View Full Version : Cloud based internet????
I borrowed a Google Chromebook from my library for a week (free!!!) and I was told that, besides being able to get online anywhere with wi-fi as a guest, if I have a google g-mail account (I don't) then I can get online even without wi-fi on something they called a "cloud based internet access". So what is this? Is it like mobile 3 or 4 g internet access? Is it worth setting up a G-mail account to try it out? In the settings it said that this computer gets 200 MB/month free cloud internet access anywhere. So...er... what exactly does this all mean? The Chromebook is...er...sort of OK overall, but seems limited compared to a regular laptop. How does this compare to a tablet computer? Thanks from the computer idiot !Splat!:doh::thankyou::help:
The cloud is not an internet access service, it's an internet based storage and retrieval service. Using the cloud, you can store your documents, pictures, etc., and retrieve them from any device with internet access.
The cloud is not an internet access service, it's an internet based storage and retrieval service. Using the cloud, you can store your documents, pictures, etc., and retrieve them from any device with internet access. OK. So bottom line is that I can't get online using the cloud to say..yap at your guys here? OK I get it. Thanks for the info.
OK. So bottom line is that I can't get online using the cloud to say..yap at your guys here? OK I get it. Thanks for the info.
That's correct.
As I understand it, the interesting thing about the Chromebook is that it's basically just a tablet running a stripped down version of Linux and with nothing installed other than Google's Chrome browser. All programming and items you would normally install or store on your hard drive are accessible from Google's cloud.
ToomuchStuff
12-23-12, 1:31am
They were supposed to be having some Chromebooks with 3g or 4g built in, but that wouldn't be free. (something like a free Chromebook with x year monthly phone bill).
so, this cloud thing, do you mean all the stuff on my home computer, recipes, pictures, word files, etc...would be accessible from any other computer? If I'm working on a word document, and save it in 'the cloud', I could then travel to my friends house, get on her computer and call up my document? Is is a whole computer thing or just certain documents? Would things i work on automatically up load to this cloud, or would I have to directly do it?
Yes - yes - you determine what goes there - it depends upon the cloud service used and the device you're uploading from.
I have accounts with three different cloud services, Dropbox, Google and Apple. I use Dropbox for file storage, Google for document sharing and Apple for iPad & iPhone storage.
Miss Cellane
12-23-12, 11:56am
so, this cloud thing, do you mean all the stuff on my home computer, recipes, pictures, word files, etc...would be accessible from any other computer? If I'm working on a word document, and save it in 'the cloud', I could then travel to my friends house, get on her computer and call up my document? Is is a whole computer thing or just certain documents? Would things i work on automatically up load to this cloud, or would I have to directly do it?
The "Cloud" is basically a storage device--your stuff is stored on the internet. Remember your log-in and passwords and you can access the Cloud from any device with internet capability.
What you put in the Cloud depends on you. Most devices and software have settings that you can adjust to your preferences. Everything can go to the Cloud, or just what you pick. You might want to send all photos to the Cloud, so you can share them with friends even if you don't have a device of your own handy. But you might select only certain Word docs and Excel docs to be stored in the Cloud. You can automate some documents and do others one-at-a-time, as you choose.
As for connecting to the Cloud without wi-fi, this is what I found, on the Google site for the Google Chromebook:
"3G connectivity
You can connect on the go with 3G (optional) even when there are no local Wi-Fi connections. In the US, you get 100 MB of internet per month, for free, from Verizon Wireless."
So it sounds like the Chromebook is like a smartphone, in that you can use cellular technology to access the internet, even if there isn't a wi-fi hot spot nearby. It's free for the first 100 MB. Since that (optional) is in there, I'm guessing that there are plans you can pay for to get more access time. But check carefully--there are three models of the Chromebook and at first glance, only one of them has the 3G capability.
Humm...this all sounds interesting. So, there are more than one cloud services. Can you shuffle things from one cloud to another?
