Chromebook For Dummies

Introduction

Laptop sales have been declining for years. This decline is mainly due to the rise in popularity of smartphones and tablets in the consumer market. Technology is getting smaller, faster, and more portable, so the world’s dependence on full-size, full-featured (and some would say bloated) computers with fixed connections has begun to decrease.

However, in this declining market, the rising star is the Chromebook — a low-cost, portable computer powered by Google’s ChromeOS, the first popular operating system inspired by and designed specifically for the internet. Unlike Windows PCs and the Mac, which were designed for general computer use with several large applications and local storage, Chromebooks are designed primarily for internet use. Instead of a gigantic hard drive, Chromebook relies mainly on cloud-based storage. Instead of lots of expensive memory, Chromebook uses the Chrome browser that doesn’t use a lot of memory. And instead of resident applications, Chromebook uses mainly web-based applications that are accessed and bookmarked through the Chrome Web Store and the Google Play store.

By offloading the bulk of the functionality to the cloud, Google made it possible for hardware manufacturers to create computers with hardware configurations designed specifically for life on the web. The result is an accessible, user-friendly computer with a much lower price point, making it an excellent option for schools, students, companies, and budget-conscious people needing modern computing power.

It’s paying off. With sales in the tens of millions worldwide, Chromebooks make up almost two-thirds of all computers sold to K–12 schools in the United States and over half of those sold in Australia, and they’re gaining traction worldwide. This market share — which is expected to keep growing in the education, business, and consumer sectors — means that the future of Chromebooks is bright. What students use in school today, they’ll use at home and work tomorrow.

Similarly, more corporations are offering Chromebooks to employees for their corporate workstations. Chromebooks have a lower price point, are easier to manage, and don’t have the security problems experienced by Windows (mostly) and Macs (a little, and growing).

Although Chromebooks use Google’s ChromeOS operating system, by no means are Chromebooks Google only computers. Tools from Microsoft, Apple, and Amazon work on Chromebooks, too. And because Chromebooks are browser-centric, the entire world of the internet is your oyster!

About This Book

Sometimes the greatest obstacle with new technology is the fear that you won’t be able to grasp it fast enough for it to be of use. The good news is that this book is designed to remove all the guesswork. Chromebook For Dummies, 3rd Edition, is designed to give you all the tips and tools you need to excel with your Chromebook.

You don’t need to have any preexisting experience with Chromebooks, ChromeOS, Android, or the Chrome browser to use Chromebook For Dummies, 3rd Edition. You don’t even have to own a Chromebook: This book can help you choose the right Chromebook! (See Chapter 1 for an overview of features and Chapter 20 for details on selecting the right Chromebook for your needs.) If you have a Chromebook, this book guides you from the initial setup phase to the features that make Chromebooks unique and easy to use. Later sections of the book give you step-by-step instructions on using popular apps that can make you productive (or entertain you) on day one. By the time you hit the book’s advanced settings and features section, you’ll probably consider yourself an advanced Chromebook user. It doesn’t take long!

Many computer books get bogged down with technical jargon and mumbo jumbo. This book, however, isn’t written for the technological elite; it’s written for the 99.9 percent of the population who just want a no-nonsense approach to using an easy-to-use computer.

Currently, several hardware manufacturers make Chromebooks. You’ve probably heard of many of them: HP, Samsung, Lenovo, Dell, Acer, Toshiba, and Asus, to name a few. Google even has its own branded Chromebook, the Google Pixelbook Go. The only difference between these devices is the hardware — not the operating system. For that reason, Chromebook For Dummies, 3rd Edition, doesn’t reference any specific device or manufacturer. ChromeOS is the same across all of these brands.

Chromebooks are great devices, and their intuitive design makes for a very short learning curve. This book can help ensure that you have all the info you need to use your Chromebook like a rock star.

Foolish Assumptions

Chromebook For Dummies, 3rd Edition, requires no prior computer knowledge or experience. Of course, if you have experience using PCs or Macs, you’ll already be familiar with many of the Chromebook’s features. If you’ve never used a laptop before but have used smartphones, you’ll find that many concepts carry over. You’ll be fine!

This book makes no assumptions about your skill level. Although it’s primarily an introductory guide to the Chromebook and ChromeOS, you can also consider it an essential guide to personal computing.

Icons Used in This Book

Throughout this book, icons in the margins highlight certain types of valuable information that call out for your attention. Here are the icons you’ll encounter and a brief description of each.

