st, the day prior and our first day in the Miami area, we visited the Fairchild Botanical Tropical Gardens....snaps from that visit are here: https://plus.google.com/photos/103565328419904276941/albums/5892386518967407409

So, it’s 6/19/2013 7:20 AM and Kinkey has been at the Vet since yesterday morning.  He’s in to have some teeth work, and also to be altered.  Last month he had developed an infection which the Vet determined was caused by some oral inflammation.  While there we learned he had a heart murmur, and we brought him to Viera to a specialist who determined his heart is enlarged by 30 to 40 % L.  Long story short he does not need heart meds now, but we’re having his teeth taken care of, and while he’s under the general anesthetic having him “fixed”.  With the heart condition breeding is now out of the question, plus he’s approaching 7 years old so it’s time…..

It doesn't seem “right” not having him in the house.  I’m the one who walks him last at night, and first thing in the morning….Jo and Alice help walk during the day.  But the routine is off with him out of the house…..miss that pooch!!

Tomorrow we’re off (Alice, Kincaid and myself) for four days at the Miami-Everglades Resort, which is about a four hour drive South.  We’re hoping to see some of the botanical gardens in Miami.