I wonder if this isn't a bit of a security risk? Or rather a privacy issue. I mean, relating this to all the gun debate threads and police work in general, whenever something like this shooting happens, the police always take the kids computer to try to find 'clues'. So, with this cloud, whats to stop the powers that be, or whoever, from sort of 'profiling' through it? I mean, we know they comb online posts now for trigger words like bomb and such. Could they not comb your personal files for trigger words of their choosing? If we start to see and use this cloud as a matter of course, or really without thinking, could it be used against us? Not really trying to hatch a conspiracy, but I can see how something like this could be used for bad in the future. Of course, I can also see how very cool this technology is, and how extremely useful for a lot of applications. I guess like everything else, grey areas abound.
Thanks for the info y'all. Believe it or not, I actually understand what y'all said!:D
Thanks for the info everyone. I did look more into it and, like Peggy, I'm a bit paranoid about putting those kinds of personal things out in a "cloud" as it doesn't seem safe (we can share my tin foil hat Peggy :-)!!). Seems too easily accesible to others/hackers compared to just leaving the stuff (photos, documents, etc..) on my own computer and lugging it around with me everywhere. But the concept is pretty nifty overall, and this Chromebook is cool too and it does have mobile 3g capacity for internet access even without wi-fi but I don't know how to use it since it's just a loaner computer.
Miss Cellane
12-23-12, 6:04pm
I'm also pretty amazed that a public library has computers for loan. Mine sure doesn't.
I'm also pretty amazed that a public library has computers for loan. Mine sure doesn't. Well it's a huge (beautiful) public library about 5 stories tall that is funded by the (fairly wealthy) city rather then the state. Has a big media room with tons of DVDs and CD to borrow, Childrens Library, Genologiy research library, cafe, 300 seat theatre, art gallary, many rooms for meetings and community events and classes, tons of fountains and water features, etc... And besides it's loaner laptops that you can take home for 7 days, it has a few dozen desktops to use. Oh yeah, and they have books too :-)! It's also in a beautiful approx. 2000 acre park (where I am sitting looking at the ducks in the pond as I type this) that has 2 small lakes, a nature center, 2 restaurants, frisbee golf, horse stables, and tons of walking trails. Not a bad place to spend the day :-)!
OK now I have another stupid computer question (yes I know..there are no stupid questions, just stupid people asking questions :-)!). This Chromebook didn't come with a mouse so I am using the pad thingie on the keyboard you run your fingers over to make the arrow icon thing move on the screen (although will see if my mouse fits when I get home). But I can't seem to make it work like a right-click mouse would to paste and copy, etc... Can't even make those appear. Is there a trick to this because I tried everything?
Never touched a chromebook, so can't help you specifically, but have you tried highlighting the text you want to copy and then pressing the Ctrl & C keys?
If that works, try Ctrl & V to paste.
It's my understanding that the privacy risk is about the same either way ... Anytime you are connected to the internet, your computer is available to hackers also. I think cloud based services would be more up to date in security software than each individual computer owner is.
I used a netbook with a mousepad for several years. I used both left and right index fingers when highlighting and cut/paste .... But I can't remember just now to do it.
Miss Cellane
12-23-12, 7:49pm
Are you having problems with copy and paste or with selecting the text to copy and paste?
Spartana
12-24-12, 12:55pm
Finally figured out how to make it copy and paste (highlighting - no problems but couldn't get the copy screen to come up). But if I touch th lower left corner of the mouse pad it comes up. Thanks!
iris lily
12-24-12, 1:25pm
I'm also pretty amazed that a public library has computers for loan. Mine sure doesn't.
I was just talking to my friend yesterday about how he want to try out a Goggle Chrome machine. He said that they are about $199.
My public library has MacBooks and IPads for loan but that is inside the library, not take home.
I was just talking to my friend yesterday about how he want to try out a Goggle Chrome machine. He said that they are about $199.
My public library has MacBooks and IPads for loan but that is inside the library, not take home.
Well there is a pretty steep fine if you don't return them by the 7th day. $10 the first day and...$550 the second - supposedly the cost of the Chromebook and accessories. I don't think they cost that much - and if so th library got ripped off. In any case I'll make sure and have it back there by the 7th day. For now I am in a coffeee house enjoying a pre-christmas white chocolate mocha...with sprinkles :-)!