Tip The Tip icon marks tips and shortcuts that you can use to make your Chromebook experience easier. The tips in this book are timesaving techniques or pointers to resources that you should try so that you can get the maximum benefit from your Chromebook.

Remember Remember icons mark the information that’s especially important to know. This icon reminds you of meaningful content you should file away because it may be useful again.

Technical Stuff Whenever you see this icon, think advanced tip or technique. You may find these tidbits of useful information to be just too boring for words, or they may contain the solution you need to get your Chromebook working just the way you want. Skip these bits of information whenever you like.

Warning At the risk of sounding like an alarmist, I use a warning icon to point out something you should pay close attention to. Proceed with caution if you must proceed at all.

Beyond the Book

In addition to what you are reading now, this book also comes with a free access-anywhere Cheat Sheet that gives you access to extra content, including quick-reference information that may come in handy when you’re in a pinch. Check out this book’s online Cheat Sheet at www.dummies.com and search for Chromebook For Dummies in the Search box.

Where to Go from Here

The time has come to dive into the world of Chromebooks and ChromeOS. If you’re entirely new to computers or maybe just a little timid with them, start with Chapter 1. The first chapters of the book are designed to guide you through the process of powering on your device, logging in, navigating your new computing environment, and even getting familiar with some keyboard and touchpad features unique to the Chromebook.

If you’re a little more daring than others, you may skip the book’s first few chapters and head directly to the chapter on the Chrome browser. If you already have a Chromebook, you can read this book from cover to cover to pick up knowledge here and there, or go to the table of contents or the index to look up specific information you need. Regardless of how you fancy yourself, this book can serve as an excellent primer for life with a Chromebook. And what a great, easily-managed life it can be!

Part 1

Getting Started with Chromebook

IN THIS PART …

Identify the Chromebook that meets your needs.

Get familiar with the Chromebook Launcher and desktop.

Unleash the Chrome browser’s advanced features.

Work with and customize the keyboard and touchpad.

Get acquainted with powerful apps.

Set up web-based email with Gmail.

Find and access your files.

Chapter 1

Choosing and Setting Up Your Chromebook

IN THIS CHAPTER

Bullet Understanding what makes a Chromebook tick

Bullet Selecting your very own Chromebook

Bullet Using your Chromebook for the first time

Bullet Switching to Chromebook from Windows, Mac, or Linux

Google rocked the computer world in 2011 with the introduction of the Chromebook because there was nothing on the market quite like it. It was, and still is, an affordable laptop that offers an internet-centric platform. Today, more than 50 million Chromebooks are used in classrooms by teachers and students in blended learning environments that allow students to have unlimited access to educational resources. Chromebooks are also increasingly being used by businesses, remote workers, and digital nomads that need an inexpensive laptop that allows them to work from the office, home, or the nearest coffee shop. The Chromebook has evolved far from its humble beginnings and will likely be the only laptop you need.

In this chapter, I discuss what makes the Chromebook so compelling compared to other personal computers on the market. I also take an in-depth look at how to set up your Chromebook and prepare you to transition to Chromebook from Windows, Mac, or Linux.

A Chromebook is very easy to use and understand. Easier, I’d say, than a Windows computer or even a Mac. In fact, a Chromebook is about as easy to use as an iPhone, iPad, or Android.

Checking Under the Hood of the Chromebook

In short, a Chromebook is a laptop computer running Google’s proprietary operating system, ChromeOS.

Technical Stuff The operating system (OS) is the software that manages and schedules your computer’s primary tasks and functions. You may have a little experience with other popular operating systems such as Windows, Linux, or macOS. Smartphones and tablets also have operating systems; Apple’s iPhone OS is called iOS, iPadOS runs on Apple iPads, and the OS that runs on Android tablets and phones is called, um, Android.

ChromeOS is an operating system developed by Google to work primarily with web-based software on laptop and tablet computers. Your experience using your Chromebook will be very similar to previous experiences you may have had surfing the web with the Chrome web browser (or any browser). The Chrome web browser shares many similarities with other web browsers on the market, like Firefox, Edge, and Safari. (See Figure 1-1.)

Illustration courtesy of Peter H. Gregory

FIGURE 1-1: The Google Chrome web browser.

Except for the Chromebook Pixel Go, Google isn’t manufacturing Chromebooks directly. Instead, Google has licensed several major laptop manufacturers to create them. Manufacturers such as Acer, ASUS, HP, Lenovo, Dell, Toshiba, and Samsung are all making their own Chromebooks with their own technical specifications. They all come with ChromeOS pre-installed.

