Advancements in technology have changed personal computing immensely since the 1980s. In the early days, computers could only be controlled via the keyboard. Now we can interact with a computer with a mouse, graphics pad, touch screen monitor, and even with voice recognition technology. For example, I have been writing this article by speaking into a microphone while the words magically appear in my word processing document.

Years ago, the user had to write his or her programs by hand, using somewhat cryptic codes. Now there are hundreds even thousands of commercially available applications for computer use. Additionally, the computing experience has moved from the office and home office desktop virtually out onto the Internet via telephone, DSL and broadband cable connections. Furthermore, Wi-Fi connections, laptops, netbooks, and tablet PCs allow the user to take computing physically out of the office.

The newly developed Google Chromebooks take computing to an entirely new level. These laptops, manufactured by Samsung and Acer, are powered by an operating system that is based on the Google Chrome browser. The new user will notice a major difference from the moment the notebook is opened. The computer starts booting up immediately and will be ready for use in about 8-10 seconds. Internet connection is made through a Wi-Fi or optional three-G adapter.

The operating system’s installation is verified over the Internet every time the computer boots up. This keeps the computer safe from malware and other Internet-based threats, along with other security features. The majority of applications that run on these computers are also web-based and data created on the notebook is stored in the “cloud.”

While these Internet-based features are beneficial for the home user, the implications for educational and business use can be phenomenal. IT department intervention is minimized because group policies, permissions, and other network maintenance tasks are accomplished through a web-based interface. Since computer users access their applications over the Internet, there are virtually no software installation issues to repair. Each user works with the programs and apps that are pushed to them.

Because the files are stored on the Internet on secure servers, the safekeeping of the data is enhanced. If the computer is lost, stolen or damaged, the user merely has to obtain another computer to continue their work. The Chromebooks can be used as standalone computers, or as part of a network that contains other, more traditional PCs.