ToomuchStuff
12-24-12, 8:48pm
Humm...this all sounds interesting. So, there are more than one cloud services. Can you shuffle things from one cloud to another?
I wonder if this isn't a bit of a security risk? Or rather a privacy issue. I mean, relating this to all the gun debate threads and police work in general, whenever something like this shooting happens, the police always take the kids computer to try to find 'clues'. So, with this cloud, whats to stop the powers that be, or whoever, from sort of 'profiling' through it? I mean, we know they comb online posts now for trigger words like bomb and such. Could they not comb your personal files for trigger words of their choosing? If we start to see and use this cloud as a matter of course, or really without thinking, could it be used against us? Not really trying to hatch a conspiracy, but I can see how something like this could be used for bad in the future. Of course, I can also see how very cool this technology is, and how extremely useful for a lot of applications. I guess like everything else, grey areas abound.
Thanks for the info y'all. Believe it or not, I actually understand what y'all said!:D
There are multiple risks with cloud based services, and there are multiple cloud based forms. Starting with the forms, there are devices, such as Pogoplug, which allows you to put your LOCAL hard drive, on a network connection that you can access from anywhere, EASILY (easier then setting up a VPN on a fixed or non fixed IP address at home). Then there are cloud based services, where you don't have access to the media.
You can somewhat control access by encrypting your data. (a lawyer would have to advise you on not giving a password, due to fifth amendment protections), but web based services, they can provide a warrant to the provider and get your password to the storage location (should be a separate password from your encrypting one). None of this takes into account hacker attacks (unlikely), or cloud providers (Google, Amazon) from using your data, through harvest bots, to target advertising at you.
OK now I have another stupid computer question (yes I know..there are no stupid questions, just stupid people asking questions :-)!). This Chromebook didn't come with a mouse so I am using the pad thingie on the keyboard you run your fingers over to make the arrow icon thing move on the screen (although will see if my mouse fits when I get home). But I can't seem to make it work like a right-click mouse would to paste and copy, etc... Can't even make those appear. Is there a trick to this because I tried everything?
Is this a single or double button? Since this isn't regular Linux, but their custom "Chromebook" OS, I did a quick google search and it appears software, related (setup):
http://support.google.com/chromeos/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=1047367
SteveinMN
12-25-12, 10:38am
Well there is a pretty steep fine if you don't return them by the 7th day. $10 the first day and...$550 the second - supposedly the cost of the Chromebook and accessories. I don't think they cost that much - and if so th library got ripped off.
The $550 is a "totally bundled" price -- the price of the Chromebook, the cost of the salary of the people who have to order another one, receive it, unpackage it, and get it ready for loan to library patrons. They're just being real. No computer ever costs just the price of the hardware. Even "free" software never really is.
shadowmoss
12-26-12, 9:48am
One way to make thing 'safer' on the cloud is to encrypt the data before putting it there. Not as seamless as just hitting 'save' but for things that you wouldn't want seen by others it adds a fairly good extra layer to be hacked. Tru-crypt (from memory, can't get to it from work) is one free method. With any of these clouds, a lot of corporate/military networks block access from work computers for fairly obvious reasons. Don't want it to be too easy to copy off mass amounts of corporate/military information outside of the local firewalls. I use ADrive.com for my cloud storage. It is 50G of free storage, more for a a price. Can't check it to verify because it is also blocked here at work.
Miss Cellane
12-26-12, 11:04am
The $550 is a "totally bundled" price -- the price of the Chromebook, the cost of the salary of the people who have to order another one, receive it, unpackage it, and get it ready for loan to library patrons. They're just being real. No computer ever costs just the price of the hardware. Even "free" software never really is.
That's a good point. When I worked at a university library, there was a standard charge for a lost book. The book was billed at $60, no matter what it had cost originally. It was too time consuming and expensive to look up the cost of each lost book individually, so they averaged it out. Then there was a $15 processing fee, which covered the attempts to get the book back to the library and the cost of ordering and processing a replacement copy. If the book got returned after the patron had been billed for a lost book, the $60 replacement cost got refunded but not the $15 processing fee.
Fun times at the Circulation Desk when people returned books that had been "lost" for two years.
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