The software

Much of what you will do on your Chromebook happens in the Chrome web browser. This is because many of the applications you will use on your Chromebook actually reside on the internet. This is one of the things that sets Chromebook apart from other computers: You don’t need to install most applications on a Chromebook; instead, you access them from the internet. You find applications through the Chrome Web Store (dubbed CWS) and add them to your Launcher, which, in many cases, means nothing more than creating a bookmark for quick access through your Chrome web browser. This approach can be limiting in some cases, but these cases are rare. Thanks to the vast nature of Google’s global computing ecosystem, thousands of great applications are at your fingertips.

Remember Although some Chromebook applications offer offline features and functionality, you need an internet connection to initially set up your Chromebook and be able to take advantage of everything your Chromebook has to offer. You may assume that Chromebooks are designed for an always online lifestyle, but once you have set up your Chromebook, you can definitely do things with it while offline as well.

The hardware

Unlike all other computers on the market that run macOS, Windows, or Linux, not much software is installed on your Chromebook, which means that your Chromebook doesn’t need to have vast amounts of hard drive space, memory, or processing power. Most Chromebooks have 4 gigabytes (GB) of memory, at least 80GB of hard drive space, and a low-power processor.

The reduced technical features mean that Chromebooks use less power, which means longer battery life. It also means that Chromebooks have a drastically lower price tag than other computers. This explains why Google is gaining such a large share of the laptop market. For the things that most people do, a Chromebook is more than adequate and far less costly.

If you prefer a desktop computer running ChromeOS, plenty are available. These computers are called Chromeboxes. If you own or are thinking about getting a Chromebox instead of a Chromebook, 99 percent of everything you read in this book will still apply to you because most of what’s in this book is about ChromeOS — the same OS that runs on Chromebooks and Chromeboxes.

Choosing a Chromebook

Given the online nature of ChromeOS, Chromebooks do not require extremely high-powered hardware to provide an excellent user experience. Even so, the great variety of manufacturers, models, and hardware specifications available can make choosing a Chromebook somewhat tricky.

If you are not yet familiar with computer terms like hard drives, RAM, SD card slots, or HDMI ports, you don’t really need to understand any of these things to buy a Chromebook that will work for you. If you are shopping for your first Chromebook (even if it’s the first computer you have ever purchased), go to a store with a good selection (three or more models) of Chromebooks and knowledgeable salespeople. If you buy the least expensive model with a screen size you can live with, you probably won’t be disappointed. If you do want to understand the inner details of Chromebooks and make your purchase decision based on RAM, hard drive size, and ports, flip over to Chapter 20 for all those details.

Tip Another helpful way to decide which Chromebook to purchase is to research models online. PC Magazine and other well-known publications have good reviews on Chromebook models that can help you pick one.

Setting Up Your Chromebook

Tip You should have a wireless internet service when setting up your Chromebook. If you’re using a stationary (home or public) wireless internet network or a portable device with an internet hotspot, you probably need to know the following:

The network name (like Smith Family Wi-Fi or ATT034)

The network password (usually a bunch of random letters and numbers, often printed on a sticker on your internet router)

If you don’t already have a Google Account, you’ll also need a landline phone or smartphone handy to verify your new account while you set up your Chromebook.

Turning on your device

Regardless of the brand you choose, the Chromebook is built for speed — and you’ll notice this speed the first time you turn on your device! To turn on your Chromebook, you may simply need to plug in the power cord and open the laptop. If your Chromebook doesn’t turn on automatically, locate the Power button, which may be found on the top-right corner of the keyboard itself, or on the side or back of the Chromebook. Look for the familiar power logo consisting of a circle with an intersecting vertical line. Figure 1-2 shows the Power button on the Lenovo C330 and the Samsung 303C. The Power button on your Chromebook is probably similar to one of these.

Photos courtesy of Peter H. Gregory

FIGURE 1-2: The Power button on two different Chromebook models: the Lenovo C330 (a) and the Samsung 303C (b).

When you turn on the device for the first time, a Chrome logo pops up on the screen, and within seconds, the computer powers on and displays the Welcome window. Click Get Started to begin setup.

I recently unboxed an HP Flagship 14 Chromebook and went through the setup. In addition to guiding me through the setup visually, it also spoke to me in a friendly, mechanical voice.

