When I bought my first chromebook, it felt…special. Since a chromebook mostly requires a wi-fi connection to function, it felt less like a traditional computer and more like an extension of the internet itself. Or perhaps just my portal to that space.
I was enamored with the interface and the touchscreen – though I’m not much of an artist. I was already all-in with google so I navigated the docs, sheets, and drive like an old pro. And I was free to move around the house and write where-ever I wanted.
I even put a cool-looking clock decal on the cover.
And then, that time ran out. A chromebook is only as good as the last security update and the latest updates soon would no longer run. I tried to use it even after the last update, but it was sluggish at best.
I waited a while, torn with spending more money for an essentially disposable computer, and felt a little cut off. Not that I didn’t have my main computer and a phone smarter than most some people, but that magical portal had faded.
So, I waited for a sale and when the 4th of July rolled around, I bought a new chromebook. Found one for less than $200, bought it at Best Buy, and brought it home.
And had it set up in about 20 minutes – with most of that being waiting for a download. There’s not much to setting up a chromebook – it’s mostly just logging in.
The new chromebook feels a little more serious. It’s about the size of my main laptop and has a full keyboard, but no touch screen. Pretty amazing for the price – and astonishing based on what that would have gotten me only a few years ago. The portal has reopened – though it doesn’t quite have that magic. And the clock has already started to tick.
But it’s nice to have my own little corner of the internet where I can drink tea and tell stories – to those around me and to future versions of myself.
Now, I just need to find a good decal to add to this one – and decide how and when I’m going to e-recycle my old portal.