I recently got sick and tired of performing my usual type-intensive activities on my tablet or phone. These include drafting long-form articles on Wordpress, notetaking in Google Docs for my music research, task scheduling in Google Keep and Google Calendar, and additional work in Google Sheets. My Nexus 7 tablet has a Bluetooth mini-keyboard case which made these tasks unbearable. The keys were cheap and had poor action, several stopped working, and the 7" layout was far too small for effective typing.
I thought, given my Google-focused activities, that a Chromebook would be a fair solution. $200 for a 11.6" HP Chromebook 11 G4 seemed like a great value. And 99% of my activities are browser-based so Chrome OS would be well-suited to my needs.
I am so glad that I hesitated, because this evening a fellow Linux user chimed in with a solution that instantly vanquished my Chromebook fantasies.
In 55 seconds... you'll probably want one too.
This simple solution is
A. slightly more compact than a Chromebook (and fits into my messenger bag),
B. costs a tiny fraction of the Chromebook's price tag,
C. gives me the full-size keyboard action I'm after,
D. vertically cradles my tablet, freeing me of the now-defunct cheap keyboard case... and
E. makes more efficient use of my existing tech re-purposing my tablet for article writing / blogging / etc.
BUT WAIT - THERE'S MORE!
Added bonuses include the increased capabilities of my existing tablet over the somewhat limited functionality of a Chromebook, including access to the full Google Play market and my beloved media server app, AND that it transforms my tablet into a convertible with both touchscreen and full-size QWERTY input.
This device will finally grant me the flexibility to do my work anywhere. Whether in bed or at the cafe, I've got everything I need to complete all my crazy projects. (Sennheisers on standby.) My new keyboard is on its way and I feel like a kid at Christmas.