Selecting a language

When the Welcome window appears, it will most likely say Welcome in the English language. If you want to change your Chromebook to work in your language, click on the current language. The Choose Language and Keyboard window displays. When you click on Language, a list of available languages appears, and when you click on Keyboard, a list appears. (I wish it had an option for Pirate English. Select your languaaaarge, matey!)

Connecting to the internet

Next, you need to select a network to connect to the internet. If no network is available, I suggest holding off on attempting to set up your Chromebook until you can connect to an internet source.

Tip If you’re using a mobile device that can provide an internet hotspot, it’s time to turn on the hotspot and find the network name and password.

You need to know the network name and possibly the password to connect your Chromebook to the internet for the first time. Just follow these steps:

Select your network from the list of networks shown.

Remember Your Chromebook may detect and display several other nearby home or business networks. You can ignore them.

If your Chromebook requests it, enter your network password.

After you select the network and enter a password, if applicable, the Wi-Fi bars onscreen fluctuate as your computer tries to connect. (Figure 1-3 shows the Wi-Fi signal icon.) After the connection is successfully established, the Continue button at the bottom of the dialog window becomes active.

If your Chromebook does not successfully connect to the Wi-Fi network, you’ll see the error message bad password and you can try entering the password again. You can also select a different Wi-Fi network if you prefer.

Tip You can view the Wi-Fi password you are typing by clicking the little eye symbol to the right of where you are typing in your password.

Click the Connect button.

Photo courtesy of Peter H. Gregory

FIGURE 1-3: The Wi-Fi signal icon.

Agreeing to the Terms of Service

You may see a message that says Your Connection is Not Private. This issue is not something to worry about at this point.

If you’ve installed software or activated a device within the last ten years, you’ve likely seen a terms-of-service agreement. You can accept it by following these steps:

Review the Terms of Service.

(Optional) When you’re satisfied that you understand and agree to the terms, select or deselect the check box that sends usage stats back to Google.

Tip I recommend that you leave this box selected. The data is helpful for identifying and fixing bugs, creating new features, and making the Chromebook better for everyone! (Google and the NSA have all our information anyway, so why not?)

Click Accept and Continue to move to the next step.

Adult or child user

Next, the Chromebook asks if you are an adult or if you are setting up the Chromebook for a child. If you are setting it up for a child, you can then configure various rules about usage of the Chromebook, such as what apps can be used, which websites and types of websites that can be visited, and time limits.

Logging In for the First Time

To unlock all the features your Chromebook offers, you must first log in with a Google username and password. You can use your existing Google Account or create a new account at this time.

Logging in using an existing Google Account

You can log in by using your Google Account username and password:

Enter your Google Account username into the Username field.

Enter your Google Account password into the Password field.

Click Login.

Your Chromebook informs you about Chrome Sync, where your bookmarks, history, passwords, and other things in the Chrome browser will be synced across your Chromebook and other devices where you use the Chrome browser.

Tip If you have an Android phone associated with your Google Account, you’ll be able to agree to use certain features, such as unlocking your Chromebook with your Android phone. Sounds pretty cool to me.

This completes the initial login process.

ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

When logging into your Google Account, you may be asked to agree to Google Play terms of service. You will need to agree to this so that you can download apps.

You may be asked to agree to back up your app data to Google Drive. This can be handy if you want the added assurance that your data is always safe.

You may be asked for permission for your Chromebook to reveal your location to various apps that request it (such as Google Maps).

You will be asked whether you want to use the Hey Google voice assistant. If so, you’ll be asked to say Hey Google and Okay Google" a few times, so that your Chromebook will recognize your voice.

You may choose to use Google Assistant, and you need to decide whether Google Assistant will have permission to view the contents of your screen. I chose No to this option, and I won’t be offended if you call me paranoid.

Remember If your Google Account uses Google Authenticator or Google Advanced Protection for logging in to Google, you’ll need to log in to your Chromebook using those services for the first time. If this is your situation, your first login to your new Chromebook will be like logins you’ve done in the past on other computers.

Creating a new Google Account

You can create a Google Account by following these steps:

Under the userid field, click the More Options link; then click the Create Account option.

The Chrome web browser launches and takes you to a set of pages where you can create your Google Account. Google asks you for your name, birth date, gender, and email address.

Complete each page and click Next.

On this screen, Google wants to verify that you are a real human being. I assume that you are!

Enter your phone number and whether you’d rather be called or texted, and click Next.

