Google Chrome

Who isn't blogging about Chrome this week?  Can I just start off by saying WOW!!!  The download, install and setup were so slick, and FAST.  I have an extensive list of bookmarks and the import took seconds.  Again, WOW!!!

There are many other places you can read about the features and what Chrome can and can’t do so I won't bore you with the details.   Let’s rather focus on the real story here.  Like Gmail and Google Apps, this is not just another “me too” app.  The story is not about a new browser.  The real story is about the paradigm shift that’s about to take place.  Chrome has Google’s typical minimalistic feel which is apparent in the distinct lack of hundreds of options to set.  Just download, install and use it.  You’re not going to spend hours figuring out what options to turn on and off like in IE.  It’s very easy and intuitive.  And, over time it will change the way we view web browsing.

I learned with Gmail to just accept the paradigm shift and not to grasp for all the handles and levers that I was used to in traditional email systems.  Chrome will be the same.  Case in point; Chrome handles bookmarks differently.  But that's OK because you're going to use it differently.  It took me a while to even find the bookmarks.  Not because they are hidden.  I just didn't look for them.  I found myself typing the first part of the address and then picking from the list of suggestions from my bookmarks.  Again, so easy and intuitive.

I was watching a movie last night that was made in 1997.  They were using big, clunky cell phones that looked very dated and clumsy.  Well, a lot’s happened in the cell phone industry in 11 years.  It’s NOT going to take 11 years for Chrome to make IE look like those clunky old cell phones.  With Google’s ability to roll out incremental updates every couple of weeks it’s probably going to take less than a year or two.  Actually, IE is already feeling clunky this morning.

Download Chrome from the Google home page:  www.google.com.  The page says it’s BETA but why do I get the impression that this is going to be main stream by the end of the week?

 

Remote access to your office PC

Need a quick, cheap way to get remote connectivity to your office? Take a look at GoToMyPC (www.gotomypc.com).

I recently helped a friend get setup on GoToMyPC. He works remote a couple of days a week and needs access to the network at his small business. He should have been able to use RDP or a VPN connection. Both are built into XP and are free and easy, right? Well, this is the real world. His firewall is old and can’t be configured for a VPN or RDP. Getting a new firewall, a static IP address and setting it all up would taken a few days to a week and may have cost as much as $800 for hardware and labor. Instead we set up GoToMyPC on his office PC. He can connect using his laptop (or any PC) and work as though he is at the office.

GoToMyPC worked flawlessly and he was up and running in less than an hour. There is a 30 day free trial and then it costs $20 per month or $180 per year. It will take 3 to 4 years to equal what he would have spent on the VPN solution.

If you can set up a VPN or RDP, great! If not use a tool like GoToMyPC.

Only 12% of electronics waste recycled

According to this article (http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/recycle-electronics-47122704) only 12% of electronics waste is recycled, and only 21% of consumers recycle their old electronics. Ok, the article is from December and trends might have changed, especially now that a few nationwide retailers are making it easy to recycle e-waste. Here are two programs I have used:

Office Depot: About a year ago they started selling recycling boxes in three sizes for $5, $10 or $15. Fill the box with your electronic waste and return it to the store. Quick and easy. They do ask you to identify boxes with monitors but the price is the same.

Best Buy: Bring your old computer, fax machine, cell phone, computer monitor or TV to a participating store and drop it off, for free. Yes, it really is free and it was very easy. The website says it’s only available during recycling events but I called my local Best Buy and they said “just bring it in anytime”. I walked into the store with an old monitor and a cell phone. The security guy directed me to a cart and apologized that it was not closer to the door (it was about 30 feet away). I dropped it off, returned with another monitor and was done.

1-800-got-junk will also haul away electronic waste as part of their program but they charge an additional $25 per monitor.