The Ridiculously Simple Guide to Chromebook: Getting Started With Chrome OS

Introduction

Chromebooks of the past used to be more of a novelty best suited for casual use. In 2013, Google tried to change this with the Chromebook Pixel—its first higher-end Chromebook. While most saw it as a worthy first effort, it was not largely viewed as ready for primetime.

Google discontinued it’s first official Chromebook in August of 2016 and announced its successor in October of 2017: The Pixelbook. Everything about the successor proved that Google had learned from previous generation Chromebooks and was ready to seriously compete with the Windows Surface and Macbook. 

The hardware alone matched high-end Mac and Windows computers, but the software is where the Chromebook really shines. In addition to Google Assistant, a Siri-like tool for productivity, the computer also is amongst the first Chromebooks to be able to run Android apps—combined with a convertible touchscreen, this means you can leave your tablet at home. For a better comparison of how the computer ranks against Windows and Mac, see Appendix A.

Google isn’t alone in its attempt to make Chromebooks a serious PC/Mac competitor. There are dozens like it—each with specifications that prove it is a novelty no more. Today it is used in businesses and schools alike to create major projects.

If you’ve used any computer, then a Chromebook will be easy enough to use as soon as you open it up for the first time. If you really want to take advantage of all the features and be as productive as possible, then this guide will help. Let’s get started!

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Tell Me the Basics and Keep It Ridiculously Simple

A WORD (OR PARAGRAPH OR TWO) ABOUT CHROME OS

For years, Google has taken what you could call the Apple approach to computers and tablets. Computers ran Chrome and tablets ran Android (e.g. iPads run iOS and MacBooks run MacOS). Like iPads and Macbooks, there were similarities between Android tablets and Chrome computers. But there were also differences.

The Pixel Slate breaks this tradition by running the same operating system (OS) that you are familiar with if you have a Chromebook. What’s more, newer Chromebooks can also download Android apps. That means if there’s an app you love on your phone, you can use it on your computer as well.

THE KEYBOARD

The layout of the keyboard isn't completely different from other computers, but there are a few keys you might not be familiar with. The list below is an overview of those keys. Because there are so many different Chromebook models, this list will vary, so the following is just a reference.

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All About Chrome OS

Chrome OS is a very close relative of Google's Internet browser, Google Chrome. As the owner of a Chromebook, you'll quickly see that Chrome is about to become a very big part of your life. This is a good thing; it's a fast, easy-to-use web browser with all kinds of features and seemingly unlimited potential for enhancement thanks to apps and extensions available in the Chrome Web Store. The Chrome browser means so much more than just web browsing in Chrome OS though, due to the fact that almost every app you run in Chrome OS runs inside a Chrome browser window. Don't worry if that sounds bizarre at first—you'll get the hang of it quickly and we'll walk you through everything you need to know!

The Chrome Web Store contains products that are similar enough to major desktop applications that you'll hardly be able to tell the difference. As a bonus, many of them are completely free (and if you've ever shelled out