Google will contact you in the manner you selected to provide you with a verification code. You can skip this step (and the next one) if you want. However, I suggest you provide a phone number, as this would be needed if you need to recover your Google Account.

Enter the verification code and click Continue.

Review the privacy agreement and other agreements and agree.

Pay attention to the agreement options. For instance, your Chromebook can send your location to apps you may use later. Uncheck this if you don’t want your Chromebook revealing where you are. Also, you can choose whether Google Assistant can view your screen if you need help, and whether you want to use the Hey Google activated assistant. I checked No, but your preference may vary.

You may be shown a Chromebook tutorial known as ChromeVox. This accessibility feature reads the contents of the screen to you. Watch it if you like, or click Exit Tutorial to skip it.

You are now logged in to your Chromebook.

Using Chromebook as a guest

Logging in to your Google Account allows you to use all of Chromebook’s functionality. However, you can still access many of these functions without logging in. Chromebook allows you to use the device as a guest by selecting the Browse as Guest option.

Tip Letting a friend or family member use your Chromebook for a while is a great use of Chromebook’s Guest feature.

If you browse the Chromebook as a guest and then later decide to register or log in as a user, you first need to exit Guest mode. You can log out by clicking the status area (on the bottom-right of your screen, where you see the time, battery, and Wi-Fi status) and selecting Exit Guest from the top of the list. (See Figure 1-4.) Exit Guest takes you back to the login screen.

Illustration courtesy of Peter H. Gregory

FIGURE 1-4: The Exit Guest button.

Transitioning to a Chromebook from Mac, Linux, or Windows

Transitioning from a Mac, Linux, or Windows computer requires a few easy steps outlined in the following list. All these items are covered later in this book:

Get a Google Account. The section "Creating a new Google Account," earlier in this chapter, shows you how to get a Google Account. Your Google Account is the key to nearly everything you do on your Chromebook moving forward.

Move your files. In Chapter 6, you can find out how to access your Chromebook hard drive, external storage, and Google Drive (where most of your files will reside after you make the leap to Chromebook).

Get your Chrome bookmarks. If you’ve signed in while using the Chrome web browser on other devices, your bookmarks, apps, and extensions will come with you to your new Chromebook! I cover bookmarks in Chapter 3.

Find new apps. Your Chromebook comes with several applications in your Launcher by default. You can, however, add new apps by navigating to the Chrome Web Store and adding them to your menu. In Chapter 5, you can look at some of the existing apps on your Chromebook and discover ways to locate and add new apps that are useful to you.

Where to Go Next

Now that you’ve completed the basics of setting up your Chromebook and logging in, what would you like to do next? Here are a few ideas:

Find out more about using your Chromebook. Go to Chapter 2.

Discover more about the Chrome browser. Go to Chapter 3.

Download and use other Chromebook apps. Go to Chapter 5.

Use office tools to create documents and worksheets. Go to Part 2.

Start working with music, photos, videos, and ebooks. Go to Part 3.

Explore advanced features (are you ready?). Go to Part 4.

A last word: If you find your initial Chromebook experience difficult or frustrating, don’t give up! You’ll soon develop muscle memory for common functions, and before long, you’ll love the sheer simplicity and ease of use of your Chromebook.

Chapter 2

Working with the Chromebook Desktop

IN THIS CHAPTER

Bullet Navigating the Chromebook shelf

Bullet Looking at the Launcher

Bullet Adding and organizing apps

Bullet Modifying Chromebook settings

Bullet Working with Chromebook window controls

Bullet Connecting a printer

The Chromebook desktop is displayed after you turn on and log in to your Chromebook. The desktop is a visual interface that uses a system of windows and controls to organize and manage applications, data, and files. You interact with the desktop by using a mouse, touchpad, keyboard, touch screen, or your voice. Your desktop has a launching point from which you can manually navigate your computer’s apps and files. Other operating systems have similar launching points: Microsoft Windows uses the taskbar, and Macs have the dock. On your Chromebook, this launching button is called the Launcher, and the region at the bottom of your screen is called the shelf.

In this chapter, you explore the Chromebook desktop, Launcher, status area, and shelf. You discover how to find, add, and organize apps, as well as how to modify basic Chromebook settings and navigate the Chromebook window system.

If you’re using ChromeOS for the first time, remember to be patient. Soon, your Chromebook will feel as comfortable as your favorite shoes!

Accessing the Chromebook Shelf

The shelf is where all the magic happens on your Chromebook. Your shelf is customized specifically to you. To access it, however, you must first log in to your Chromebook with your Google username and password (refer to Chapter 1 for instructions on creating a Google Account and logging in).

Remember Logging in takes you out of Guest mode. When you’re in Guest mode, you can’t install apps or permanently customize your Chromebook, so it’s of limited use. However, Guest mode is a great way to give your friends and family access to your Chromebook without fear of them changing or manipulating your data or personalized settings.

Okay, now that you’re logged in, find a row of icons lined up along the bottom of the screen. This area is the shelf, which appears by default at the bottom of the screen. You can change the location of your shelf, as described in Chapter 17, but for now, just leave it. A quick tour of the shelf reveals two groupings of icons: one on the left and one on the right (see Figure 2-1):

The icons on the left include

The Launcher (on the far lower left of the screen): This icon looks like a white circle and functions like the Start button in Windows or the Apple key on Macs. Click the Launcher icon, and a collection of app icons appears, arranged in a grid. Click any icon to launch its app. Click the up-arrow on the screen, and you’ll see the entire Launcher as it fills the screen. Click the Launcher once again to close it entirely.

App shortcut icons (immediately to the right of the Launcher): For convenience, you can place any of the apps you see in the Launcher on your shelf. By default, your Chromebook has a few popular app shortcuts already installed on the shelf. You can add or remove any of these as you like.

The group of icons on the right is referred to as the status area. These icons include the following:

Clock

Wi-Fi signal indicator

Battery icon (indicates battery charge)

Notifications (if any)

Remember The appearance of the figures on your Chromebook is likely to differ a bit from the illustrations from my Chromebooks in this book. Don’t worry if yours are not exactly like mine. In most cases, the differences won’t matter at all.

Illustration courtesy of Peter H. Gregory

FIGURE 2-1: The Chromebook shelf.

CONQUERING THE DESKTOP

With your desktop, you can run programs and create, edit, and otherwise manipulate files by dragging, dropping, and clicking filenames or icons. However, this type of functionality wasn’t always the case. Did you know that the first desktop — the graphical user interface (GUI) kind of desktop, not the physical kind — was created back in 1973 by Xerox? This version of the desktop, known first as the Xerox Alto and then later as the Xerox Star, never really took off because the devices and software were too expensive. Microsoft and Apple took note of the innovation, and in the 1980s, both companies rolled out their own versions — Windows and Macintosh System 1 respectively. A parallel effort at MIT resulted in the functionally similar X-Windows system used on Unix computers and today on Linux computers.

The desktop was a revolutionary approach of interacting with a computer because it simplified things (for most people, anyway) by making things visual. These days, of course, the desktop is a staple of all major operating systems, but in the early days of computing, users could interface with computers only by typing obscure commands in a command line. (Remember DOS and CP/M, if you’re not too young?) The desktop was a quantum leap in accessibility, and it made possible the digital future we’re all living in today.

Using the Launcher: Chromebook’s Start Button

Among the icons on the left side of the screen is one icon that looks like a black or white circle. This button is your Launcher icon. When you click on it, you reveal the Launcher, a pop-up window containing several applications. Until you add applications, the only apps that appear here are the default ones that come with your Chromebook and any apps already associated with your Google Account.

When you click the Launcher once, you see several application icons with a search field above them. These are all Chrome apps that run if you click them. If you click the Launcher button again, the Launcher closes.

Navigating the Launcher

The Launcher window displays the first 20 apps. As you install applications, ChromeOS adds more space to the Launcher to contain your application icons. When you have more than 20 applications, scroll through the Launcher to see additional application icons. (See Figure 2-2.)

Illustration courtesy of Peter H. Gregory

FIGURE 2-2: The Chromebook Launcher.

Organizing Launcher Icons

If you like to keep things in a particular order, like the way you can arrange glasses and dishes in your cupboard, then you will appreciate being able to organize the icons on your Launcher as you see fit. Simply click applications and drag them around inside the Launcher window until they are in the order you desire. You can move the app icons in the Launcher by following these steps:

Open the Launcher by clicking the Launcher icon.

Click and hold the application icon that you want to move.

Drag the icon to where you would like to place your selected application.

Wait patiently until the window shifts.

Drop the app icon in the desired location.

When you are done moving app icons around, you can close the Launcher by clicking the Launcher icon on your shelf.

Setting Up App Shortcuts

Next to the Launcher icon,